For two years, I had unexplained back pain. There was nothing in particular that I did to injure it, but I was diagnosed with a herniated disc and it was extremely frustrating. I had always been very active and strong, so this was the first time in my life that I couldn’t function on a daily basis, let alone go for a run or play with my kids. Some days, I could barely bend over to do the laundry. I spent those two years basically inactive and having constant pain. I tried medicine, physical therapy, and chiropractic care, but nothing worked. It really took a toll on me and and my marriage. I felt like I was just sitting on the sideline watching everyone live their lives.
Then, I heard about the Restoring Lives International conference in the fall of 2016. I didn’t know much about the ministry, but it came highly recommended. I honestly didn’t know what to expect and thought that I would just attend the conference to gain knowledge to pass on to others at my church. But God had more in store for me! In the first few days of the conference I learned more deeply about the effects of sin, the block of unforgiveness and lack of repentance in my life. Most importantly, I was reminded of how God is greater than all these things.
During the second day of the conference, my back started to hurt again. I woke up that night in pain and had such a feeling of fear come over me. In that moment, at 3:00 in the morning, I chose to believe what I had learned at RLI. I believed in my spirit that my back pain was caused by fear, so I mumbled a prayer to rebuke the spirit of fear and then fell back asleep. When I awoke the next morning, I had no pain! I wasn’t sure what to think, so over the next few days I began to test it. I scrubbed my floors and I weeded my yard. Still I had no pain. I declared God’s goodness over my life and praised Him for healing me! Since then, I have continued FREE of pain. I am able to do all the activities that had been lost to me for years, like running or holding a baby or carrying all the groceries in the house.
The Lord blessed me in so many ways during that conference that I decided to attend another one. I attended my second conference in April 2017 and I saw yet again how God is generous, loving and kind. He cares about the places in my soul that harbor bitterness, unforgiveness, and self-condemnation. He has so much more for my future and I am so thankful for my God who walks with me every step of the journey.