What 3 Strokes Taught Me About Faith

In 2010, I experienced three strokes in rapid succession.

Suddenly, the left side of my body was numb. I struggled to use my arm and leg. Simple tasks became difficult, and everything took more effort than before.

By that point in my life, I had already walked through a major health battle. Years earlier, I had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and learned many lessons about healing, faith, and trusting God.

But every trial is different.

What I discovered is that while God's principles never change, each challenge gives us a new opportunity to decide what we truly believe.

When Symptoms and Scripture Disagree

One of the first questions I had to answer was this:

Would I believe my symptoms, or would I believe God's Word?

The symptoms were real. The diagnosis was real. The limitations were real.

But God's promises were real too.

Many Christians know what the Bible says, but when a crisis comes, we discover whether those truths have truly taken root in our hearts.

That's where faith becomes more than a theological concept.

It becomes a choice.

Hope Brings You to the Door. Faith Walks Through It.

For years, I thought hope and faith were almost the same thing.

They're not.

Hope looks forward and says, "Maybe God will do something."

Faith says, "God has spoken, and I trust Him."

Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

In other words, faith doesn't wait until everything changes before believing.

Faith believes first.

Then it acts.

I Kept Doing What I Could Do

After the strokes, I continued serving in the ministry.

I answered emails.

I packed books.

I worked through the mistakes and frustrations.

Everything took longer. Sometimes much longer.

I made typing errors. I struggled physically. I had to work harder to accomplish simple tasks.

But I refused to let my symptoms define my identity.

Instead of acting like someone defeated, I chose to keep moving forward one step at a time.

Not because it was easy.

But because faith requires action.

Faith Isn't Passive

One lesson I've learned repeatedly is that faith isn't just agreeing with God's Word.

Faith responds to God's Word.

It's possible to say all the right things while still living as though circumstances have the final authority.

Real faith affects our decisions, our actions, and our attitude.

It shows up in the way we live.

God Is Faithful

Over the following months, the symptoms gradually disappeared.

Strength returned.

Feeling returned.

And eventually I was back to normal activities.

Looking back, I'm grateful not only for the healing but also for the lessons God taught me along the way.

If you're facing a challenge today, whether it's health-related or something entirely different, I want to encourage you:

God is faithful.

His promises have not changed.

Your circumstances may be loud, but they do not have the final word.

Keep seeking Him.

Keep filling your heart with His truth.

Keep taking the next step of faith.

And remember—what seems impossible to us is never impossible for God.

If you'd like to hear the full story of my recovery from three strokes and the lessons God taught me through that journey, I invite you to watch the complete video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04NOt9cOnM

And while you're there, don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you won't miss future videos on faith, healing, and living in the hope and promises of God.