Healed Neck at the Sports Store

One Friday this past July, I went to a local sporting goods store to get a basketball net for my son. When I entered the store, I walked past a store employee having a rather intense conversation on his cell phone with what seemed to be a nurse or appointment clerk at a doctor's office. I didn't have to eavesdrop to take note of what the young man was loudly talking about - he was suffering terrible pain in his neck and upper back, and he wanted to be seen by his doctor as soon as possible.

He stayed on the phone for some time, and so after I finished my shopping, I found him, confessed I'd overheard him talking about his neck pain and asked him what happened. He said he'd woken up with it, that he got "cricks" in his neck from time to time, but nothing anywhere near as painful as this. We talked a little about chiropractors, but then I said, "I've seen the Lord Jesus heal people of sore necks and I believe He wants to heal your neck right now. May I pray for you?"

My offer ambushed the young man, but he was in such pain he agreed anyway. I prayed, and the Lord came and touched him, though neither one of us knew it in the moment. So when I finished praying, I asked, "How's your neck now?"

Very gingerly he started moving his head and neck around, and realized all the pain was gone. He couldn't believe it at first. "I feel... good." "Is it fifty percent? One hundred?" He checked it some more. "It's totally fine. No pain. Oh my god!"

The funny thing is that the young man was so unsettled by this miracle, he got nervous and all but ran off to get back to work and get away from this stranger who had prayed for him. As he took off, I told him, "Jesus did that for you. He's real and He loves you!"

That young man was stunned by what happened, but there's no question now, he had an undeniably real encounter with a real and loving Father. More for him, Lord!

- M.R.