DAILY DEVOT IONAL 39
Anaiza Cruz
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. - James 5:14-15
PERSONAL STORY:
At the age of 14, I moved out of my parents’ house to live with my aunt. As a small, shy freshman, it was clear to anyone who looked at me that I didn’t quite fit in. I often found myself sitting in the first three rows of every class, and I wasn’t "up to date" with the latest clothing trends. My freshman year was a struggle. I faced loneliness, heartache, and the constant battle to find my place. The weight of being an outcast was heavy, and it felt as though I was just drifting through a sea of uncertainty.
In 2023, my heart was burdened with pain, confusion, and bullying. I often felt like I didn’t belong anywhere, but God was still at work in my life, even when I couldn’t see it. His grace was with me, even in my darkest moments, quietly guiding me through the storms.
Then, something changed during my sophomore year. Three months had passed since the start of the school year, and one day I noticed a bright orange poster on the auditorium doors. It was an audition notice for the spring musical, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Something stirred in me. Maybe it was God’s whisper telling me to step out of my comfort zone. I decided to audition, thinking, "Why not?"
To my surprise, I got in. It was in this new, theatrical world that I found peace, hope, and healing. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I belonged. The stage became a place where I could express myself, and through it, I began to experience the healing touch of God. It was there that I realized: that God doesn’t leave us in our struggles. He uses every part of our journey—our pain, our doubts, and our challenges—to bring us closer to His purpose and His healing.
Looking back, I see how God was working even when I felt abandoned. He led me to a place of peace and hope, and through His grace, I found a new sense of belonging. Today, He is the source of my strength, and His healing power is always at work, transforming our brokenness into something beautiful.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before You today with a heart full of hope. I ask that everyone who has read or heard these words be filled with renewed faith and trust in Your healing power. May they leave today with hearts and minds anchored in the truth that healing is on the way, and that tomorrow holds the promise of a better day.
Lord, help them trust the journey You have set before them, knowing that with each step, You are guiding them. May they see Your faithfulness, like a rainbow after every storm, a reminder of Your constant presence and care.
I pray that my journey of growth and transformation today might inspire others to find peace and hope in You. May they be encouraged to embrace the future, knowing that You are at work in their lives.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I pray
Amen.