I wasn’t going to go. Even though my “Change for Change” jar was overflowing with more than enough for our area’s annual women’s conference/retreat, the King’s schedule and caring for my mother-in-law made my decision.

“Myrna, I’ve been praying for you, and I really feel the Lord wants you to attend,” announced a Facebook message from Kari, precious friend and one of the retreat organizers. So I talked to the King, and with a schedule change, he was able to come home to free me up to go.

Immediately I knew I should invite my exercise-nut, prayer-partner friend. She agreed, but there wasn’t much enthusiasm on the part of either of us. As we drove to the resort, we were bemoaning all that we should be doing at home that weekend and verbally wondering why we were doing this.

We said it again as we turned out the lights after the first night’s session — even though it had been encouraging and uplifting.

But, oh how things changed Saturday morning! In a departure from the schedule, the speaker began to talk about her mother’s (who was in attendance) painful knee and how she believed the Lord wanted to heal her. So she prayed for her mother, who immediately felt better. Then she asked all those with knee problems to get up, and there were at least 6 or 7, my friend who has suffered with that knee for years among them. The speaker prayed again, but my friend was not improved. So she asked all those who’d just felt they’d been healed to stand around my friend and together they all prayed.

Since that moment, she has had no pain, can bend that knee gingerly, does not limp, and does not experience a grinding sensation when she moves!

Still, late in the day, being the humble woman she is, she was asking, “Why me? Why now?”

Beyond the fact that God simply flat out loves her (and all of us) it’s becoming obvious. She’s a woman of praise and faith, and is readily sharing the story everywhere she gets an opening. There were other young women there who desperately want to grow in their faith, who want to walk in the fullness of what God has for us. She is ministering to them. She is sharing with her family. She is telling her friends. She is glowing, and people are walking up to her asking why.

We don’t live in a vacuum. God is constantly working. He moved someone to pray for me to go to the retreat. He changed my circumstances so I could go. He prompted me to ask my friend to go with me. He kept us moving even when we weren’t all that excited.

And now she is no longer in pain — AND — she has a fresh testimony of the power and goodness of God — AND — others have hope! And I love it.

And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction." Mark 5:34