In September, 1979, one of my Christian friends visited me in my home. She had visited me several times before and had witnessed to me, but this time she said the Lord had led her to me. She knew I was gravely ill, and that I had been a person that mostly stayed to myself. I never had too many friends. I told her that, and she said no matter what Mary said, that she was going to give me the message from our Lord Jesus Christ, because that was what the Lord laid on her heart.

She knocked on my door, and my daughter answered. I was upstairs in bed, still so weak. I couldn't walk and couldn't even talk much. She told my daughter that she was going upstairs to see me, and she came right up. First, she kissed me on my cheek and said, "Mary, how do you feel?" I said, "Lynete, I am still very sick." She said, "Yes, I know." This was not the first time she had told me about Jesus Christ, but the first time that the Lord had led her to me. She told me that I didn't have to be sick. She said, "Mary, the Lord does not want you sick. He doesn't want anyone sick. You could be up and out of bed, dressing yourself and driving your car again if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and ask Him to come into your heart." She asked me to believe and pray the sinner's prayer with her. And so I did. I prayed the sinner's prayer and asked Jesus to come into my heart, forgive me of my sins, cleanse me with His Precious Blood, and live in me. I committed my life to Jesus Christ that day, and I am living for Jesus now with Him controlling my life. My life is in His hands.

Oh, it is a new life for me! How can I describe it? I have been through the very "Valley of the Shadow of Death," but Jesus has always been there. The difference is now I know He's there; always encouraging, always comforting me, always breathing in me, the Mary He wants me to be. Now, I can feel His hand in mine, a new life, all the peace, His intense love, His unspeakable joy, I can experience in walking with my friend, Jesus. Thank you, Father.

As I began to read and study my Bible and grow in the Lord, He led me to a Full Gospel Church, which included prayer for the sick — believing with the laying of hands.

The Lord healed me of scleroderma, an incurable disease, and the following:

1. High blood pressure.

2. Yellow jaundice of the liver.

3. Viral pneumonia.

4. Locked bowels.

5. Racing heart, heart failure.

6. Collapsed left lung.

7. Kidney failure.

8. Loss of all muscle strength.

The doctor gave me eight years to live. It has been 22 years and I'm here to tell the story. The above medical conditions were all a part of my struggle with this incurable disease scleroderma.

In spite of this by God's grace I have been able to write by hand and publish two books. I also have been able to write about a dozen letters a week to Christian inmates and to speak at retreats and churches.

The Lord has also healed me of hatred, and He has taught me to love and to forgive others. The Lord has given me faith, love, courage, wisdom, knowledge and patience.

Since I found the Lord, He has given me a reason for living, because before I didn't have any. Satan had me depressed, oppressed, full of self-pity, full of jealousy, full of hatred, strife and anger. I learned that God is a miracle-working God, and I am so thankful that God's gifts are so precious and Holy. They are paid for by the Blood of Jesus Christ, and I am very grateful for my healings and my Salvation.

From: Fighting the Fight, Coming out of the storm of affliction, by Mary E. Bryant. Pages 19-21. ©1986 Used with permission of Mary E. Bryant.

If you would like any additional information about Mary E. Bryant and her personal battle with Scleroderma, you may contact her at: 3705 Elmhurst Avenue, Bristol, PA 19007-2627 USA. Details of her early life and her walk with the Lord through various trials are included in her second book, Count it all Joy, published in 1993.