Be still my soul! The LORD is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change He faithful will remain. Be still my soul! Thy best, thy heavenly friend, thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end. kvs
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the faith,
They missed it! They watched and prayed and still missed it. Messiah. Their preconceived ideas caused their blindness. They wanted a reigning Messiah who would come in and crush Rome. But God sent His own Son… a ‘suffering Messiah’ had no appeal to oppressed Jews. They wanted relief. As I contemplated sickness and suffering I thought we are basically no different. We demand healing and refuse suffering.
God can and does heal instantly. God can and does heal through doctors over a period of time. For many of us we have decided it must be healing in Jesus name of else! I wrestled with the obvious Truth that God has great purpose in suffering. And I had to ask could God not be more glorified in the suffering than in the healing?
God cannot be pressured to heal, by striving to believe that something shall be, thinking that if we believe hard enough, it will be. That may be positive thinking but it is not Biblical faith. Remember the flesh always demands healing. I find great comfort in knowing my Savior is teaching me dependence upon Himself when he says no and faith is required every step of the way. God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hand as a means. I say and say it deliberately- trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith. Mueller
My Mother had surgery scheduled to remove a hard, palpable tumor. That morning they re-examined her, confirming the previous diagnosis and she went into surgery. When the doctor came to talk to us post-op, he stumbled to find words to explain the unexplainable… there was no tumor. We had asked God, in faith, to heal her and do what would bring His name the most glory. He did. In contrast, she was not healed years later from the cancer that took her home.
God does not always heal. His purposes are greater than what our small minds can grasp and His ways higher than the heavens! Question: ”Does it take more faith to receive a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ to prayer for healing? Does it take active faith to live day after day, even year after year, in pain and infirmity? Can God be trusted to do what is right and good, even if it remains a mystery to us? Humans would never choose the very suffering, that He uses to produces our need of Him.
Amy Carmichael has enriched believers with her writing, bringing hope and encouragement. She was set aside for God’s purposes as she spent the last 35 years of her life bed-ridden and in constant pain. Those who loved her gathered after fasting to pray for her healing, claiming it in Jesus name. God said no. She received it and endured with joy day after day, year after year. Great faith.
Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. Job 1:20-22
Paul had infirmities not healed. “you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.“ Galatians 4:13-15
And Miletus: Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.
We must be cautious not to throw around the Holy Name of Jesus, as though it were magic and push our quarter prayer into this divine vending machine and get what we choose at our pleasure, as though we were not foolish, shortsighted and afflicted with our selves. His name is not a holy incantation to be applied over every difficulty and to call down curses on those who irritate us.
The times I have been healed instantly have not taught me the powerful lessons, of Love and Grace, which suffering and infirmity, have rendered. My healing resulted in rejoicing with awe and thanksgiving… the ‘no’ to healing, proved Him faithful and filled my cup with grace. He invited me near to ‘know’ Him intimately and take up my cross, resulted in worship…. Like Job: Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. (1:20) This is great faith.
Father of life, thank you for sending Your Son to suffer. On Him your mighty vengeance fell, that would have sunk the world to hell. Thank You Jesus chose to suffer. Thank You for grace to bear my sufferings with strength and faith, to believe You are using trials for Your glory. I bless Your Name great Sufferer. The world quickly tires of one’s suffering and so I find great comfort in knowing You understand my every tear and pain. You will never leave me nor forsake me. I praise You in Jesus Name
praying for each one of you,
az
