A Healing Testimony

Mike Sabback

January 2024

A few months ago I was helping my son remodel his condominium in order to list it for sale. This involved working in cramped spaces and with lots of bending and twisting.  As a result, I developed severe low back pain and spasm as well as pain in both hips.

Despite the usual measures of rest, ice, heat etc, the pain persisted and grew worse.  I saw my primary MD who ordered x rays and placed me on anti-inflammatory meds. Despite these measures the pain grew worse and it became difficult for me to walk, stand and also to rest at night.

I requested an MRI Scan and then had a series of nerve blocks to no avail. Finally, I requested consultation with a spine surgeon. The surgeon explained that I had spinal stenosis with a pinched lumbar nerve root which could be relieved by a laminectomy procedure.

Not wanting to have surgery with the holidays coming up, I requested further non operative treatment.  However, the pain and immobility continued to worsen and I requested to be scheduled for the surgery in mid January of 2024,

Throughout this time I had been praying for God’s healing hand to be upon me and had requested healing prayer from many of my friends and fellowship groups.

I was scheduled for a preoperative visit with the surgeon one week before the operation. Two or three days before that visit, I noticed that the pain had decreased somewhat and I was able to rest more comfortably at night.

During the preop visit, the surgeon again explained the procedure and then said that I could wait to have surgery until the pain became unbearable. I was a bit puzzled by that statement since he had not mentioned it at the first visit, but then realized it was the voice of God telling me to postpone surgery.

That same afternoon, we traveled to our second home in Greenville, SC, where we attended a healing service at a local church that evening.  At the end of the healing service we were called forward for prayer and received laying on of hands and anointing with oil.

One of the prayer team mentioned that he had been diagnosed with a back problem requiring surgery several years ago but had decided against surgery and he was eventually healed.  That testimony bolstered my faith.

The morning after the healing service, my pain was at least 50% improved and for the first time I was able to walk standing upright.  I called the surgeon’s office that day and requested that they cancel the surgery.

Now believing that I was being healed by the Lord Jesus in a powerful way, I stopped all medication and cautiously resumed my exercise program.  I have continued to improve daily and look forward to full and complete healing.

I thank God for the healing that He has provided and also thank my many friends in Christ for their prayers, encouragement and counsel during this difficult time.  I continue to meditate on James 5:13-16 and give thanks to God for his powerful healing word.