“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Do you know anyone who has obtained a great blessing in life by having faith? In the Bible, we have several examples of people who received great blessings in life through faith. Sarah is one such person. Sarah was well past the age of childbearing when Isaac was born, and she was already about 90 years old when she heard that she would have a child born from her own body. What a miracle — God is awesome! I sometimes wonder why these examples are in the Bible. Do we exercise the same faith today? Faith that will cause the impossible to happen? Faith that believes beyond what science says cannot happen?
Well, I know a person living today who has such faith, and his name is Teo. Teo has experienced one miracle after another because of his relationship with God, and he wholeheartedly believes that God will do what He says He will do. Last year Teo's wife Dina fell ill. It wasn't a physical sickness, such as a viral or bacterial infection, but the kind of sickness from the world of darkness.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
(Ephesians 6:12).
Teo and Dina spent months going to doctors, but the doctors had no solutions. They said that Dina had 'snapped' and seemed to have lost her mind. Friends and family all believed that the pressures and stresses of this life had been too overwhelming for Dina. They also concluded that she had lost her mind. Teo, however, believed that God has great power to overcome all difficulties, including complicated illnesses of our minds. He knew that if Dina had lost her mind, God would be able to heal her, for He is Jehovah Rapha, "the Lord who heals".
God's Healing Power!
Teo began to fast and pray more than ever before. He had already developed the habit of praying three times every day. If you called him at noon, Teo would not return the phone call because he was on his knees talking to the Most High God. Now that spiritual warfare had attacked his home, Teo knew he needed to pray extra along with fasting.
During this time, he was financially dependent on God because his wife was the primary breadwinner while he was going to school. She was unable to continue working while overcome with this mental illness. His young children became his sole responsibility since his wife could not function normally. Despite all these difficulties, Teo didn't go around feeling sorry for himself. He didn't go around complaining about all of his troubles, even though his problems were many.
Teo was determined to keep his focus and attention on God. One day, while talking to a friend who lived in a prayer sanctuary (a property devoted to prayer and worship) outside of the United States, the friend suggested bringing Dina to the sanctuary where they could pray for her continuously. Teo did not hesitate. He booked a flight, and off they went to the sanctuary. The minute Dina entered the prayer sanctuary, her entire demeanor changed. Whatever she was fighting ceased. She slept through the night every night without waking up screaming and without medications. When the week was over, Teo and Dina returned home, where Dina resumed her work and tending to her little ones. What a remarkable, miraculous change that could only be attributed to God's healing power!
I'm reminded of the time when the disciples of Christ could not cast out a particular demon. When His disciples asked why they couldn't, the answer from the Saviour was, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting" (Mark 9:29).
Call to Action
Our faith and mental health need to nourish a spiritual life with the WORD of God. Take time daily to fortify yourself in God, who is our Creator. Take time to know Him, not just know about Him and to understand His plans and purpose for your life. Be persistent in prayer.
We are instructed to pray without ceasing in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. I used to think that was an impossibility until I started to put it into practice by praying while driving, right before teaching, and before a gathering with loved ones. I love this quote in the book Help in Daily Living: "Cultivate the habit of talking with the Saviour when you are alone, when you are walking, and when you are busy with your daily labor. Let the heart be continually uplifted in silent petition for help, for light, for strength, for knowledge. Let every breath be a prayer."1
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
- Ellen G. White, Help In Daily Living (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1957), 57.
