Searching for buttons in a homeware store, I found an assistant who told me they don’t sell them anymore! I could sense that this assistant (Lorna) was having a tough day and, looking at the obvious logistical issues on the shop floor, I could see why. In addition, she was on her own, due to staff shortages. My heart already went out to her, but it turned out that Lorna was up against even more challenges in her own health – her dental health.
Lorna was in considerable discomfort due to an infected cyst on her tooth. Ooucch!! Her dentist had given her antibiotics but the pain was still there. She was due to see the dentist again the following day, but had been warned that if the cyst was still present, the dental surgery she needed could not go ahead in case the cyst burst and spread infection. I could see the distress of this situation etched across her face.
At that moment some more customers came wanting to be served, so I was unable to talk more or offer to pray. I did go back an hour later, though, praying as I went that Lorna would have a few minutes without any customers or chaos, enough for me to pray briefly with her. The coast became clear and, explaining to Lorna that I am a roving pastor who prays for people in pain, I asked her if I could say a simple blessing over her tooth and her upcoming appointment? She was touched by this offer and accepted.
I did start by blessing Lorna but then quickly prayed brief, simple prayers of authority, commanding the cyst infection and all pain to go, the required surgery to go ahead successfully and everything to be healed and restored smoothly with no side-effects.. I could tell this had been a surprising happening for Lorna, but one she seemed thankful for, if a little puzzled!
Some days later, I went back to the store. I “had a feeling” that Lorna would be there (though she only works part-time and I had no idea which days). I felt Holy Spirit was drawing me to check in on her and, at an appropriate moment, to give her a copy of the Father’s Love Letter.
Lorna was indeed there and no other customers were around her. She told me that she doesn’t normally work on that day! She also described how she had gone to the dentist and the surgery had gone ahead successfully even though the cyst was still there! Her dentist was able to extract the cyst entirely, fully intact within its sac! Everything was dealt with completely. The post-surgery bleeding on the day had initially concerned her, especially near bedtime, but at midnight it suddenly stopped completely and she had the most wonderful night’s sleep!
Following similar dental procedures before, Lorna has suffered from a hugely painful condition called “dry socket” after a few days. This time, no such after-effect occurred! Woo Hoo! She had been able to recover quickly and come back to work. It was so easy to tell Lorna of God’s protection and love for her – demonstrated through this miraculous recovery. It was also the perfect moment to give her the Father’s Love Letter, explaining that she could read of even more of His love for her in its words. She took it gladly, looking forward to reading it in a quiet moment over coffee.
Lorna said she felt sure that I was “meant” to have met her and that my blessing had made all the difference to her difficult dental situation. She was very grateful I had gone to find her again to see how she was. That I had cared about her.
Show Lorna, dear Jesus, that you are not only her Healer,, but her Saviour, Redeemer and Friend for ever! Help her see that you care about every single detail of her life, day and night. May lives around her be forever impacted too, as she testifies to your wonderful goodness.