sarah elizabeth lowe

Feeling my heart lead me to share an old post right now,

one that is really important to my life, to my story.

I have been impacted lately with several close friends and family members who are battling big battles in the spirit.

It has confronted my heart and reminded me of my own battles...and my own healing...

and my own continuing pursuit of FULL freedom.

So, I am going to re-post something I shared a few years back.

I just feel like someone needs to hear it and that God is going to speak...

so thanks for letting me share this again, y'all.

I am writing this to share my testimony.

I may not have all the "answers" here if you have questions about my story or about anything I say,

but please feel free to email me..I would seriously love to talk more about it all.

(ourhopereclaimedblog@gmail.com)

*This is a long one...But it's important. Please keep reading if you feel led.*

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here's part of my story.

I had been in pain for a while.

Not able to write a grocery list without pain in my fingers.

Not able to chop veggies for dinner without pain in my hands.

Unable to hold my arms up to wash my hair for too long.

Extremely tired all the time...but unable to sleep at all.

Unable to exercise like I always had.

Not able to stand for too long without feeling exhausted.

But I could not sit for too long bc my joints would hurt in my hips.

My memory and mind were fuzzy ALL the time.

Lots of "dizzy" spells.

Numbness in my hands, which always scared me when I would drive.

My hormones were completely messed up, and lots of female issues came along with it.

We had lots of testing done.

Lots of doctors. Lots of blood work, cat scans, MRI's, etc.

We were told the possibilities were Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, or MS.

(these possibilities rocked our world, just thinking about them)

No one could figure it out.

Finally, they "diagnosed" me with Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is basically described as "chronic widespread pain",

where the nerves are "overactively responsive",

so that a person dealing with this feels every little twinge or pain or nerve firing in their body.

Where a person without it might have a very normal twitch or cramp in a muscle,

I would be in lots of pain from the same twitch. Does that make sense?

That's how I lived. NOT fun.

(you've probably seen the Fibromyalgia commercials...

there are million of them for different medications to help pain and sleep issues,

none of which ever helped me)

We were desperate.

but we KNEW that God did not want me to live this way.

*if you know us well, you know that I have a petty crazy history of dealing with medical issues since we got married.*

So this was not our first go around with medical stuff, but it was def the most serious.

- - - - - - - - - -

not to get all "we-believe-y" on y'all, but I feel like i should explain where I'm coming from in my faith.

We believe in the supernatural power of God to do the things today that He has done forever.

We believe that He heals, does miracles, does supernatural deliverances.

We believe that he loves to give His children gifts including dreams, visions, heavenly languages, prophecy and aposotlic callings. (among more)

We believe that there is a demonic realm that Satan operates from and through.

We believe that there are demonic spirits that lie and deceive.

We have SEEN it all. Not just heard about it. We have read it in His word, and seen it in our lives.

It's not just something that happens in the "charismatic" or Pentecostal churches. It is real.

We have personally experienced it. Felt it. Known it.

It is the power of Jesus.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Hebrews 13:8

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Ephesians 6:12

All that to say, I had been prayed for many times for healing,

and this time with the Fibromyalgia was no different.

But we were honestly fed up and just worn down.

We were desperate.

Yet, we felt like He had said that this was not a forever-thing.

- - - - - - - - - -

We had heard of this week-long conference that teaches about the spiritual roots of disease.

We knew several people who had been and had amazing experiences.

But we had no idea what to expect.

We thought we were going to a revival-like mass healing conference.

But it turned out that it was a week long of being taught about scripture and what the Lord says

about disease, healing, and the roots of sin and lies from Satan.

We literally just soaked in it from 9-5 every day, and then again each night.

Only a few times were there times for "healing prayer" and "deliverance prayer".

During this week, I came to really understand that I had been living in fear for a long time.

This week allowed me to delve into the roots of it, to explore all the lies I had believed for so long.

(The main lie that led to my fear was that God was not my ultimate Protector.)

We knew that I had lived under the spirit of Fear for a while,

but had no idea what needed to happen to be free from it.

