Two years ago our team was ministering in a rural area in the countryside here in Bolivia. We had connected with a local tribe and went house to house praying for people. We prayed for one woman in particular who was really sick and as we prayed we realized something terrible had happened to her. She was not only terribly sick but was being tormented by demons. We prayed for her and helped her reject strongholds and sins in her life. We prayed with her to receive freedom and we shared the gospel with her. She had some improvement while we were there but it wasn't what we had hoped for. I remember being discouraged and thinking of the verse:
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief."
In that moment, that was my prayer, "Lord I believe....but help me with my unbelief."
We left not seeing fully the healing we had hoped for and I was a bit disappointed. After a few months we returned to check on her but the woman and her family had moved away. I felt like that was the end and we moved on. Sometimes we pray for people and we don't ever see the fruit, but sometimes we just have to wait.....
Just a few months ago we learned from those in the community that the woman and her family were living there again, just in a different part of the community. We learned from them that she, Carmen, after we prayed and ministered to her FULLY RECOVERED. She was completely healed! What an encouagment to our hearts and, not only that, I thought of the countless times we have prayed for someone, believed for a miracle, and we will never see the fruit. BUT it's not up to us, because that is the Lord's part. We only need to be faithful and obey. He is the one who moves in hearts, who heals, and who delivers. He is the one who changes us. It was such an encouragement to me that even if we don't see it, the Lord is working. We are praying for Carmen and excited to visit her on our next trip to that area. God is faithful.