Dear Philip and Glenda

 

Thank you so much for the wonderful message this morning about Change and also yesterday about a God-Encounter.

 

I am Tracy Smith. This testimony is from August 2005 and occurred at Willows Conference Centre, Port Elizabeth, South Africa 

 

I was suffering from a chronic condition called Fibromyalgia. This is a condition that affects your muscles and connective tissues surrounding the joints. Its main symptoms are extreme fatigue and of course extreme pain in the joints. I had in fact been to many doctors who just could not diagnose me, even telling me that "It's all in your head!”, amongst other theories. My GP never gave up on me and assisted me in eventually seeing the Rheumatologist in PE. This was in March 2005, although my condition was noticeable since June 2004 after the birth of my daughter. To cut a long story short, I was put on heavy painkillers, sleeping pills (due to the intense pain, I was unable to sleep well) as well as anti-inflammatory medication. I also had regular cortisone injections into the affected joints. I was told the possibility of a wheelchair was very real.

 

There were days that I could literally not get out of bed because of the intense pain. The 6th of August was one of these days. In fact, I had received injections, etc the day before, Friday 5 August, for this very reason. (One feels trapped inside your perfectly normal-looking body because you are physically unable to do anything for yourself or others. And by this stage I had a very busy toddler of 3 years and a baby of 9 months. Thank God for mothers-in-grace and patient husbands. I had also lost my own mother during my pregnancy.) A dear friend insisted she was coming to fetch me and take me with her to hear Glenda!  When I said that it was impossible, my friend went out of her way to almost carry me in! No half jobs for her. I thank God for precious friends!

 

The day passed in a daze as I even wondered what I was doing there! I could not concentrate on the message so I cannot tell you what Glenda preached. Sorry! By 4pm, Glenda was closing and starting to dismiss the ladies when she announced that God laid it on her heart to pray for us. She boldly declared all kinds of illnesses and conditions healed in the name of Jesus. The very 2nd or 3rd condition she spoke of, she could not name. Glenda described it as perhaps something to do with nerves but that she couldn't name the condition. That this lady who was in tremendous pain, was being healed right there and then in the seat. Instantly I knew that was me! The hand of God touched me like an electric current and I felt like my whole body was on fire! I was able to get up and go forward without any pain or even discomfort. God healed me instantly and miraculously. When I returned home with my friend, my husband was overjoyed!  No words can accurately describe how I felt. I returned a new person in Christ. Although I begged God to take this cup of suffering away from me, He chose to wait for this day (on which I also never asked to be healed - this one day!) to show His glory.

 

And I can testify that I immediately went back to my Rheumatologist first thing Monday morning. She did all her tests, including prodding, poking and pulling. She was simply stunned and could not explain this. She had to date, never before seen a miraculous healing. I am not so sure that she even believed that it could occur. I explained what God had done and she had no words. To this day I have never suffered from any pain in this way or been incapacitated due to pain or muscular problems. Praise God!

 

So you may use this testimony to God's glory and know that God uses those who are willing to obey Him.

 

He has put me in so many different situations where I could testify to His glory. I will be sharing my complete testimony at a Salvation Army Ladies Fellowship meeting in 2 weeks time. I also worked at a Drug Rehab Centre for 2 years where I could just extend God's love to those in need of Him.

 

Thank you Philip for the blessing of a cd today. May God bless your marriage and your ministry as you obey Him. I look forward to speaking to you next time again.

 

With much love

Tracy Smith

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Mar 2010