He'll do it again

    Phillip became a bodybuilder from the age of thirteen. He valued strength and was always trying to get bigger. He used many supplement drinks but these damaged his liver. On top of that, a tattoo needle made things worse. Doctors  did blood tests and discovered that the needle had Hepatitis C in it. He had liver cancer and would need a liver transplant. On hearing this news, he attempted to break up with his girlfriend. He did not want to drag her through his ordeal. But, she knew how to turn to God in prayer and did not give up on him. They finally exchanged vows. He had the prayer support he needed. 
    When a liver was found, he told God that if things went wrong, he would come to Him. He flatlined on the operating table because of complications. He had a supernatural experience with God and God told him that it was not his time, he had to go back, he was going to be okay. It took three and a half minutes to resuscitate him. The operation went on to be a success and he lived a normal life for thirteen years.              One day, however, he felt a shooting pain while playing basketball. It was discovered that his liver was failing. Doctors would have to remove and replace, however, not just his liver this time, but his kidney, his pancreas and his upper and lower intestines. He cried out to God wanting to know if this was it for him. God reminded him that he had died for three and a half minutes. He had not left him then, He was certainly not going to leave him now. He felt a calm come over him. He felt confident that God was going to do it for him again. 
    When a donor was found, his wife rallied prayer support for him. It took two surgeries over two days to transplant the five organs. After the surgeries, Phillip was up and about in a matter of days, something that was uncommon for patients who had undergone this type of surgery. He felt healthier and happier than ever before. He now takes opportunities to tell others how God and the power of prayer saved his life. 
    One of the encouraging things about this testimony is the fact that even when it seemed like it was over for Phillip, God stepped in and came through for him. When he died during the first operation, God came through for him and let him know that it was not over for him. Sometimes, as we go through challenges, we may feel as if it’s over. We may not feel motivated to get back up and go again but, that might be a good time to ask God His opinion on it. You see, what may seem like the end to us, may not be in God’s eyes. What looks like a full stop to us may in fact be a comma to God. God still has the final say.
    When Jairus’ daughter died, it looked like the end to everyone … except Jesus. He told her father: “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” That must not have made any sense since all could see that she had died. But Jesus still had the final say and He had decided that she should live … and she did (Mark 5:21-43).
    The other thing that caught my attention was the fact that after thirteen years of living a normal, healthy life, the problem returned but worse than before - it was no longer one organ in jeopardy but five! It can be discouraging when you think a problem is resolved only to have it return and to be worse than before. You wonder where God is in the midst of all of this. Yet, God never allows anything that He can’t handle. If we did not have to handle it ourselves the first time, we still don’t have to handle it a second time or thereafter. God is still and will still be God no matter what comes our way or how many times it comes our way! What I love about God is the reality that, if He did it before, He will do it again. God is not a one-time God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
    So, be encouraged today. No matter how challenging the problem may be, God is able. He just wants us to trust Him; to trust that He is able and that He is not intimidated by any problem. He is not intimidated even if it presents itself again. What He will prove to us is that if He brought us through before, He can and will certainly bring us through again. We serve a powerful God!
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God will be God no matter what comes your way, no matter how many times it comes your way. If He fights for you once, He will fight for you again and again. He is faithful.​

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