Testimony by Annelene Thirbany
We rushed him to the doctor immediately, only to hear, “He may need emergency surgery.” Those words made my heart sink and I felt overwhelmed with anxiety. This was the experience my husband and I had with our three-year-old son, Isaiah. Early one morning I noticed my son’s head felt hot to the touch. He wasn’t eating and seemed to have flu-like symptoms. We were concerned, because every time he fell ill he would lose his appetite and drop in weight. Isaiah was born a month premature, at only 1,45 kg, so our constant concern was to keep his weight consistent. He looked bloated, and that caught my attention. He had a golf ball-sized lump protruding from his stomach. I reached out to feel it – it was firm and large – and my husband and I immediately rushed him to the doctor.
At the hospital – fear, prayer, and waiting
As we entered the doctor’s office, we explained his symptoms. The doctor examined his stomach, he said it looked like a hernia, but possibly on the stomach wall and not where you would usually find it. He suggested an ultrasound, as Isaiah might need emergency surgery – or surgery at a later stage – depending on the severity. We went to a public hospital. As we sat and observed the traumatic scenes around us, I decided to take little Isaiah to the car to avoid him seeing that. His father stood in the queue while Isaiah and I waited in a familiar environment. I asked the Lord not to allow him to go for surgery, and for God to shrink and remove the large lump that was still so evident. While seeking the Lord, my son suddenly began to groan in pain and roll around in the car. I could not bear to see him like that.
Isaiah prayed for himself in the car
After I had prayed, I looked at my son and said, “Isaiah, I want you to pray and ask God to heal you. Put your hand on your stomach and ask God to heal you.” Speaking with tears in my eyes, I knew my son understood prayer. He laid his hand upon his stomach and prayed to God. It was so moving, yet heartbreaking, to watch my child in pain calling on the Name of the Lord for healing. I believed that his prayer in that moment concluded the matter in Heaven. As parents we had to remain focused on the fact that “God is in control”. It is the hardest thing to watch your child suffer – I am sure every parent would agree. No matter how spiritual we are and how strong our faith is, our children are our heartbeats, and we sometimes find it a challenge to keep focus and not be distracted by the storms swirling around us.
Results arrive – no hernia, lump gone
Finally, at about 02:00 – around 11 hours in – the surgeon arrived to read the results and give a diagnosis. He looked at the X-ray and could not find a hernia, but he noticed a compacted colon. He also used the ultrasound machine and confirmed, for the second time, that there was no visible hernia. Although the lump was still there, all he could see was a compacted colon. We concluded in our minds that, whatever the reason, the praise goes to God for His supernatural intervention and for sparing our son from surgery. They administered some medication, and thereafter my husband noticed a reduction in the lump. By the time Isaiah got home – 19 hours later – the lump was completely gone. He was trauma-free, back to his usual self, and happy to be home. This is the power of our amazing God.
Learning from Mark 10:14-15
A few days after this ordeal, I felt the Lord give me more insight into the power of a praying child. I was reminded of God’s love for children and what His Word says in Mark 10, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” This highlighted to me that there is something uniquely special about children, over and above what we know. It brought to mind Isaiah’s prayer in the car for himself, and I realised the power of his prayer as a child. I believe his prayer concluded the matter – that he would be healed and restored.
Why children’s prayer matter
Children have in them an innate love for God and a strong faith in Him, even at a young age, without necessarily understanding these principles. It is to our detriment when we believe children are too young to carry spiritual insight or offer prayer because they lack knowledge and understanding. On the contrary, when they pray there is an innocence and purity that is unique to them, because they do not think as we do. I believe it is important to recognise the grace a child carries in prayer and to encourage it. Their prayers carry great power because they are pure – not seeking praise or eloquence – but simply bringing a matter to God, believing wholeheartedly in His sovereign power to hear and answer. This experience has opened our eyes to pay close attention to what we can learn from our children: their unique trust and faith in God, and a deeper revelation of why Jesus said, “for of such is the kingdom of God.”
This article is featured in the February/March 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 28/02/2026
Feature images sourced from article
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