Special Healing Blessings Signal God's Power

In early September, when Ellen White returned to Battle Creek after her tour of camp meetings in the East, and James and Ellen had joined in soul searching and reconsecration to the cause of God, heaven had signaled a response in a special manner. James stated, regarding his personal experience:2BIO 328.6

We finally came to the point to decide that we would not fully leave the work at Battle Creek without the clearest providential proofs of duty so to do; but stand by the work there at all hazards till God shall raise up, and qualify, others to take the oversight of it. Since this decision has been made, we have enjoyed unusual freedom, and mental and physical embarrassments are rapidly disappearing.—Ibid., November 14, 18712BIO 328.7

Ellen had been relieved from what had been a little-known but distressing situation, one that clearly evidenced the providence of God. In addition to the menopause through which she was passing, she suffered much from a painful growth thought to be cancer (Letter 28, 1872). For four days they sought God's healing. James wrote:2BIO 329.1

And Mrs. White, also, is sharing very largely the divine blessing. For two years past she has, most of the time, suffered from painful and discouraging evidence of a growing cancer in the breast. About the time we decided to never leave the work at Battle Creek, until the Lord and His people gave us unmistakable evidence that we were released, Mrs. White gave herself to the Lord anew in a covenant to trust in His power fully.2BIO 329.2

We bowed before God together in solemn covenant to be wholly His, and to labor on, trusting His providential hand to uphold, to direct, and to save. And the Lord has been very gracious to us. Mrs. White is free and happy, and has the best of evidence that the growing cancerous swelling, which had become large, and was very painful, is entirely removed. As we pen these lines, she is by our side, earnestly preparing her second volume of The Spirit of Prophecy for the press.—The Review and Herald, November 14, 1871.2BIO 329.3

Whether or not the diagnosis of the cause of her distress was accurate, healing brought both relief and courage.2BIO 329.4