Shaken then Stilled — In Jesus Name

Shaken then Stilled — In Jesus Name

By Tammi Morris

Years ago my site initially began as a platform to share my personal testimony and encourage others on the journey of healing through Hope and Faith in Jesus Christ.

However, as with my life, it is gradually evolving to encompass more than just my personal story. The narratives I now share illustrate how my testimony, combined with God's healing, has guided me into various fields where I can utilize all that God has instilled in me in distinctive and impactful ways.

Simply put, stories of how I experience God in the context of connecting with others.

The story below is a testimony of a recent experience I had at work. Which is also ministry for me. I lead a nonprofit personal care home that supports 73 individuals with complex and chronic mental disorders. It is this work that has largely prevented me from being active on this site. It has consumed my time. As I share more stories, you'll soon see why.

That said, let's get into it.

The battle is real, friends. Every day, people around us are fighting unseen wars — battles of the mind, body, and spirit. Many are tormented and suffering, crying out for peace they can’t name and healing they can’t find. Relief is offered, but only Jesus can bring cleansing, deliverance and healing.

Everyday, I see and interact with precious individuals who are afflicted with complicated and several mental illness as well as other medical conditions. These souls are not well enough to live alone but not unwell enough to justify a locked facility. This is where our home steps in to provide custodial, social, emotional, spiritual, medical and psych care. Most of them are low-income and do not have enough resources to cover the cost of their care. We care for them anyway, and rely God thorugh the generosity of donors to bridge the gap.

In the Villa, you'll find friendly, caring people. You'll find chosen kinship. You'll find staff and residents who are eager to connect, support, and show love. This is also a place of deep suffering for most of our residents.

This morning, at work, I found myself in the middle of such a moment. In one of our living rooms, I was chatting with residents and as I passed one of our residents, she suddenly cried out — a deep, gut-wrenching sound that echoed through the hallway. Her wailing was so intense it seemed to come from another realm, not just from her throat but from somewhere far deeper.

It immediately reminded me of the story of the man in the tombs as shared in Mark 5 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205%3A1-20&version=NIV

Without thinking, I knelt in front of her. I held her trembling hands and steadied her as she tried to strike her head, speaking softly but with authority — “You are safe. Jesus is here.”

Her body stiffened, her strength immense, her face contorted, and her cries grew louder. Holding her back was less than easy, and as I kept praying, proclaiming the name of Jesus over her, trusting that the power of His presence was greater than anything tormenting her, she seemed to suffer more.

I kept declaring the name of Jesus, while wondering why her wails grew in intensity and the name that is above all names wasn't quieting her soul. Friend I fully expect Jesus to intervene in every situation, in a tangible and observable way. Sometimes he doesn't but that does not stop me from believing or asking.

Around me, our team stood ready. One quietly timed the event for documentation. Another watched for signs of medical distress and applied ice to the back of her neck - if this was a seizure, it might help. My youngest son, Caleb positioned himself behind me, ensuring I wouldn’t fall as I held her firmly in love and prayer.

And then… peace came. Her rigid body loosened. Her breathing slowed. A single tear slipped down her cheek. She let out a deep sigh, as though an unseen weight had finally lifted. Then she smiled — faintly, beautifully — and sat back up, calm and at rest.

She said I think this happened because I was upset about my laundry. She started to apologize, and we reassured her that no apology was needed. She sipped the water she was given and was restored to her right mind. Once I knew she was ok, I retreated to my office - shaken and stilled, just like my friend.

If you ever wonder whether the physical, mental, and spiritual realms can overlap, come spend a day with me. You will see that the veil between them is thinner than we imagine — and that Jesus still moves in both.

That moment reminded me: this is holy ground. Ministry doesn’t always look like a sermon or a song. Sometimes it looks like kneeling on the floor beside someone’s pain and calling on the name that still sets captives free.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to re-present You daily — to be Your hands and heart among those who are hurting. Teach me to discern what is natural and what is spiritual, and to operate in the supernatural with faith, peace, and power.

Thank You for entrusting me with these precious souls. Amen.