Let Faith Arise

Let Faith Arise by *Samantha Barber

*Samantha Barber is a woman of great faith whose profession of faith in the LORD JESUS CHRIST was attacked by the enemy in a way that was designed to crush her – the evil one attacked her child.

Most people are able to stand fast when they are assaulted – whether physically or relationally or financially – but the enemy knows that the weak point in the armor of even the staunchest believer involves her children.

Samantha’s story is one of faith and steadfastness when that weak point in her spiritual armor was assailed by GOD’S ancient foe.

You will be blessed to read her story because it demonstrates how the CHRIST she serves is faithful and how a devastating blow can become a glorious testimony.

Here is Samantha’s story:

Walking the road of the unknown scares me because most of my life prior to my salvation was controlled by abuse. When I became free, I endeavored to control everything around me to prevent abuse from ever affecting me again and I strove to shelter my family from the misery I had experienced.

That control seemed to work well when life was going my way. I managed the simple routine events with confident success, but challenges beyond my ability to handle awakened me to the great limitation of my own ability to control circumstances.

At this point, the glorious God that I serve stepped in and said through words I heard in my spirit, “You have no choice but to trust Me for the next trial you face, for I am taking you on an Abrahamic journey and your sufficiency will come totally from Me.”

I came to recognize my total dependency upon the Lord in December of 2019, when my daughter called me from her dorm in excruciating pain. She had been in pain for three days, but it got so bad she couldn't keep food down, so, she went to the infirmary at James Madison University where she is a student.

Her pain at this point was excruciating and the school infirmary did not have the resources or the personnel to handle it so she was sent to a local hospital emergency room.

I was called by the friend who escorted her to the hospital and immediately upon receipt of the call I began my dark journey into the spiritual battle that was unfolding in the life of my child. As I was drawing into the unknown, I asked my God, for insight. I asked, “What is this, Jesus? Why have You allowed the enemy to attack my baby?”

Upon my arrival at the hospital, I dried my tears and tried to collect myself. I should have been nominated for an academy award as I walked into the ER because I was the epitome of a strong, poised woman. I don’t think the staff had any idea of the anguish and turmoil that were going on inside of the frightened mama that I really was.

After an hour and a half of waiting, I was finally directed into a room where I was shown the results of the ultrasound that had been administered to my child. There I was shown the image of the baseball-sized solid tumor on her ovary that was the cause of her pain. I was informed that a specialist must be called in and plans be made for immediate surgery.

The emergency room physician explained that more tests would be done to determine whether surgery would be required that night or if it could be arranged within the week. The determining factor was the amount of blood that was going to the affected area. They found that there was a sufficient blood supply to the ovaries so there was no need for surgery that night.

It was 4:30 in the morning when she was released from the hospital and we went to her apartment. Her pain was so severe that she could not move without help.

The next day we got an appointment to see a specialist who read the ER reports and agreed with the diagnosis. She further explained that she sees only one or two of these tumors a year because they are rare.

In the meantime, I am praying and beseeching the Lord for answers to this devastating circumstance that has come into the life of my child and of all who love her. At the time of my deep fear and anxiety, God’s silence was deafening.

On the day of operation, the actual surgery was delayed two times for reasons that were not explained to me. When they finally got my daughter into the operating room, something inexplicable happened--when they attempted to begin the surgery, her heart rate soared to the point that they had to stop!

The surgeon came out to speak to me. As a woman of faith who had been praying for a miracle since this ordeal began, I was anticipating that the surgeon would tell me that the tumor was gone. My faith fell, however, when the doctor explained they had to stop surgery due to her heart rate. He said they would wait until it went down, and then try again.

Her heart rate did return to normal and they began the surgical procedure a second time. However, as soon as they began again, her heart rate escalated again, so, they could not do the surgery!

I was broken. I was confused because my daughter had never had any type of heart issues at all. This attack on her heart, on top of the tumor she had, left me crying out to the Lord that I did not understand. I prayed, my friends and family prayed, I cried. I beseeched the Lord to give me the answers I needed. I implored Him to comfort me and give me faith to trust Him and His faithfulness.

Failing in our attempt to secure a cardiologist at the hospital because my girl’s admission was just to the surgical unit, we left for home with more unanswered questions and no medical solutions.

The complication from the heart problem delayed the surgery that was still hanging over us. My anguish for my child was complete and my confusion at the twists and turns that prevented her receiving the care she needed made me wonder how my faith could transform this dark episode in our lives when everything just seemed to get worse.

By God’s grace, we were able to obtain an appointment with a cardiologist the following day. He gave her a heart monitor to wear for 48 hours and arranged a follow-up appointment.

Hanging over us was the possibility of the tumor becoming so much worse that it would cause her the loss of her ovary. After a day of crying out to God and laying my hands on my daughter and seeking wisdom I scheduled an appointment for her to see my personal doctor who is also a surgeon. My confidence in this doctor is very great because he saved both our lives when I was pregnant with her. My circumstances then were quite dire but he was used at that time by the Lord to deliver me and my miracle baby.

After reviewing the reports of the physicians who had been involved, and evaluating all that had transpired, my doctor agreed that she needed surgery, but after they scheduled surgery he said, “Let's do another scan.”

After reviewing the scan, my doctor said to my daughter and me, “Your heart rate increase may have saved you from having unnecessary surgery. The tumor is no longer a solid mass; it is a cyst that is composed of water.”

All praise be to God for this beautiful miracle. My beautiful child is pain free without any surgery required. Her heart rate has normalized. Her faith, like her mother’s, has been deepened by the glorious miracle our Jesus worked before our eyes!

Our Lord is still in the business of answering prayers and working in the behalf of His people. Jesus is still the miracle worker He has always been! “He is the same yesterday, today and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8).

If there is a problem in your life that is beyond your ability to control; if you are beset by “the little foxes that spoil the vines,” (Song of Solomon 2:15) you are a candidate for a miracle. Whether your problem is large or small, you have a Savior who wants to show Himself strong for you.
May this glorious story encourage your faith at the point of your need.