Sally: God Overcomes Emotional Barriers to Heal
The Encounter
During an altar call at church, Cody, a ministry team member, brought Sally forward to get prayer from me. She had been dealing with extreme back and neck pain for weeks, relying on muscle relaxants and struggling to work. Despite receiving multiple prayers, she had seen no improvement. She trusted God but seemed frustrated and doubtful about getting more prayer.
Discerning the Approach
Sensing her emotional state, I asked fewer questions than normal and relied on the Holy Spirit for guidance (Jn 16:13). I invited the Holy Spirit’s presence, hoping to soften any spiritual resistance before proceeding.
During prayer, I sensed that Sally’s back pain was tied to a spiritual attack against her identity as a kingdom-builder, particularly in her work. Over the past year, I had observed similar patterns and healings, but I wasn’t sure if this impression was from the Lord. Instead of sharing it immediately, I chose to pray first.
As I prayed, I saw a slight shift in her countenance, but she reported no change. Moving to a command prayer, I spoke healing over her body, yet her pain persisted.
Breaking the Spiritual Attack
Feeling prompted, I asked, “Are you someone who builds foundations, creates structures, and organizes systems, whether at work or in ministry?” Her face lit up as she confirmed this was true. I shared, “I sense this pain is tied to a spiritual attack against your assignment as a kingdom-builder, especially in your work.” She softened and agreed. Now open to receiving, she raised her hands as I prayed, breaking any spiritual assignments against her. She began to cry and tremble under the power of the Spirit. I stood by her, offering support if needed. After a deep breath, her shoulders relaxed, and I quietly thanked Jesus.
When I asked how she felt, she beamed, moving her neck and shoulders freely. “That was it! The pain is completely gone!” She confirmed that stress at work had been overwhelming, validating the spiritual connection.
Encouragement and Reflection
Before closing, I shared a prophetic word about rest, which resonated with what she had already sensed from God. I blessed her and encouraged her to steward this healing by embracing rest in obedience.
Reflecting on this encounter, I see the importance of humility and sensitivity in healing ministry (Gal 6:10; Col 1:29; 1 Thes 5:11-14). Sally’s emotional barriers initially blocked her from receiving, but by affirming her identity, those walls came down. Sometimes healing requires addressing both spiritual and emotional wounds, as soul-blocks can hinder receiving from God (Mt 6:14-15, 18:35).
It is possible that the combination of emotional wounding and spiritual attack contributed to her back and neck pain. The stress and anxiety she had been under were evident in our conversation. Earlier prayers may not have been effective because the root issue had not been fully addressed. She had given in to fear, faced spiritual opposition, and wrestled with partial unbelief regarding prayer. But when God revealed her identity and assignment, the truth broke through her barriers, bringing healing and freedom.
When someone has emotional walls up, they can also block their ability to receive from God. Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest (Mt 11:28-30), but we must be willing to let go of the burdens we carry. As Dr. Randy Clark teaches, grief, pain, hopelessness, and despair can all impede healing and often need to be addressed through loving prayer for inner healing. In Sally’s case, her healing came when the spiritual root was exposed and surrendered to the Lord.
This testimony is a reminder that God sees us, loves us, and desires wholeness in every aspect of our lives. When we seek Him, He meets us where we are, bringing restoration, freedom, and renewed purpose.
