USA (MNN) — God is a Redeemer and Healer. Dr. Jennifer Murff of the MENA Leadership Center knows that in a deeply personal way.
Murff was diagnosed with a brain AVM (arterial venous malformation). “You actually are born with it, but because it’s hidden, it’s not seen. And so it was kind of shocking, but God is still faithful,” she explains.
After many doctors hesitated to treat her, Murff met a surgeon from Harvard’s hospital who warned her, “You may have to relearn to walk, you may have to relearn to lift your arms, and this could affect this area of your life or this area.”
Murff replied, “Well, do you mind if I just go before the Lord in prayer and let me get back with you?” Prayer with her community brought peace to move forward.
“It was one of those moments where I had to hand everything over to Jesus, a total surrender and trust in Him, that I’m going to serve Him no matter what,” Murff adds.
Representative photo courtesy of Brandi Redd via Unsplash
Recovery came with unexpected challenges. For someone leading an academic and capacity-building institution in the Christian space, the contrast was striking — having a healthy brain on paper, yet at times struggling with things as simple as remembering a password.
Murff says her faith — and the love of her husband and four daughters —c arried her through the hardest days and into healing. She adds, “My husband’s been fighting for me and walking very close with me through all this journey and always pointing to Jesus”.
The church also walked closely with her family, especially as her daughters needed encouragement.
Murff held onto this promise: “We can genuinely lean in and trust that God is going to work all things out to the good of those who love Him, and that He makes no mistakes”.
One meaningful moment came later, when Murff traveled to Switzerland with her family. She turned around and saw her husband crying. He told her, “I would have never, ever thought that you’d be hiking to the Swiss Alps!”
“And so God,” she adds, “is a Redeemer of all things. All of us have lost something in life, but God is a Redeemer. And this was one of those moments that this understanding of Redemption was completely changed in my life and in my mind!”
Praise God — and pray with hope for what He can do in your life!
Visit MENA Leadership Center to learn how their work is accelerating the spread of the Gospel around the world.
Representative photo courtesy of Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels.
