Do miracles really happen?
…Last week, I watched a young woman around 20 years old suddenly receive the gift of hearing for the first time in her life.
This woman has been completely deaf in both ears since birth and had the vocal characteristics of someone who has never heard the sound of her own voice.
The setting was not in a doctor’s office after a medical procedure, but at a worship conference.
At the conference, our VineArts team had been invited to create several large artworks as we poured out our praises to God through painting and sculpting.
My friend Lisa began one of the worship services by slowly unveiling one of the artworks from underneath an X-shaped shroud of old rags and bandages, revealing a sculpted clay-colored ear in bas relief. The rags contained various words written into them, symbolizing issues that keep us from listening to and believing God’s truth.
Then Lisa added waves of color indicating the beauty of the sounds of God.
After the worship session, a young woman who was deaf approached Lisa to ask questions about the artwork with the sculpted ear. The woman explained that people had prayed for her many times to be able to hear, and she had honestly become hesitant and uncomfortable about labeling her deafness as a handicap. In fact, many in the deaf community would tell you the same.
Meanwhile, Lisa was listening to God in her heart. She responded to the young woman by saying our hearts are truly who we are, and nobody is defined by an ear working or not working. Then Lisa asked if she could bless her. She prayed for her and blessed her. The young woman walked away with joy, a new lightness of step, and peace about her ears for the first time in a long time.
Later that day, the young woman allowed someone else to pray for her ear to be healed.
And this time, it was.
She felt a pop in her right ear… and she heard. For the first time in her life, she understood what noises sounded like!
The young woman ran up to Lisa to give her a huge hug and the good news. Lisa was completely undone. Through many tears and many hugs, the woman thanked Lisa for showing God’s love to her in a new way. I overheard the woman exclaim as she wiped her eyes and laughed: “Wow, this music is LOUD!”
The best part was watching the young woman sit with friends after everyone else had left the sanctuary…
As we artists packed away our artwork and supplies, she sat in the quiet sanctuary, softly clapping her hands next to her right ear, perplexed and happy. She was surrounded by close friends who kept hugging her, laughing, crying, and playing with her long hair. They spoke words she was able to hear for the very first time.
A friend let her listen to some music, and handed her one ear bud as he listened on the other.
She was wide-eyed and speechless. Her friends were crying.
Yes, God heals today.
Sometimes hearts, and sometimes ears.
Sometimes both.
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