My 3 month old daughter, dying in my arms due to an obstruction of her throat caused by a reflex when in the womb. Woken suddenly from sleep to hear strange noises from her cot and see her blue face as my wife cried for help. Dialled an ambulance, scooped her into my arms and walked her into the hall so my wife could talk to them as a distraction and I could pray. The words spontaneously uttered through my lips by the Spirit came out of my mouth, “free and clear, free and clear in Jesus name” and out came the obstruction along with a gasp for breath. By the time the paramedics arrived she was completely fine and back to her normal self. The power and mercy of God is an awe inspiring thing. Explaining all of this to the paramedics and then the doctor when she was taken in for observation was a joy!
Bless you and your family Strahan, you are an inspiration as a follower of Jesus and a human being.
Heartbreaking and beautiful story, praise God! My eldest had feveral seizures as a toddler and it really rocked me the first time. Can’t imagine this. So grateful for your miracle 🙏
Miracle story: A month ago, I was having a week of experiencing disappointment, shame, rejection (all within one situation that repeats itself in my life over and over again) and I felt stuck, knowing I've done everything I could to change but nothing changes. Two weeks earlier, I had lost a ring that my mum had given me over a year ago. It was gold and had a cluster of diamonds on it. It was lost at Castle Point where it had fallen off my finger on a walk on the coast. I looked everywhere for it and retraced my steps. During the awful week I mentioned at the beginning, I got a phone call from the local Castle Point store where I had left my contact details and said it was my lucky day - someone had handed in my ring...!!! It was a reminder that God is working, always in my life and He cares. I couldn't believe it.
As someone who has suffered with chronic illness for 7 years, what you write is always relatable on some level. You put words to my pain, my sense of hopelessness (at times), the isolation and weariness but you also remind me to remember the times God has and will always show up. Thank you.
It is so sweet to read other writers like you talk about Advent in such a graceful way. When you two fully acknowledged that helplessness and lostness, there seemed to be a deep letting go, a surrender, where God could come in and provide a miracle. Surrender, surrender, surrender. Thank you for this story. Amen.
Yes. I’m still processing what happened and likely will be for some time. I wasn’t even sure if I still believed any of this stuff. But most unexpectedly He showed up in a dream. He was so kind and safe and He sat with me and hugged me. Like my lack of faith didn’t matter to Him. And I’m still wrecked thinking about it nearly 6 months later.
Thank you for this Strahan! It’s timing could never be more fitting than this moment! I find myself in the middle of hoping!
Monday night I received an email that left me on the floor of my bathroom floor in tears. It felt like a Nathanael under the sycamore tree moment. When provision of ordinary felt hard enough there follows a huge feeling of weights falling on me. I have been hoping and asking and praying to hear Gods voice or that he would show me a way. But nothing seems clear.
For me the miracle is simply getting up every morning, seeking Him, beholding who he is, and praising him over the things that haven’t happened and declaring in his name that I have hope.
I read these words of Jesus to his disciples this morning that made me think of your words Strahan; “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
[John 16:22 ]
Thank you friend, for illustrating the invitation that is before us to believe and hope again in the God of miracles, but also a generous Father who deeply loves his children!
Thank you Strahan. You have such a way of expressing the way God invites us in. I am going to share this with a coworker who is intrigued by faith but struggles with believing in anything miraculous.
Thanks for today - the peach cupboard... the comment about staring at each other - run empty of any optimism... Been there ! Thanks for the encouragement... we're not there now, but awaiting Him to speak on some significant things!
Isn’t it an amazing feeling to be able to look back on those moments and say “I’m not there now!”? I have to remind myself to keep coming back to remember so I never forget how gifted my today-life is. May he do it again for you, today!
This is so wonderful! Your words always inspire me and encourage me. It made me smile because I actually wrote my own answer to this question just today on my Substack!
The waiting and hurting and spiritual exhaustion within my soul sees you, your pain, and the Advent of Christ in your story. Thanks for giving voice to God's light coming in your darkness. It reminds me to keep grip on the audacity of hope, and to keep putting my whole self into the waiting, prayer and honesty.
A brief story from earlier in my marriage. We were pregnant with our second daughter, living in a new city, working with ministry, and money was in short supply. We had saved some money to replace our car and found a good replacement, but it was $2200 more than we'd saved. The next day we received in the mail a check for $2200 from a former ministry partner, our car situation totally unbeknownst to them. I honestly hadn't even ask God, he just showed his abundant care in a lavish manner. I need to remember this story.
