“They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 (The Message)
Thanksgiving weekend I had a headache. No surprise there. I have headaches quite often. Most are caused by stress. As I was feeling my head, though, I noticed a hard lump behind my ear. And it was painful! I don’t freak out about soft, pliable lumps, but this one was rock hard. I asked Bill to feel it too, thinking he would reassure me that I was imaging things and have a great explanation. Unfortunately, not this time.
So while I couldn’t help but worry, God had prompted me before I found the lump that I wanted to take communion every day at home, by myself, for the month of December, to remember how God’s body heals and how His blood saves. It was just something between me and Him, and I was looking forward to it. So I started that Monday and I began thanking Him for His healing for myself and those I love.
I had a few more symptoms appear between Sunday and Tuesday and finally a friend convinced me I should go to the doctor to get it checked out. I wasn’t enthused about that because I had been to the doctor more in the past two months than the past two years – each with the same result, “You’re fine.” But, since I was worried and it wasn’t going away, Bill offered to take me and we waited… and waited… and waited (it was the week after Thanksgiving).
After about two hours, we got in and I explained I was there mainly for reassurance. However, after poking and prodding, his answer was: “Well, I don’t think you have anything to worry about, but I really don’t know what it is. My advice? Wait for about a month and if it gets larger, then go see your primary doctor and get a CT scan. But I honestly have no idea what it is.” That wasn’t reassuring. And it was still super hard. In fact, he measured it at 1 cm by 1 cm, so a fairly good-sized lump in my opinion.
I decided I could keep worrying about it or I could trust God that He had this and use some natural supplements to help heal my body. I figured that part of it was stress induced and I also felt run down physically too. Bill came home the next day with frankincense essential oil. He encouraged me to put it on the lump and also gave me another natural supplement to use. After two applications, the lump outline is still slightly visible, but the lump itself is less than a millimeter – essentially gone. And, it’s pliable and soft now compared to a hard, immobile lump.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that God had the Wisemen offer frankincense to Jesus as a baby – a natural healing essential oil. Do I think that the frankincense healed me or do I think God did? I know that God is the One who healed me. I also believe He gave Bill wisdom to buy the frankincense oil to use to help with the healing. I only wish I hadn’t wasted the $30 for the doctor visit when I felt the nudge from God to trust Him instead of let fear take over.
I’m not saying I’ll never go to the doctor again. I’m not telling anyone else not to go to the doctor either. Doctors are wonderful people and do help save lives. We are faithful with our yearly physicals for early detection, we go to specialists when there is a concern that needs attention, and we were at our pediatrician the day after Thanksgiving to diagnose strep throat in our middle child.
However, I am saying, if God prompts me to trust Him instead of running to a doctor out of fear, I should listen. He had this. While the doctor was shaking his head, God was already healing. I don’t think it’s a coincidence He invited me to share communion with Him for the month of December. I also don’t think it was a coincidence that I found a lump on my ear the day before He wanted me to start.
There are times God prompts me to seek medical attention. This time, however, I think He wanted me to see His healing firsthand. And He gets all the glory! Frankincense. The Wiseman presented it to Jesus at His birth. God gave it to me this December.
© Cheri Swalwell 2015
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