A story told by Emily Belle Freeman on the power of prayer and the miracle that occurred when her daughter was injured on the playing field. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devotionals, FHE, Family Home Evening, Gospel Teaching, Teaching the Savior's Way, Teaching No Greater Call, Come Follow Me, Gospel Doctrine, Lesson Helps, Primary, YW, Young Womens, Relief Society, Sacrament Talks, Inspirational, Motivational, www.melanieslibrary.com, come follow me December 2 - 8, prayer, answer to prayer

I was fortunate to hear Emily Belle Freeman speak at a Time Out for Women in Mesa, Arizona. At the event, she told this incredibly touching story about her daughter and the prompting she had received to pray for her. The story has stayed with me as a reminder of how powerful prayer can be and how important it is in our lives. 

I have recently been reading Emily’s new book “Even This.” I was thrilled to find that she included in her book this powerful story that I had remembered.

The story is as follows:

I close my eyes and focus on soaking up the warmth of the sun. It is halftime, and I am exactly where I most love to be: on the sideline, cheering on my girls and their coach. This is my joy.

Just before the game is about to resume, I hear the prompting. Pray for protection for Meg. My heart begins to beat a little faster, but I rest in gratitude for the prompting. I will. I begin to pray. And every few minutes for the rest of the half, I continue that prayer. For protection. For Meg.

It is in the last two minutes of the game that it happens. Meg comes around the back of the goal intent on defending it. Her cleats move quickly across the turf, her lacrosse stick raised. She rushes the goal just as the opponent shoots, releasing the ball in one fluid motion, sending it flying toward the left corner of the net. It happens so fast that I can’t see where the ball went; I just see Meg collapse on the ground.

The referees run over. They yell frantically for the coach, their arms beckoning in urgency. I watch Greg run from the coach’s box and kneel down at our daughter’s side and then hear him yelling for me to grab the keys. I watch him scoop Meg up in his arms, how he cradles her against his body as he begins to run. I follow, trying to catch up, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Keys in hand. Pain shooting through my heart. Why did the protection not come? Why? Why, God?


I look Meg over carefully when we get in the car. Her left eye is swollen beyond recognition. Where soft lashes would normally rest on smooth skin, I see her bruised and reddened skin stretched tight. A huge mass swells where her eye would normally be, as if a golf ball has been inserted underneath. She is in intense pain, and we drive the two blocks to where the hospital waits, just down the street from the high school field.

We enter the emergency room and the medical staff takes over, using sophisticated machinery to assess the damage. Bright lights. Blue gloves. Meg whimpering in pain. I try to chase the bitterness from my heart. Why did He not hear my prayer? Why send the prompting if it wasn’t going to be answered? I feel the anger rush in with the fear, the doubt settling in thick. There is no trusting here. 

Finally, Meg is calm. The doctor walks in from looking at the reports and sits on the round black stool to talk to Greg and me. “She is really lucky,” he says. “A quarter inch lower and it would have shattered her cheekbone; a quarter inch higher and it would have damaged her eye; a quarter inch to the left and it would have hit a major artery – she could have been killed.” He paused for a moment and then said the words I will never forget. “Your daughter was miraculously protected.”

Prayer can make all the difference. Never underestimate the power of prayer.

*This story was taken from her book “Even This.” It, along with other great books by Emily, are available on her website www.emilybellefreeman.com or on Amazon.

You can also hear her book on audio through the Deseret Bookshelf Plus Program. To try it out for FREE for 30 days or for more info, click HERE 

Hear a true story told by Elder Rasband on how Satan tries to get us to NOT act upon the answers we receive from our prayers. Click HERE

Sincerely, 

Melanie's Library

 

 

 

P.S. For more great gospel resources to use at home or in your calling, be sure and sign up for my monthly Finding JOY Newsletter. 

 

 

Disclaimer: Melanie’s Library is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.