A Young Girl's Healing at Camp

At camp, trusting all-powerful God heals a rib injury.

By NJB, Homewood, IL

Categories: Health

I love camp. The Baptist church I attend has a Bible verse contest, which I enter every year. I've won a full scholarship to camp for three years in a row. The summer I turned 11, the camp needed help in the kitchen and the corral. One week I did dishes with five other girls. One week I was the cook's assistant - her only helper. And for two weeks I worked in the corral, feeding and grooming the horses.

Dishwashing was an easy job, but being the cook's helper and working in the corral helped me to trust God more. A Bible verse that was helpful in every situation is from Philippians (4:13): "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I even put it to music so I could sing it loud when I was afraid. Whenever anything seemed too hard or impossible, I would sing this Bible verse until I felt calm and knew that I wasn't doing things alone.

One day while I was taking care of the horses, I had trouble with a big horse named Sarah. She squashed me into the side rails of the stable and I couldn't get her to budge. It hurt and I started to cry. Sarah didn't move, so I began singing my song! The louder I sang, the more I could feel her easing up and then she moved. I went to the infirmary. The nurse said I probably had a cracked rib. That was the pits. It meant I'd have to stay quiet and miss riding in the rodeo. It just wasn't fair. I hadn't done anything wrong: it was the horse's fault! I was really upset.

The nurse let me call my grandma. She told me to get real quiet and listen to God. She asked me if I could love the horse, love everything about my experience, and love myself. I told her I could. Then she told me to go open my Bible and see what wonderful message God had prepared for me.

I went to the library in the infirmary and took down an old Bible. I sat quietly and prayed and then I opened to Psalm 32:8-11:

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Wow! That was perfect. It was an answer to my prayer. I could rejoice and trust God even if I didn't get to ride in the rodeo. I fell asleep in the chair. The nurse woke me up for dinner and I felt much better. I could breathe and there wasn't any sharp pain. I had to stay in the infirmary that night. But the next day I was well, and ran down to see Sarah. I told her I loved her and I forgave her. She pushed me gently with her nose.

I love being able to trust God with everything in my life.