When tragedy hits, there is nothing more important than prayer. My extended family discovered that firsthand just a few weeks ago when a 16-year-old teen faced the most unexpected event in his life.
From birth, circumstances had made it necessary for this young man to be raised by his grandmother. About a year ago, he became rebellious and no longer wanted to follow the rules and certainly not have to be home at any specified time. When she insisted, he moved out and went to live at a friend’s house.
About a month ago, he was walking to that friend’s house when suddenly a shot rang out. The bullet had been directed at him. It entered his neck, traveled down through his body, and came out his lower back. A bystander saw what happened and took him in his car to the nearest hospital. The medical team did not think he would survive.
Two surgeries were necessary to try and repair the internal damage. One operation was to stop the bleeding near his heart. The other was directed at one of his lungs that was filling up with blood.
His grandmother was overwhelmed by the situation and sought prayer for his life from everyone she could think of. Every day she sent out updates on his condition, but she was losing hope. Her grandson had tubes in his chest and in the damaged lung, and a feeding tube had been inserted to provide the nourishment necessary to keep him alive. Everything possible was being done to save his life.
I contacted the Prayer Team at The Fellowship and he was put on the church prayer list. My LIFE Group and many other Christian friends were also joining me in praying.
The detectives who were called to the hospital the night of the shooting figured that he would not survive. They did not begin pursuing the case until he was still alive after a week. The main suspect is a student from his high school.
To keep his grandmother encouraged, I frequently wrote out my prayers and forwarded them to her. I implored her to have faith in God and in the power of prayer because so many were lifting him up. I used Matthew 18:20 to encourage her: “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am among them.” And the Lord made His presence felt in very real ways.
The first miracle came where this patient was tested to see if his arms and legs would move. They did!
Next the chest tube could be removed. After a bit, the tube in his lung also was taken out. Each new miracle was a testimony to the continued prayers for this teenager.
What a happy day when he was released from the hospital! He is now back at home with his grandmother. But this young man still has a long recovery ahead. The feeding tube remains in his stomach, but there is hope it can be removed by the end of the month. His grandmother has reported that he is showing signs of gratitude and is now giving her hugs -- when any expressions of affection had been missing for a long time.
My prayers for him now center on the Lord softening his heart and placing a new spirit in him. As I pray for him, I claim Ezekiel 11:19 – I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
How I thank the Lord for answered prayer and giving hope for a fresh start to this teen who has been so rebellious. Truly, all things are possible with our Lord!
And this is the confidence that we have toward Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask,
we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.
1 John 5: 14-15
