We all have probably read many devotionals about the power of prayer, but I don’t think there can ever be too many testimonies about the goodness of God. In the past few months, I have been praying about my prayer life, reading Youversion Bible plans about prayer, and relying on God through prayer instead of needing/wanting control over what happens in my life. I needed to decrease so God could increase.
In September of 2024, we found out our son, Ethan, who loves the game of baseball, needed labrum surgery on his shoulder. He was starting his junior year of high school, so this was a particularly difficult time to hear this news. He would miss the whole season. As a mom, it was so hard to process, always wanting my boys’ dreams to come true. I prayed. I told him, “Maybe you won’t miss the whole season”, while he kept telling me, “A torn labrum is 5-6 months recovery. I’m out for the season.” I still kept saying, “You never know. You could heal faster. You’re young.” And prayed. I got eyes rolled and Ethan telling me I didn’t know what I was talking about. TEENS! So I prayed. And prayed. I knew so many others were praying for him as well.
The Sunday before surgery, I wrote a prayer request on the prayer card at church. The day before, I asked for prayer on social media from friends and family. Many texts were sent out and returned with prayers. I received messages, texts, and phone calls from friends and family telling us they were praying. I was starting to feel nervous the night before, but as I heard from friends and family telling me they were praying for Ethan, and all of us, I felt a calm; a sense of peace. I could feel the prayers surrounding Ethan and our family.
When it was time for Ethan to go back for preop procedures, he could only have one parent go back with him. He chose Mike! Imagine my hurt! 😂 Mike graciously told Ethan that he knows I’d want to be with him in those two hours of prep. (Ethan told me on the way back he picked Mike because he knew Mike wouldn’t talk the whole time 😊). His nurse and I talked the WHOLE time! She was a blessing…she took my mind off of everything going on. Another answer to prayer. I still felt no worry. Before Ethan was taken to the surgery room, I prayed over him (I may have cried a little then), and then he was off. I still had peace with everything that was happening. Mike went to pick up lunch, because it was a two hour surgery. After one hour, we got the text that Ethan was in recovery. I told Mike, our prayers have been answered; his labrum wasn’t torn. Ethan’s surgeon had told us a month before, he wasn’t convinced Ethan had a complete tear, but there was something on the MRI. We opted to go in to scope and see what was going on since this was the second time he had this injury. I felt, in that moment, when he was out of surgery sooner than expected, he didn’t have a full tear. Prayers answered. But, still waiting. And praying.
When we got to see Ethan after surgery, and met with the surgeon, he told us there was NO tear at all in his labrum (not what the MRI showed) and that all he could see that was wrong was some fraying of his rotator cuff, which could have been causing the pain (fixed during surgery). From a surgery that would keep him from playing baseball for 5-6 months, went to 4 weeks, and we were overjoyed! My first thought was, God has answered our prayers! Then I thought, “Did God heal Ethan through prayer?” I texted Pastor Jon, letting him know the good news and he asked me the same, “Do you think he was healed?” I ABSOLUTELY, without a doubt believe God heard all of our prayers and went before the surgeon to heal Ethan. Several of our friends echoed the same thoughts. God heals. God hears. God knows. We may not know for sure on this side of eternity, but I KNOW God heard hundreds of prayers before, during, and after Ethan’s surgery. Ethan has been a witness for Jesus on his baseball teams and has invited many to church with him…I believe God still wants Ethan to use his gift for His glory. Ethan had his best season so far this last year, and despite being at a new school, has become a leader on his team. God gives us all gifts and allows us to use them to witness to others.
God’s work in Ethan’s story didn’t end there. Join me in tomorrow morning’s devotion for part two, where I’ll share what happened next and how this journey deepened our faith even more.