By Jaymi Firestone

2020 has been a roller coaster for all of us. Let’s be real, it’s not been a cake walk by any means, and we’ve all had to adjust our lives to even keep our sanity. It’s been change at every turn, including working from home, schooling kids at home, and wearing masks the second we walk out of the house. It hasn’t been pleasant for anyone, but for me, the COVID-19 pandemic brought something even more trying.

Businesses shut down, and so did my body. For a 34 year old with a seemingly healthy body, it was shocking and frustrating. I was left unable to consume most food and drinks that I’ve grown to love. Nausea, pain and cramping crept in every day. Life as I knew it changed drastically, beyond the quarantine.

Some days I would wake up feeling decent, but had no appetite, and other days I’d wake up feeling so sick that I had to stay in bed all day because I felt so terrible.

My meals consisted of deli meat, fruit, some mildly flavored veggies, under-seasoned chicken and potatoes either baked or mashed. That was my entire diet. Healthy, yes. Tasty? Not really. Everything was bland. And, as you probably know, being from New Mexico means this girl loves her spice. Knowing my family was eating chips and salsa from Leal’s required every ounce of self-control to avoid. But, I knew that in order to feel somewhat decent, I’d have to eat the bare minimum. It was brutally difficult.

The way I felt was indescribable and a total drag for everyone around me. I missed important events like celebrating my brother’s 30th birthday and Father’s Day with my dad. It was not only making me sacrifice, but a sacrifice for the rest of my family and friends.

Fast-forward 2 months…

My sister-in-law called me after work one day to see how I was feeling. She also struggles with stomach issues, so she has always been very empathetic with me. In the course of our conversation, she says “God is going to heal you. Just believe it.” And the statement sparked a thought in my head, why don’t we believe God will heal us?

I mean sure, we know He can, but do we actually believe He will?

For me, that answer was no. I didn’t actually believe it. I had been to the doctor multiple times. I had even sat in a hospital for half a day to have testing done. I sat through ultrasounds and scans, only to be told they all came back normal. No answers were given as to what was wrong with me! My faith had diminished because the medical aid I was seeking wasn’t working.

I’ve read the scripture from Matthew 17 where Jesus said:

I never believed God would actually move a mountain if I told it to move. Logically, that just doesn’t make sense, right? I mean, mountains don’t move, especially when someone tells it to.

But guys, I’m telling you, Jesus meant it when he said it. I’m here to tell you, BELIEVE. No, God didn’t move a mountain for me, but He healed an ailing, sickly body I had been battling for months.

He told the apostles in Matthew 8 that they had little faith, and then rebuked the storm that was engulfing their boat, calming the winds and the waves. His words should resonate with us though.

“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matthew 8:26).

We are a people of little faith. We are a people that trusts our own understanding before we trust Him. We trust science and experience. We trust everything else first.

I’m here to give you a testimony though. I’m here to tell you, GOD HEALED ME. After that brief conversation with my sister-in-law, I went to bed that night with the desire to trust my God more than medicine. I prayed for hours. I prayed longer than I ever had before. Begging God to heal me. Begging Him to fix whatever was wrong. I pleaded with Him. I cried through my words, and went to sleep with the most faith I’ve ever had in my life. I finally felt at peace for the first time through this whole process. My frustration level had grown to be nearly unbearable. No answers meant so much frustration and fear. But that night, with the peace that passed all my human understanding, I can say I truly believed He would heal me.

And…HE DID!

I am back to feeling normal, living life the way I want to. No nausea, no cramping, no issues. I’ve been living a normal, worry-free life, thanking my God every step of the way, because without Him, I’d be the same as I was a few weeks ago.

We have so little faith, and I’m here to tell you that if you trust Him, genuinely trust Him, you’ll see His hand in every moment of your life.