Today’s Miracle Monday is an experience submitted by Sister Rosanne Champine. It could’ve been titled “Is My All(egra) on the Altar?” Read on to see why…

It was early spring 2018. My husband and I were out of town, and we had been invited to another branch’s Wednesday night service to share a few of the songs God has given us. About a week before that visit, some allergies (perhaps due to the change in environment) suddenly kicked in. I found myself stuffed up, sneezing, and just plain miserable! A sister recommended a certain product (I’ll call it No-Stuff) that worked wonders for her. I began to take this and hoped for the best.

Within a few days, I enjoyed some relief, but then a sore throat started to develop, and soon it seemed I was losing my voice. I told my husband I didn’t know how I could possibly sing anything with my voice so hoarse. But we didn’t want to disappoint our brothers and sisters, so we prayed sincerely, asking the Lord to intervene, and went to bed.

That night, I woke from a deep sleep with the Lord speaking to my mind, saying, “It’s the No-Stuff.” As simple as that.

I got out of bed to read the package label for warnings, but there was nothing listed that indicated a loss of voice. In the morning, I decided to search online. Hidden deep within a long list of possible side-effects was a word I didn’t recognize: “Dysphonia.” I looked up its definition: A disorder of the voice; a hoarse, raspy, rough voice.

Of course. God is so good.

Now I knew the source of my trouble. God had blessed me with understanding. But I still had a choice to make…

After all, the medicine was relieving some of my symptoms, but it was causing others. Should I stop taking it but risk my allergies returning in full force? Should I take a chance with another allergy medicine? And why did this medicine work wonders for my sister, yet cause such a problem for me?

Although I was tempted, I decided to stop everything altogether and just trust the Lord. Sure enough, a few days later, we visited the branch, and I was able to lift my voice in testimony and praise. By the time we returned home at the end of that week, my symptoms were gone. Thank God!

The Lord taught me a big lesson in this experience: No doubt, He is looking for my full trust and reliance on Him. BUT…

Sometimes, it is hard to let go of the things I feel I can fix or handle myself. I may not seek His counsel in “all my ways.” I may settle for a little “sore throat” and “runny nose.” I may not want to surrender control (pride?) or I may justify, “It’s not that bad.” I may judge only on the surface and feel like something will be good for me, when, if I searched more deeply (and who wants to take the time and effort for that?), I would find that it poses a threat to my well-being and spiritual health. Sometimes the risks are hidden in a long, complex list of side effects, where there are too many words to bother to read, or terms to consider that I don’t understand. Sometimes, because something is not a stumbling block for others, I assume it won’t be a stumbling block or “bad” for me. Sometimes, even when I know something will harm me, I can still be tempted to rely on it for the brief relief it brings, or I’m tempted to enjoy it or dabble in it for the momentary pleasure it offers. Not a big deal, right?

But God wants my full trust and reliance on Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5, 6)

He wants me to seek His counsel diligently. He wants me to trust Him and obey His commandments, and be a lover of His word. He wants me to be His righteous and profitable servant, offering clean hands and a pure heart.

(The cleaner I am, the brighter His light can shine through me.)

That takes effort and a deep, honest look in the mirror… and sometimes, it takes sacrifice.

“Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, … yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.” (Alma 37; 36)

It’s not always easy.

“ALL to thee, my blessed Savior… I surrender ALL.”

But it’s always worth it.

“Then Peter said, Lo, we have left ALL, and followed thee. And He said unto them…There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come, life everlasting.” (Luke 18: 28-30)

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.