A Miraculous Healing Through the Power of Prayer
A special story I had to share for a very special friend named Luke, who reminded me of it.
In the summer of 1997, as I prepared for a month-long mission trip to Tuba City on Arizona’s Navajo Reservation, my pickup truck needed some urgent welding work. With my travel plans set, I scheduled an appointment at a local welding shop in my small hometown, hoping for a quick fix to get me back on the road. Little did I know, this routine visit would lead to an extraordinary encounter that would deepen my faith and remind me of God’s unwavering goodness and faithfulness.
Upon arriving at the shop, I was warmly greeted by a young welder who directed me to his father, the shop’s owner, who was hard at work. The older gentleman, in his 80s, was skillfully brazing brass props, his arm supported by a custom-made brace he’d likely welded himself. His arm appeared deformed, lacking full mobility, which caught my attention. As someone whose own father had battled polio, I couldn’t help but wonder about the man’s condition. Curiosity led me to ask the young welder if his father had polio. With a gentle smile, he replied, “You’ll have to ask him.”
Following the older gentleman into his office, I introduced myself and mentioned my truck’s repair needs. After confirming my appointment, I hesitantly brought up his arm, asking if polio was the cause. He chuckled softly and shared a remarkable story. Years earlier, while guiding a massive bull in an arena using a ring in its nose, the animal had charged forward, pinning him against a gate. The accident severely damaged his arm, injuring nerves and leaving it nearly immobile. Despite the injury, he carried on with his work, relying on his ingenuity and grit.
As he finished welding my truck and prepared my invoice, our conversation returned to his arm. He shared exciting news: he was soon headed to the Mayo Clinic, where a team of specialists believed they could restore full function through complex surgery. His optimism was infectious, and I wished him well. But as I reached for the door to leave, a quiet voice stirred in my heart—God prompting me to pray for this man right then and there.
Turning back, I asked, “May I pray for you?” He smiled kindly but dismissed the need, confident in the expertise of his medical team. Still, I offered a brief prayer for his healing and a successful surgery before heading to my truck. As I climbed in, I whispered another quick prayer, asking God to guide the doctors and restore the man’s arm. With that, I drove home, packed my bags, and set off for Arizona, the encounter fading from my mind.
A month later, back from my trip, my truck needed more welding work. Eager to hear about the gentleman’s surgery, I returned to the shop. This time, he greeted me at the door, his face beaming with a radiant smile. “I’ve got a story for you,” he said, ushering me into his office.
He recounted how he and his wife had driven 13 hours to the Mayo Clinic, armed with a binder full of medical records and high hopes for the surgery. But at check-in, the receptionist seemed flustered. Moments later, a doctor emerged, apologetic and distressed. “We’ve been trying to reach you,” the doctor explained. After extensive consultations, the surgical team had concluded that the damage to his arm was beyond repair. Devastated, the couple faced the reality that the operation they’d pinned their hopes on wouldn’t happen. Heartbroken, they gathered their belongings and headed to their truck for the long drive home.
As they approached their vehicle, the man’s thoughts turned to the brief prayer I’d offered weeks earlier. In that moment of despair, it was all he had left to cling to. He prayed, leaning on God’s faithfulness, trusting in the power of that simple prayer. Miraculously, before they reached home after the 13-hour journey, he felt a change. His arm, once crippled and immobile, began to move freely. By the time he walked into his shop again, he had full mobility.
Standing behind his desk, he demonstrated his healed arm, twisting and turning it with ease, his smile radiating joy and gratitude. We stood together, marveling at God’s goodness, praising Him for a miracle that defied medical expectations. What began as a routine welding job became a testament to the power of prayer and God’s faithful intervention.
This story reminds us that God is good, even when human solutions fall short. A simple prayer, offered in faith, can move mountains—or in this case, mend a broken arm. As we trust in God’s plan and lift others up in prayer, we open the door for His miraculous work in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Luke, sometimes people aren’t put into our life’s path to fix their problems but to show them a way to everything that can. Sometimes the demonstration of our faith can be enough to encourage people to follow in the Lord’s light and wonderful blessings.