God answers prayer. God works in our lives. God does miracles. The purpose of this monthly column is to provide a forum for personal witness of God’s acts in your life. You are encouraged to share your stories, so that others may have their faith strengthened by your witness. If you have a story to share, contact someone from the Witness Committee or the pastors. This month’s witness is from a newly confirmed member of our congregation, Nathan. As many of you remember, Nathan was on our prayer list a number of times when he was younger. Now he wishes to share his experience with you, so that you will know that God has worked through his disease to strengthen his faith, and that you, too, will have faith during difficult times.
God knows, so why should I keep it a secret?
I am unique in a way that is different than most people. When I was 3 years old, doctors discovered that I have an immune disorder that no one else has. There are others with similar diseases, but the doctors say that my body can not make enough antibodies to help me fight infections. This means I can get sick easier than most kids, and I have a harder time getting better. Because I am unique, I regularly go to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee so doctors can follow the progress of my growth.
For years I kept this a secret from everyone- my friends and those at church. Only the pastors and my family knew. I was on the prayer list for a long time, but I didn’t want people to know why. I did not want to be different; no one does. Having this condition and all the complications was depressing and I did not want to talk about it. I wanted to be like everyone else. I also believed that this condition made it so that I could not do anything that I wanted to do.
My family brought me to church and Sunday school and enrolled me in catechism. They believed that faith was important and wanted me to learn about God and Jesus. One day at catechism we talked about prayer and Pastor June asked me if I would like the group to pray for me. I said, no, and tried to change the subject, but my friends kept asking me why and what was wrong. Finally, I told them. To my surprise they were very supportive and did not treat me differently.
About the same time I decided to try running cross country and track in Junior High. Again, to my surprise I found I could run and be open. In fact the doctors told me that running was good for me. My faith and my gratefulness at being able to run cause me to pray before each race. I ask God to help me do my best, be the best I can be, and to be with me when I cross the finish line.
God has shown me that my two biggest fears, that people would think I was different and that I could never do anything, were not true. God loves me and cares for me. God helped me to realize that we should be open with our problems. Life is easier sharing our problems rather than keeping them inside and worrying alone. After all, if God knows, why not tell the church family? And, that is what I am doing.
Nathan
