Have you ever been thrust from the quiet of night into a battle between life and death?
I vividly remember dropping to my knees when my house was engulfed in flames, a consequence of an arsonist’s cruel hand. My prayer was simple but profound in that desperate moment: “Help!” Little did I know that this cry for help would set in motion miracles by God.
Miraculously, angels guided my husband home in time, and a fireman found me amidst the flames, calling out, “Come toward the light.” My husband rescued our baby, but we showed signs of smoke inhalation. The ambulance rushed us to the hospital.
When I called my mother from the hospital, she replied to my frantic story about the fire: “Oh, you’re the one I’ve been praying for!”
She had taken a month to pray and fast, focusing on the Scripture, “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2 NIV).
These words, a promise from my mother’s prayer, became the anchor of hope that saw me through the trial. The miracle was that our baby, Rachel Joy, emerged unscathed, defying the odds of oxygen deprivation. She survived and excelled intellectually, a testament to the healing and deliverance through this trauma.
Catalysts for Spiritual Growth
Trauma has a way of revealing the depth of our relationship with Jesus. After the fire, we desperately sought a deeper connection with God. We were already pastors of a local church but needed help to heal our hearts. The trauma of rebuilding our home put undue stress on our marriage. However, God used that fire in our lives to reveal the weak areas in our faith walk.
My journey led me not only to forgive the arsonist who set our house on fire but also to receive more profound healing from past abuse in my life. In the process, our marriage was revitalized. Revival broke out in our hearts and homes.
Hearts Ablaze for Jesus
With newfound freedom, our hearts ignited for Jesus. Revival had come to us and through us, compelling us to share this transformative experience with others. Ministering healing became a regular part of our lives, not just within the church walls but on the streets where everyday miracles unfolded.
Cultivating the Soil of Your Heart for Revival
God uses the difficult things in our lives to pull out the weeds of wounding from our past.
The presence of Holy Spirit breaks up the hard ground of our hearts, shows us how to remove weeds of sin, and soaks the soil with a downpour of His healing rain from Heaven.
I first pondered this concept of God pouring out His healing rain on us when we were part of a pastoral team in Nashville. A woman working on our staff was dealing with breast cancer and trying to heal from a rocky marriage. In my prayer for her, I began to pen lyrics of a song called “Healing Rain.” God is our healer. When we immerse ourselves in Christ’s love, He brings wholeness to our mind, body, and heart.
Reviving Hearts, Homes, and Communities
Pursuing an intimate journey with Jesus is an antidote to religious performance. It’s a call to avoid self-reliance and religious rituals and embrace an intimate relationship with Jesus. As believers pursue Jesus daily, extraordinary miracles promised by Christ become a reality.
Sue Detweiler ministers globally, imparting healing and freedom. Sue is an author, speaker, and host of the Healing Rain podcast, listened to internationally. Sue serves as Executive Director of Life Bridge Global, equipping individuals, churches, and communities through events, training, and online media, broadcasts, and courses.
Sue’s latest book, Healing Rain: Immersing Yourself in Christ’s Love to Find Wholeness of Mind, Body, and Heart (Chosen Books, 2023), is available where books are sold.
