Story: Amanda’s migraine

“I’m getting a migraine. Who has the med kit?”

I was driving a 15 passenger van in Ensenada, Mexico, with our team of teenagers and my wife and me.

Amanda got emotional. She knew that if she didn’t take something right away, it would get worse and last for days.

She had this system for some time, and her desire was to avoid pain.

“Amanda, why don’t we ask Jesus first, to take your headache away. If nothing happens then you can have the Tylenol.”

I was altering what worked for her. She quickly gave her case and begged me for Tylenol. So I gave my case as kindly and quickly as I could.

“Amanda, just 30 seconds. Then if nothing happens we have Tylenol and Motrin.”

I decided not to take the time to repeat the reasons.

All weekend I had been teaching everyone to stop and ask Jesus what to do first. I used Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6, where it says to just acknowledge Jesus before every decision. Then Jesus would make the path straight and clear.

Amanda said, “OK. 30 seconds.”

I believe I asked Kacy to pray since she was near Amanda. She prayed quickly, and Amanda then asked for the Tylenol.

I replied, “Do you still have pain. Evaluate?”

She evaluated, and there was no pain.

She was startled and emotional and said, “How’d you do that? I don’t have any pain. What did you do?”

I said, “Kacy prayed, but Jesus is the one who removed the pain. Do you still want the Tylenol?”

She said no.

The van was quiet and I kept driving.

Amanda’s personal desire was to just get the quick fix for her migraine, and I was getting in the way. She argued, as I offered a new way a thinking, but eventually agreed to give it a try.

Put your desires under Jesus. Submit to Him first as you make decisions, and He will surprise you.