Janet: From Pain to Joy

A Divine Encounter

On a Saturday during prayer, I received two mental impressions, slightly separated by a pause: “blue sweater” and then, a few seconds later, “lower back pain.” The next morning, during worship, I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to step into the lobby. As I turned, I noticed a woman leaving her seat—wearing a blue sweater. Instantly, my spirit leapt: That’s her.

I hurried to catch up with her and introduced myself, recognizing her as someone I had greeted once before at church. I explained, “I’m practicing words of knowledge for healing, and I sensed there was someone here in a blue sweater with lower back pain. Could that be you?”

Her eyes widened. “Oh yes, that word is definitely for me!”

Listening and Discerning

I asked for her name—Janet—and invited her to share about her back pain. She told me she had suffered injuries from two traumatic car accidents years ago. The pain never fully went away; it was a constant, dull ache she had learned to live with. When I asked her to rate her current pain level on a scale of 0 to 10, she hesitated but settled on a five.

As we talked, I noticed she repeatedly reassured me of her faith. “I’ve been prayed for so many times,” she said. “I believe God will heal me—someday.”

I sensed an underlying fear—perhaps she had been told before that her healing depended on her faith, and she didn’t want to be seen as lacking. In some churches, especially in certain Slavic communities, people struggling with chronic illness are sometimes accused of “not having enough faith.” While I didn’t ask her directly, her words hinted at past wounds. So instead of pressing further, I chose to pray.

Prayer and Confirmation

I gently told Janet, “I believe God wants to heal you today. The word of knowledge was a gift just for you—it’s His way of showing how deeply He loves and sees you.”

She agreed to prayer, and I asked if I could lay a hand on her shoulder. Before praying, I paused to listen to the Holy Spirit. A thought came immediately: God wants to give her more joy.

I shared this with her, and her face lit up. “God just told me that in service! That’s confirmation!”

Faith stirred in both of us. I prayed, “Jesus, thank You for Janet. Thank You for Your love and joy over her life. In Your name, I command all pain to leave her back. Every injury, be healed right now in Jesus’ name.”

The Moment of Healing

After a moment, I asked Janet how she felt. She smiled but stayed still. I demonstrated moving my back and encouraged her to do the same.

She hesitated. “It’s gone,” she said softly, almost in disbelief. “But I’m afraid to move too much. Sometimes I feel better for a while, but then the pain comes back.”

I understood. She had been let down before. I asked if I could pray again, and she agreed.

“Jesus, I thank You for Janet’s healing. I bless her back with strength and protection. I ask that You seal what You’ve done today and fill her with even more joy.”

As I prayed, she gasped. “I feel strength in my back—it felt unstable before, but now it’s strong!”

A Deeper Revelation

After prayer, Janet shared more of her journey. She believed her back pain was tied to past struggles with sexual sin. For years, she had battled shame and addiction to masturbation, and she had noticed that the pain was worse the morning after she gave in to temptation. But recently, she had a powerful moment of deliverance in prayer—and since then, she hadn’t struggled.

With newfound freedom, she was ready to believe for her full healing.

I rejoiced with her and encouraged her: “God has brought you so far. Keep pressing into intimacy with Him—this is your inheritance.”

Walking in Freedom

I believe Janet’s full healing was possible because the door that had allowed affliction—habitual sin—was now closed. Often, unhealed wounds or spiritual strongholds can block physical healing. If she hadn’t experienced breakthrough, I would have invited the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of unforgiveness, including forgiving herself. But in her case, healing came quickly, with no further barriers!

Her story is a testimony of God’s relentless pursuit. He saw her. He called her out. And He set her free.

This is the beauty of God’s healing power—it’s not just about physical restoration. It’s about complete wholeness, inside and out.