We love hearing stories of God at work in student’s lives. We pray the following stories from the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer encourage you and inspire you in student mission where you are.
Brick number #13921
Healed from ME/CFS when I thought I'd live unwell for life
‘In my final year at university I fell seriously ill with a flu-like virus. Within 1 week I went from being well and enjoying my studies, to not being able to walk. The virus floored me. I had to return to my family home immediately to be cared for. (Thankfully I completed my degree with extensions.)
However, in the months and years that followed, I never fully recovered. I lived daily with a range of symptoms including; fatigue, muscle and joint pains all over my body, migraines, nausea, sensitivities to light and sound, to name a few. What was more, my energy levels were dramatically reduced, so even basic activities were challenging. For 7 years I lived with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) – a chronic health condition with no cure and no recognised treatment. It was not at all how I’d expected my adult life to start.
Through the daily pain and struggles, I always had a sense that God was holding me up. There were so many times when I had no strength left for myself. That if anything or anyone was going to be able to get me through, it could only be God.
One week when I was particularly bad, my mum encouraged us to pray for me to be well. It took me by surprise because we wouldn’t usually pray together. Plus, when I prayed privately it was often for everyone else but myself! This was the first time I really prayed to be well, I asked God to heal me. I remembered Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you”.
That weekend we visited Ffald-y-Brenin, West Wales, which is a peaceful retreat centre in the countryside. After the midday prayer meeting, I felt very tired and in pain, so I lay down on the floor of the prayer room. I expected to have a power nap to try and help me to get through the day, but pain was surging throughout my body. I felt it pushing towards my head and to my feet, so much so that I kicked off my trainers. It continued to surge. Frustrated, I cried out within "What's happening?!" I was so surprised then when in a moment, I heard God reply “I’m evacuating, evacuating, evacuating the illness from you.” At the same time, I saw above me a pair of infra-red scanners attached to hands, scanning the length of my body, emitting the illness from me. I knew in this moment God had answered my prayer and healed me.
In the next 3 weeks I was completely set free of sickness. I watched all the symptoms shed off me, ending one by one. Afterwards I realised that on the morning of the day this miracle happened, I’d read Psalm 30 - “Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me” – and that God truly did answer my call, my prayer, that day. It was a prayer that changed my life.’
Brick number #26830
Prayer for Direction and Purpose
‘I studied at university in London, and as I was coming to the end of my undergrad, I had decided that I was going to begin a Masters Degree at the same university. I thought that I was sure to get in, but was floored when my application was rejected, and worried as they questioned my academic performance. I had to move back home, without a plan, and feeling like a failure.
I asked God what he wanted from me, as staying in London seemed to make so much sense, and now I felt like I lacked direction and a purpose. What was I supposed to be doing with my life?
In the same week as I found out about the rejection and moved back, I was asked by my senior pastor to apply for the newly opened role of Youth Worker at the church. I also found a Masters course at my local university that was perfect for what I wanted to study.
A couple of years down the line and I have been part of a youth team that has grown our youth over 10 times in size, and had many young people make first time commitments and be baptised. I love the job and I loved the course that I studied. I also graduated with the top result (which was unexpected). I know that I am able to trust God in all things, and am working each day to fully release every worry and fear to him.
As I prepare to go back to Law School with a full scholarship, I know that God will put me where he wants me, and that I will always be where is best. The prayer now is that I always maintain the trust in his providence and the faith in the good things he has prepared for me in every situation and setback.’
We would love to hear your stories of answered prayer!
