It happened yesterday. I found the miracle.

A man came to speak at our church service. He was in McCall with his son David and the group presenting the play “King David” which my husband and I   saw Friday night at the Alpine theater. The venue itself is a miraculous event, but I am not writing about the play. I am describing the Miracle, not at 34^th Street but at 14180 Hwy 55, Mountain Life Church.

The man is Art Sanborn. His story was incredible and moving. In 1998 his neck was broken in a surfing accident in Hawaii and as a result of the spinal cord injury, he was totally paralyzed and given no hope for recovery. He was told repeatedly by medical doctors, therapists, psychiatrists and some friends that he’d be a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair and dependent on others to care for him the rest of his life.  He was counseled to find acceptance with  such a   hopeless prognosis.

However, Art is a Christian and a missionary who believes   in Jesus’ healing, power and love more than the doctors’ reports. His faith in Christ as well his own good humor and positive outlook in all circumstances brought him through months of treatments. Hundreds of people all over the world prayed for him and with him for his complete healing. He believed that faith in Jesus would not only allow him to walk again, but that he’d be able to return to the mission field. He has done both. Today he not only can walk, but runs 6 kilometers every day and did in fact return to Asia with YWAM.

There’s a lot more to Art’s story. His recovery and healing were arduous and painful, but he never lost his faith and never gave up hoping in God. As he writes in his book “Walking Miracle”, the first chapter is about what happened to him during the hospital times and the last chapter is about the healing of his body. In between are many more accounts, both great and small, of God’s miraculous works.

When Art got up to speak, I knew God was present in a tangible way and as   I listened to his story,  sensed a new thing. Two days ago, I posted a blog about being “ready for miracles” to happen any time because the Church is the miracle working body of Christ. I just didn’t expect to see one so quickly. God’s faithfulness to hear and answer prayer is astonishing. However, why should I be astonished? Jesus promised that  if we sought Him, He would hear every request.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matt 7:7

Being able to walk again after such a severe a spinal cord injury defies every medical prognosis. It is not in the natural or physical realm to do so. But it is in God’s realm where all things are possible for those who believe in the Son.

I was not present at Art’s healing but it doesn’t matter. I don’t have to be like doubting Thomas who needed to put his fingers into Jesus’ wounds to believe. Sixteen years later, the testimony of a healed man suffices and has changed my heart and bolstered the prayer of faith in me.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Rev 12:11

God doesn’t grant miracles for ourselves alone.   When God has done a powerful work, as He  surely did in Art Sanborn’s life, it’s for a pouring out into others. After Art’s sermon, aligned with the Word to lay hands on the sick, people were invited to also seek healing from illness, despair, and every ailment. The Spirit of God which raised Jesus from the dead was and is and always will be moving in those/for those who believe in His Name.

What a wonder this life of faith is! How much more amazing and awesome is that miracle of grace which is still to come, through Christ in you and in me.

EAG