How quickly life can change! On September 19, 2022, I was seriously burned. Mistaking gas for diesel, I poured it in a wood-burning stove used to heat a kiln. When I went to light it, it basically exploded in my face and over both my arms. Initially thinking I was not much affected, I examined my hand and found that it looked like it had shriveled up! That made me think I needed to get help. (For me, help comes from the Lord and His promises.)
I started calling on the Great Physician and those whom I trust to pray the prayer of faith. While calling on the Lord, we started a cooling off process for 5 or more hours. We dunked rags in water and applied them to the burned areas, changing them frequently to cool the skin, all the while praying and even singing a song of praise, until victory over intense pain was achieved. The Lord is truly the Great Physician, and I am so thankful for His healing touch.
He not only took the pain away, but He also allowed me not to go into shock. That night I slept as if nothing had happened, except that I had to wear bandages on my arms.
My wife started the process of taking care of the burns and put me on a nutritional regimen that would be helpful for a burn victim. Many were concerned and showed me love, called, and stopped by. I’m thankful for all of them. Many people shared that they were continuing in prayer for me. I believe they were sincere, but I needed people who could pray the prayer of faith.
In Luke 8, we read of a woman who pushed through a crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. In that crowd, many were calling on and touching Jesus, but the woman who had faith was the one whom Jesus healed. In times of testing, true faith is what matters– the kind of faith that touches the hem of His garment and the heart of Jesus.
My son and his wife both helped us as I was healing, he by running our sawmill and she by putting out a call to the community for my affliction. The people in my community were so kind, responding by sending my family dinner for over a week. As people saw the state I was in, the word of my testimony of God’s hand was being expressed. May the Lord bless their kindness.
After a week, the burns on my face and neck had scabbed over, and the burnt skin on my arm began loosening. On the tenth day, just before we got hit by Hurricane Ian, I already had new skin and was able to get back to work by September 30.
Some may question how bad my burns were, but I have pictures that tell the story. God healed me! Divine healing will always be scrutinized by unbelievers, but this doesn’t change the fact that “the prayer of faith SHALL save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:15).
The exercising of biblical faith is the only way to experience divine healing. The Lord has made it this way for His glory alone and to our benefit so we won’t forget Whom we serve!
“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1-5). I can testify of His goodness, and to God be all the glory!
Bob Gruner
Eustis, Florida
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