What if the only purpose in our suffering is to inspire faith in someone else? What if our prayer is never answered? How committed would we stay to a loving, heavenly father that remains silent in our crying out to him? Questions, and more questions.
Recently, my family and I learned that my dad tested positive for a type of lymphoma. We believe he can be fully healed. We are going through the motions, following up on scans and test results; remaining by his side through prayer and petition. Like the woman in Matthew 15, we have great faith. God is able to grant our request. But would we still believe if he didn’t?
Matters of the Heart
He has good plans, they said. They called him faithful; they called him a good father. God has come through in the past, and we know he can do it again. Sometimes we forget, and that’s okay. Even the disciples, walking next to Jesus, forgot what he could do merely days after the fact. In Matthew 16, Jesus boldly calls them out. “You of little faith,” he tells them in verse 8, and reminds them of the miracle of the five loaves for the five thousand.
Reading through the next few chapters in this book, we uncover what mattered more to Jesus. Our heart. The disciples asked who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1), and Jesus told them to be like children. When Peter asked how many times we need to forgive a brother or sister (v. 21), Jesus basically said as many times as you need to. He cared about the condition of our heart.
He Walked Away
In the next chapter, a man asks what good things he must do to get eternal life (Matthew 19:16). Jesus told him to keep all the commands such as: do not steal, do not murder, honor your father and mother. These were easy for the man because he had kept them. Then Jesus went deeper–into matters of the heart. He told the man to sell his possessions and give to the poor. Oops! Jesus hit a nerve. He got to the heart of the matter. This man went away sad because he didn’t want to give away his great wealth (Matt. 19:22).
We Call Again
So where is our heart when it comes to believing in God for physical healing. Do we rely too much on our own abilities? Or are we believing more in doctors than the almighty God. Again, in Matthew 20:29-34 we read about Jesus restoring sight to two blind men. The men called to him; not once, but twice, and got louder. Jesus asked what they wanted him to do for them. They asked for sight. In the same way today, we ask for healing. We ask for compassion. Now we wait for the miracle. And even if it doesn’t come, we call on him again.
Living Thirty Three 