My 3 month old daughter, dying in my arms due to an obstruction of her throat caused by a reflex when in the womb. Woken suddenly from sleep to hear strange noises from her cot and see her blue face as my wife cried for help. Dialled an ambulance, scooped her into my arms and walked her into the hall so my wife could talk to them as a distraction and I could pray. The words spontaneously uttered through my lips by the Spirit came out of my mouth, “free and clear, free and clear in Jesus name” and out came the obstruction along with a gasp for breath. By the time the paramedics arrived she was completely fine and back to her normal self. The power and mercy of God is an awe inspiring thing. Explaining all of this to the paramedics and then the doctor when she was taken in for observation was a joy!
Bless you and your family Strahan, you are an inspiration as a follower of Jesus and a human being.
Heartbreaking and beautiful story, praise God! My eldest had feveral seizures as a toddler and it really rocked me the first time. Can’t imagine this. So grateful for your miracle 🙏
Miracle story: A month ago, I was having a week of experiencing disappointment, shame, rejection (all within one situation that repeats itself in my life over and over again) and I felt stuck, knowing I've done everything I could to change but nothing changes. Two weeks earlier, I had lost a ring that my mum had given me over a year ago. It was gold and had a cluster of diamonds on it. It was lost at Castle Point where it had fallen off my finger on a walk on the coast. I looked everywhere for it and retraced my steps. During the awful week I mentioned at the beginning, I got a phone call from the local Castle Point store where I had left my contact details and said it was my lucky day - someone had handed in my ring...!!! It was a reminder that God is working, always in my life and He cares. I couldn't believe it.
Beautiful.
As someone who has suffered with chronic illness for 7 years, what you write is always relatable on some level. You put words to my pain, my sense of hopelessness (at times), the isolation and weariness but you also remind me to remember the times God has and will always show up. Thank you.
I’m so grateful to hear that, thanks for sharing :)
It is so sweet to read other writers like you talk about Advent in such a graceful way. When you two fully acknowledged that helplessness and lostness, there seemed to be a deep letting go, a surrender, where God could come in and provide a miracle. Surrender, surrender, surrender. Thank you for this story. Amen.
Amen
Yes. I’m still processing what happened and likely will be for some time. I wasn’t even sure if I still believed any of this stuff. But most unexpectedly He showed up in a dream. He was so kind and safe and He sat with me and hugged me. Like my lack of faith didn’t matter to Him. And I’m still wrecked thinking about it nearly 6 months later.
Why a gift!
Thank you for this Strahan! It’s timing could never be more fitting than this moment! I find myself in the middle of hoping!
Monday night I received an email that left me on the floor of my bathroom floor in tears. It felt like a Nathanael under the sycamore tree moment. When provision of ordinary felt hard enough there follows a huge feeling of weights falling on me. I have been hoping and asking and praying to hear Gods voice or that he would show me a way. But nothing seems clear.
For me the miracle is simply getting up every morning, seeking Him, beholding who he is, and praising him over the things that haven’t happened and declaring in his name that I have hope.
I read these words of Jesus to his disciples this morning that made me think of your words Strahan; “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
[John 16:22 ]
Thank you friend, for illustrating the invitation that is before us to believe and hope again in the God of miracles, but also a generous Father who deeply loves his children!
With you in the journey my friend, and praying for continued clarity and provision in that area of your life. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Strahan. You have such a way of expressing the way God invites us in. I am going to share this with a coworker who is intrigued by faith but struggles with believing in anything miraculous.
Thanks Cade, grateful to hear that :)
Thanks for today - the peach cupboard... the comment about staring at each other - run empty of any optimism... Been there ! Thanks for the encouragement... we're not there now, but awaiting Him to speak on some significant things!
Isn’t it an amazing feeling to be able to look back on those moments and say “I’m not there now!”? I have to remind myself to keep coming back to remember so I never forget how gifted my today-life is. May he do it again for you, today!
This is so wonderful! Your words always inspire me and encourage me. It made me smile because I actually wrote my own answer to this question just today on my Substack!
https://open.substack.com/pub/jmhenderson/p/god-likes-to-dance?r=22vqwo&utm_medium=ios
The waiting and hurting and spiritual exhaustion within my soul sees you, your pain, and the Advent of Christ in your story. Thanks for giving voice to God's light coming in your darkness. It reminds me to keep grip on the audacity of hope, and to keep putting my whole self into the waiting, prayer and honesty.
A brief story from earlier in my marriage. We were pregnant with our second daughter, living in a new city, working with ministry, and money was in short supply. We had saved some money to replace our car and found a good replacement, but it was $2200 more than we'd saved. The next day we received in the mail a check for $2200 from a former ministry partner, our car situation totally unbeknownst to them. I honestly hadn't even ask God, he just showed his abundant care in a lavish manner. I need to remember this story.
Love that dream, so amazing! God is so faithful and good thank you so much for sharing.
Just discovered your Substack presence. Yay.
Thank you for the uplifting message Strahan. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thanks brother Hal!