CURRENT THEME: BREAK OUT AND LIVE! (For feedback or suggestions of themes in the current series, email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Have you recently found yourself in a situation where you needed a miracle? God still does miracles. Here is Iban Vermeulen from Stellenbosch’s testimony:

Iban: "Sweat pearls formed on my forehead as pain shot through my leg again. I lay alone in the hospital bed. My wife was at home with our new-born baby girl and the doctors tried desperately to stop the skin bacteria (cytotoxins) from spreading in my leg. The skin on my calf kept on flaking and my foot was blue as I struggled with unbearable pain.

A few days before, I had gone for coffee with a friend. I felt a sting on my calf, but I did not immediately pay attention to it. That afternoon I started feeling sick and by 20:00 that night I collapsed with a fever of 41C. I went to the doctor, but despite being given medication, my pain worsened. Three days later I was hospitalized.

The doctors eventually discovered that a Violin spider had bitten me on my calf. The poison caused a bacterial infection on my skin which ate away the second and third layer of my skin. Despite the strongest possible dose of antibiotics to stop the bacteria, my condition worsened. My foot become dark blue. The skin kept peeling and there was talk that the doctors would have to amputate my leg to stop the damage of the poison.

Through my tears I closed my eyes in my hospital bed and cried out to God for a miracle. I knew He could heal me. I put the song ‘I know my God is able’, by Planetshakers, on repeat, while thanking God for being in control of my life.

The next morning the doctors were amazed. The red inflammation in my leg had suddenly started to clear up. They could not understand why the antibiotics suddenly kicked in. It still took some weeks for complete healing.

After being released from hospital, I visited a doctor who specialized in spider bites. She looked at the dose of antibiotics that I received in hospital and immediately said it would not have cured the cytotoxins as it was the incorrect ones. In that moment I knew that God was with me that night in the hospital room. He noticed my desperation and touched and healed me. I give Him all the glory for my miracle!”

Iban is right. Nothing is impossible with God. In Psalm 77:14 we read: “You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.” God is present when we start praising Him. In Psalm 22:4 we read: “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” And there are no limits to what God can do if we completely trust Him. In Ephesians 3:20-21 we read: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think . . . to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

What miracle do you need today? Restoration of your marriage, healing, a job, financial provision for the end of the month? What is your reaction in the waiting time? Do you allow doubt to get a hold of you or are you praising God like Iban as well as Paul and Silas while being locked up in prison? Remember, your breakthrough might be just one prayer away. God bless.

Father God, thank you for still doing miracles today. Please help me to look past my challenges while trusting you for a breakthrough. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 • See a picture of Iban and his family at www.benescke.co.za

• Planetshakers' song, I know my God is Able: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuPr5E7Vf58