And I dont think I realized the major connection between fear and my health struggles.

then.

(back-track a sec with me)

ON THE WAY to this conference, we crossed the Mississippi river.

Parker was driving. (fear of not being in control of the car)

We were going over a river (i feared drowning)

on an overpass (I hated overpasses)

We were coming up next to an 18 wheeler (another fear)

then the lane ended and Parker had to make a quick move next to the big truck (more fear)

With all those put together...

my body literally felt SHOCKS going though it.

Shocks of pain.

Shocks of FEAR.

that's when I knew it was all connected.

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When I say that I was bound up in fear, that would be a understatement.

It consumed my mind AND my body.

anxiety, fear, unrest...no peace.

But at the same time. I did not walk around outwardly thinking

"oh my gosh I'm gonna be hit by a bus today!".

It had just become almost my mode of operation. A subconscious mindset.

I think that's why it started affecting me internally so badly.

And really no one besides Parker knew what a big struggle this was for me.

what did I fear?

anything. And I don't mean fear like I had phobias...I mean like i would always listen to thoughts that were the opposite of what was true and right and good.)

Like even when I was healthy, I would fear being sick.

Long before I ever thought about having kids, I feared I wouldn't be able to.

When I drove next to 18 wheelers, I feared them toppling over on my car.

I feared bridges. I would white-knuckle the handles in my car if someone else was driving.

I feared rejection...big time. and funny thing is...

I am a social person, but I always had walls up due to this fear.

I feared my husband leaving me.

I feared someone breaking in or attacking me.

the list goes on and on really.

These may sound like all "normal" fears to you, maybe you fear all these things.

But you know how I knew it was getting out of hand?

when I started FEARING FEAR.

stop and think about that. It does sound a little crazy I know.

But when I got to this point...

I KNEW I needed freedom. Like more than just some good scripture memorization

or a prayer for peace.

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One evening at this conference,

they said the Lord was leading them to do a prayer for deliverance from the demonic spirit of fear

for whoever needs it.

(deliverance basically means "freedom from a bondage or danger")

*deliverance is WHY Jesus came for us!!*

But he wants more than just our entrance to Heaven.

He desires for us to be free HERE and NOW.

"It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free."

Galatians 5:1

This is where it may all sound a little crazy to you,

but I feel released to share it, and am hopeful it will bless.

I held out my hands to receive the prayer.

Next thing I knew I was on my knees, shaking, dry-heaving and crying.

I felt like it lasted forever.

(but I think it was just a minute or two)

and then.

PEACE.

complete peace.

chills, good chills.

An overwhelming feeling I have only experienced a handful of times in His Presence.

Like a wave washing over me.

*not all deliverances or healings are like mine. God can do it with a whisper if He wants to. But I believe He did it this way for ME because I needed to FEEL it all physically...like a representation that HE could give me the opposite of what I had been feeling in my body for so long*

- - - - - - - - - - -

Throughout the rest of the week,

I continued to learn, soak in, and believe, the freedom God had for me.

And so He started showing me that I indeed was free.

Remember how I said I couldn't write my grocery list without pain?

well, get this...

I took almost half a notebook of notes the rest of the conference.

That was a miracle.

The healing had already begin.

(AND IT CONTINUES TODAY.)

Over the course of several weeks following,

and DAILY surrendering my mind (literally taking every thought captive)

and believing HIS LOVE for me rather than FEAR...

I started to be free from all my symptoms.

I started gaining back strength. I started sleeping again.

I was able to work out again.

My memory and mind started clearing.

AND.

Remember how I also told you that my hormones had been really messed up?

(Ill spare you all those details, but according to my OBGYN, it was going to be really hard to get pregnant

until we figured all my other health stuff out.)

We got pregnant with Abigail 3 weeks after I was delivered from fear.

And I had an amazingly healthy pregnancy.

The healthiest I have ever been in my life.

and it continues.

I no longer have the pain or exhaustion from the "disease".

I have been freed from this bondage to fear.

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So why do I share all this with you?

What are my hopes in opening up my personal testimonies to you?

