I recently attended a conference for Messianic soldiers. I heard Jonathan share his testimony and was amazed to hear how God healed him. I hope that this testimony will encourage you and strengthen your faith in God. God can heal anything, you only need to believe and thank Him for everything. Our God still performs miracles!
Jonathan’s Testimony:
I’m Jonathan, 22 years old, born and raised in Israel. I grew up in a Messianic family where my parents taught and raised us according to the Bible and faith in Yeshua.
I have believed in Yeshua from a very young age, accepting Him into my life in 2004. As a kid, I was very shy and introverted, and the type of child who does everything that’s expected of him. I wasn’t rebellious. When I was 11, I decided to take a step forward and was baptized. Many people asked me, “Aren’t you too young to decide this?!”, but this decision, I believe, kept me from falling away because I always knew to whom I belong, and knew that I represent Yeshua here in Israel.
I want to point out that I was a very healthy kid. I played sports, exercised daily and did not have any health issues. The last time I was in a hospital was when I was born.
But, my whole life was changed when I was 16 years-old. I was diagnosed with Leukemia. A week before the diagnosis, I had the flu so I went to the doctor to get checked out. I also had an open wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding for about 6 hours. I learned later that these were signs of Leukemia.
I will never forget the moment that my family and I were told by the doctor that I have cancer. I will never forget that genuine fear of dying. I was shocked. I didn’t want to die at a young age.
I found myself, a 16 year-old teenager, 10th grader, spending my time in the hospital in the Oncology department. I spent about half a year receiving chemotherapy treatments. This was a very hard season for me, physically, spiritually and mentally. My faith was shaken to the core as I questioned my faith in God and asked, “How come Yeshua allows this great suffering to happen for people who believe in Him??”, “Where is God in all this suffering?”, “Is God really in control? Because it doesn’t seem to be part of the plan”.
When I look back to the questions I asked, it all lines up to one big plan that God had. It was part of His plan for me, and Yeshua was right beside me during this season in my life, even when I didn’t feel Him.
I can easily say that this season was the worst that I have gone through. I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on my enemies. Looking back, however, I see the amazing things God did and know that spiritually it made me a true disciple of Yeshua.
I saw God’s hand during the chemotherapy treatments. Everything went just like the doctors expected. Before every surgery I prayed to God, and He didn’t let me down. I could feel that He filled me with hope, joy and optimism.
One of the things that really touched my heart was to see the Body of Messiah become one with my pain. Every day I got at least one visit from believers, and many people prayed for me without even knowing me personally.
After half a year in the hospital (from Passover to Hanukkah), I was finally released to go home, but I still had to take medication and get my blood tested. This stage lasted for another 2 years and today I am cancer free!
Having received a clean bill of health, I wanted to join the army (IDF) like all other Israeli youth my age. Initially the army wouldn’t accept me because of the cancer I had. But after much persistence, and a lot of paperwork, they allowed me to join the IDF as a volunteer. I enlisted and became a combat fitness instructor. How ironic, right? Only a few years before I laid in a hospital bed and now I train combat soldiers. What a miracle God performed in my life!
Remember I mentioned I was shy and introverted as a child? Well, this season of trials changed me. I’m no longer ashamed to speak out. I wanted to tell people what Yeshua has done for me and give all the glory to God.