The next day while Jesus was spending time with the Father in prayer his disciples were looking for him. “When they found him, they said, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ But Jesus replied, ‘We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came’.” (Mark 1:38, italics mine).
See, Jesus came to preach the gospel! And when we begin to make it more about the miracles and less about Him we lose sight of what’s essential: salvation. And if we make it about what He should do rather than what He could do, Jesus becomes a performer rather than our Savior. Guilt and shame can quickly creep in and steal our joy and peace when the Gospel of Truth is lost.
Don’t get me wrong, Jesus heals and loves to heal. My son is a testimony to His healing power! Let’s not love the miracle more than the miracle maker himself. Let’s not allow pride to build in our hearts that we lack compassion toward the broken and hurting.
We spent five long years wondering and questioning if God was going to perform a miracle on our son. Many nights were spent crying out in prayer to heal his heart. Countless healing services left us frustrated and disappointed. Hundreds of dollars were given in the name of healing. Until one day, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “That’s enough! No more healing services. No more prayers offered for his healing. Just worship and praise me even though you don’t see the miracle.”
I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t know why God heals some and not others. But this is what I learned in the last six years while waiting for a miracle…
Be in pursuit of Him. Maybe the only way to make sense of it all is to be in pursuit of Him as He relentlessly pursues us. And perhaps we pursue Him by surrendering it all, even the difficult unanswered prayers. I’ve found when you give Him all the questioning and trust Him in the journey, He will give you peace to walk out the arduous journey and you will experience His presence like never before.
Paul states, “But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering” (Romans 8:17).
Release all guilt and shame. Healing is not up to you. It has nothing to do with what you do or don’t do. There’s no shame when the healing doesn’t come, or the death occurs because, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1. Live free knowing “this came about so that God’s works might be displayed in you.” John 9:3 paraphrased. Feelings of failure can rob you of enjoying anything good, let go of the lies you should have done more.
God is good all the time. So yes continue to pray for the miracle till the end, “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:18). God is still good and praise Him for it!! Mediate on His goodness.
Never imagine the future without God in it. Often when we meditate on the future, we think about it without God there, allowing fear to creep in and steal our hope. No matter what happens our promise is: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6.
As we wrestle through our unanswered prayers, let’s not forget, “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36).
***
This article originally appeared at LeaTurner.com.