What are you supposed to do with this?

Maybe you are living in fear.

Maybe you are living with disease or pain.

Maybe you have had questions about IF the Lord can still heal today.

I do not have all the answers.

I do not know why some people are healed and some aren't.

But I do know this.

God is good.

and He is capable.

He is capable and willing to love on you where you are,

whether that means bringing you to a place of freedom and healing.

or giving you supernatural peace in the midst of the suffering.

Also, I want you to know that these things are indeed possible.

I believe with all my heart that God DOES desire for each of us to know His goodness.

It IS possible to be free from fear and sickness...if that is HIS desire for you.

But I would definitely start asking Him if it is, if you haven't already.

And ask Him to show you what lie you might be believing,

or if there is a deep wound that needs healing.

I cannot tell you how many people we now know (personally), and also testimonies we have heard,

who when they became free from certain lies in their minds...

their bodies were healed.

I think so many people put so much weight in what doctors say, or put so much hope in getting a diagnosis. I know I did.

When really,

it MAY be that all you need is to be free from a bondage that has such a hold on you

that it has made you sick.

Just ask Him about it.

I want freedom for you.

And I can't imagine how He feels.

Because He loves you so much.

- - - - - - - - - -

...more to come...

Thanks for reading y'all.

It means the world to me

I feel so honored to share my story here, and am trusting God to use it.

I will definitely continue to post more about all these things,

but if you want to chat at all, please email me.

I'd love to hear your stories.

Love y'all.

y'all. I am so honored and excited to be sharing our love story on one of my best friends' blogs today.
Danielle does the "A Love Story" series every February and I have always enjoyed reading people's love stories...and this year? I get to share ours!
go check it out here!!

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here's a little sneak at my post...

I am Sarah, and my man is Parker. :)
We celebrated 10 years of marriage last August, and still can't believe it has been so long!
(yep, I was young when we got married...I was 20 and he was 25.)
To say it's been a crazy journey might be a little bit of an understatement.
But through it all...God has been good.

I consider our journey to be one of love growing because of hard times.
And seeing that love grow, through it all, is what makes it our love story.

backtrack to Fall of 2002...
I came home to Dallas from my sophomore year of college at Baylor one weekend in September.
I went that Saturday night to the home of my spiritual parents/mentors who were hosting a worship and prayer time.
Parker, who was also close to this couple, had come home from law school in Oklahoma that weekend too, and was at this worship night.
Afterwards, some of us were hanging around in the kitchen and we started chatting. I had heard this guy's name before from Joe and Kim (our spiritual parents). He was cute and we were def flirting a little bit. I didn't know it at the time, but he already had known who I was, because he had inquired about me before to Joe and Kim! I didn't really remember meeting him before (oops), and then it came out while we were flirting that I didnt even know he had gone to the same high school as me (double oops)! I mean, he IS 5 years older. ha!

Later that night, we exchanged emails and Instant Messenger names (umm, hello does AOL even exist anymore? we are getting old, people.)
Back at Baylor two days later, I got an email from him, we chatted online a bit, and we then exchanged numbers. (why we didn't just do that in the first place, i dont know. Trying to be cool with IM and hotmail accounts, I suppose).
We talked... all. the. time.
For hours at a time. At all hours.
The 6 hours between us (me in Waco, TX and he in Norman, OK) forced us to talk.
Sharing life, stories, dreams, passions, goals, struggles, and just our day without seeing each other in person much was hard, but it was such a great foundation for us.
And the cool thing is, it is still our favorite thing to do...just sit and talk about anything and everything.
(I love that my man is a good talker. And a good listener. God knew I needed that, ha)

Then the whirlwind of falling in love and getting married began...

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go read the rest of our story on Danielle's blog (click here),
and be sure to follow along on her blog this month to read other love stories from some amazing women!
((Thanks Danielle, love you friend!))

the blog

Noonday trunk show and giveaway coming soon!

my testimony of deliverance from fear, and healing from Fibromyalgia

our love story

Why I Blog

remembering my Daddy today...

sarah elizabeth lowe