Deliverence for Patience

I wanted to share an encouraging story about what God recently did.

Patience is a 15 year old female who was admitted to our hospital one evening.  She was totally disoriented and was suicidal.  Her husband reported that for a month or longer she was refusing to eat, was having visual and auditory hallucinations, as well as various delusions. 

The next morning when I met her she was lying in bed with an apathetic expression and a hollow/blank look in her eyes.  I sensed that there was a spiritual problem present rather than a medical one.  As I evaluated her, I noticed a red string around her neck which held an item blessed by her religious leader.  (Many people here wear a string around their neck or waist as a way to protect themselves or ward off evil spirits.)  She was part of a cult that did not believe that Jesus is God, but rather their prophet/leader was God.

I said through the interpreter, “This necklace cannot protect you, only Jesus can protect you. This is not helping you.  Can I remove it?”  After hesitating, she agreed.  I broke the string and threw it away.  Then I asked if I could pray for her and she reluctantly agreed.  I prayed a prayer of deliverance over her and wrote an order for the chaplains to come pray with her as well.

The next morning, during rounds, I saw Patience, but she was a totally different woman.  She had already eaten breakfast, and was peacefully sitting up in bed, smiling.  The change was so dramatic it was amazing. As I sat on her bed, she immediately said in English, “Thank you.  I am free.” I excitedly replied, “Jesus did this!  Jesus set you free!”  Her nurse told me that her confusion, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts were all gone. Patience told me that she prayed to my God the night before.  I was very excited for her and proceeded to thank the Lord for delivering this young woman.  Since she lives near the hospital, I invited her to come to our church and said she could even sit with my family.

Seeing what God did with Patience has been invigorating.  It reminded me that Jesus came to, “heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free.”