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We view the Bible as our daily problem solver.
We turn to the Bible for inspiration, insight,
comfort, guidance, and answers for our troubled
world.
Laryngitis Healed through Prayer
As a sophomore in college, I participated in
a lot of extra-curricular activities. I loved
to dance; I loved to play sports; and I loved
to sing. One term that year, I decided to join
the chorus. We were going to learn a number of
different pieces that we would sing in a big concert
at the end of the quarter. I was so excited. I
loved the music the choir director had selected
for us.
About three weeks away from the concert, my throat
began to hurt. I was so busy with all my classes
and other activities that I just tried to ignore
the problem. But a few days later, I couldn't
speak a word. I had completely lost my voice.
Speaking and, of course, singing became increasingly
more difficult to the point where nothing but
a funny little noise would come out of my mouth.
Still, I just ignored the problem. Final projects
and exams were quickly approaching, and I figured
that so long as I was feeling fine physically,
I was sure my voice would return in a matter of
days. Well, this didn't happen. A week went by,
two weeks went by, and even three weeks went by,
and I still wasn't able to use my voice. By this
point, I was very frustrated because the chorus
concert was only a day away, and I did not want
to miss out on it. So I made the conscious decision,
right then and there, that I would be a part of
that concert the following night, and nothing
could prevent me from participating.
I realized that I had been so swamped by everything
else going on in my life that I had put aside
the one thing I knew how to do best -- and that
was to pray. I decided to go and spend some quiet
time in our care facility on campus, where I could
get away from everything else that was going on.
I stayed up almost all night, praying. I thought
about all the qualities of music, and I realized
that it did not make sense that I could be prevented
from expressing such qualities as harmony, joy,
and beauty. I opened the Bible to one of my favorite
Psalms: "Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving…"
(Ps. 147:7). That's all I needed! I knew that
God was taking care of me. With that thought in
mind, I went to sleep.
The next morning, I left the care facility so
that I could go to class. While it still was a
little difficult to talk, I did not let this bother
me. I completely trusted God that I would be able
to sing in the concert that night.
That night, I arrived at the auditorium an hour
early because the chorus was going to have their
final rehearsal before the show. Right before
we started, I closed my eyes and thought about
what my role was in that concert. I realized that
my job was to do nothing but express harmony,
joy, and beauty. How could I be prevented from
doing that? Just then, our choir director came
onto the stage so that we could warm up. The music
started; we all stood up; and the notes just belted
out of me. I sang every song in that concert that
night without any trouble at all. I was so grateful!
Kerri H. Martina
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