Up until year seven I had not experienced any real solid stretches of relief in my daily head pain. Years one through six were pretty much defined by debilitating and incapacitating pain. I had pretty much settled in my mind that the rest of my life would be dictated by one uncontrollable headache after another. I figured that it was my “thorn” to bear so I may as well get comfortable with my pain. I had undergone countless doctors visits and medications with no significant change. I had grown discouraged with the constant array of prayers for healing since barely even a subtle shift or change had taken place in the first six years.
Our hindsight is often twenty-twenty while our “in the moment sight” can be completely blinded to the spiritual reality unfolding right in front of us. I have since come to realize that the first five years post stroke were merely preparation for year six. While year six set the stage for year seven to usher in God’s perfect timing. Let me explain what this looked like for my family and myself as we walked through these seven years. In years one through five the Lord was preparing our hearts to step through an open door in year six. He had been laying a foundation of which we would be forced to stand upon in the next phase of our walk. In year six, our family made the decision to walk through the door of missionary life. We were simply being obedient to what we had felt in our hearts for many years, but the timing was never right. Year seven was spent on the ground in Liberia and me flying back and forth for treatments. However, the significant change that took place this year was addition to my already extensive medication list. Within just a month after starting this new medication, I started seeing days go by without even a single twinge of pain. The days turned into weeks, and now the weeks have turned into months. It is no coincidence that I have experienced this breakthrough before year seven has come to a close. Let me explain why and how it came to my remembrance during the study of Esther.
In the story of Esther the first edict that was issued by Haman for the annihilation of the Jews on the 13th day of the month of Nisan. As you progress through the story and Esther finally brings her petition to the king, there was a second edict that went out by Mordecai to grant the Jews complete liberty to protect themselves against anyone who would bring them harm. This edict went out on the 23rd day of the month of Sivan. What is intriguing about these two dates on the Jewish calendar was that they fell exactly 70 days apart. The number 70, as well as the number 7, is frequently symbolic of completion and perfection throughout scripture. In the story of Esther, God’s perfect timing and reversal of the Jews’ destiny came 70 days after they thought they were going to be completely annihilated.
As I began looking at my own calendar and realizing that my 7th year was coming to a close, I began to realize what had happened in this year. I experienced months of pain free living! God’s timing is never late. I’m not claiming that I am never going to have another headache the rest of my life, but I do believe my days of daily incapacitating pain are behind me. If there is anything I have learned in my lifetime of serving the Lord it’s this, there are no coincidences in the kingdom, only God’s divine timing. God is directing a kingdom symphony where every note is perfectly timed. What an absolute privilege it is to be a part of the heavenly sound He orchestrates! To God be all the glory!
To read more about my stroke recovery journey please visit : My By Faith Shoes, My Battle Verses, Recovery Road, Prayer