Stand in the Gap!

Welcome back! Spring is finally here! It’s so wonderful to see leaves and purple blossoms on the trees. As we get ready to say good-bye to April, I am grateful that you continue to show my blog support. By consistently reading and sending me messages my heart is full knowing God is getting ready to move in your life. It’s a very vulnerable place to be, publicly putting your personal opinions, experiences and walk with Jesus out there for all to see. I’m not called to be comfortable. I’m called to stretch and grow in my relationship with Jesus.

In my last blog I shared my opinion on fasting according to the Bible. If you haven’t read it yet I definitely encourage you to read it. If fasting doesn’t interest you then read it for the facts about the Bible that point to it being God breathed. It still blows my mind. Last week’s post set me up for this story. I also feel it is another example of God working even when you don’t see it, my post from March 8, 2025.

I want to be clear, I am not a doctor. I don’t pretend to understand kidney stones or claim to understand all the potential damage they can cause outside of what I’ve read on the internet. I know many people who have experienced kidney stones. I am happy to report I am not one of those people. All who have had them always share how painful kidney stones are. In my experience discussing kidney stones with people, everyone has always seemed to pass them without additional complications. I’m almost numb to hearing about kidney stones because like chicken pox, everyone experiences it at some point. Maybe I’m wrong.

The time came a few years ago for my brother to enjoy the presence of a kidney stone. When I heard I remember thinking ouch! and went about my day. A few days later I heard he went to the hospital and was prescribed pain killers. More time passed but the kidney stone didn’t. I personally have no idea how long it takes for a kidney stone to pass. A couple days, weeks? I don’t know.

On a Friday morning like many others, I was sitting on my couch. I had just finished reading my Bible and was praying. I was thanking God for all he had done for me and my family. I was praying from my country, praying for my husband and just as I was wrapping up I heard, “FAST!” I opened my eyes to find no one outside of my dogs around me. I start thinking about fasting. Fasting is something I have to prepare myself for. Fasting is about denying your flesh what it wants most which is food. Doing this is a sign of humbling yourself so that you can be closer to and hear God clearly. I begin thinking I can start my liquids only fast on Monday. I immediately heard, “NO!”

“Today it is!”, I thought.

I had no idea why I was fasting. When I prepare myself for fasting I also consider why I’m fasting. Do I need God to correct my course? Do I need God to help me cancel out the noise so that I can hear Him and be obedient? Do I need Him to move a mountain that is standing in my way? I know the answers to all these questions before I begin a fast. I couldn’t answer them this time. Out of obedience and reverence for God, Elohim I fasted for three days limiting myself to liquids only.

I remember showing up to church Sunday morning and telling this lovely couple I was serving with that I was fasting but God hadn’t told me why yet. It sounds crazy when I say it out loud. I knew this couple, Tim and Sunny (name changes) would be supportive and encourage me as they so often did. They were so kind to come into agreement with me and pray for my family, any obstacles they were facing and plugged in a word of prayer for my brother for good measure. This is exactly why your circle of friends matters. Without hesitation Tim and Sunny took hold of my hands and prayed for my family. They too have experienced the goodness of God. To them, I didn’t sound crazy. They could see my heart for Jesus. I had a willingness to be obedient to the Living God. The Bible tells us there is power in agreement. If I had shared my business with the wrong person(s) they could have easily destroyed my faith and belief in what I was doing. While I was still growing in my faith, Tim and Sunny knew what to do and how to steer me. I love them dearly!

Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV – “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Monday morning came uneventfully. My dad had text me to let me know my brother was in the emergency room over the weekend. He was supposed to go see a specialist but there weren’t any openings until the end of the week. The hospital sent my brother home with more pain killers. I remember saying a quick prayer and went about my business.

You may be wondering why I wasn’t worried? A couple of reasons really. The first, I had faith in Jesus. He gave me grace to not be fearful and to not worry. The second, my brother and I didn’t talk much. Though we were close throughout childhood, we grew apart as adults. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m crazy. He’s very dry while I’m very animated. He’s quiet, I’m loud. When I’m excited, I want everyone else to be excited! We are just very different. I knew though, if my brother really needed me, I believed he knew he could call me. If he called me I would know things were serious.

Later that day, I had just finished riding Amir and was sweeping the aisle way when I got another text from my dad. This time he had forwarded a text he just received from my brother. Paraphrasing, there was a last minute opening with a specialist earlier that afternoon. They immediately took my brother and began to drain his kidney. It was full of blood clots caused by the kidney stone and the inability to pass it. While reading it, I heard a still, small voice say, “this is why you fasted.”

I proceeded to Google blood clots in kidneys caused by kidney stones. Apparently if it’s not attended to immediately, a person can suffer kidney damage up to even kidney failure. I hate to think what would have happened had my brother waited another four or five days to see a specialist. Would he have lost a kidney? I don’t know. But I know God used me to stand in the gap for my brother.

It wasn’t me who stepped in and healed my brother. It was my faith and obedience to step aside and open the door to allow God to move in the life of a beloved family member. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and doesn’t handle situations He’s not invited to handle. God selected the right specialist at the right moment. The Holy Spirit also told me to stay quiet about the matter for several months. I believe it was eight or nine months before the Holy Spirit laid it on my heart to reach out to my brother and share this story. Why so long? I don’t know but I’ve learned that God’s timing is perfect. Who am I to question God?

If you have similar stories and experiences, I strongly encourage you to share them with others. Hearing about personal experiences with God helps to break the spirit of doubt. It can strengthen someone else’s walk with Jesus. Maybe if us Christians would speak up more declaring our faith and sharing all that God has done for us the world would be a better place.

God bless!