I usually post what I feel God taught me that morning. But this morning I’m going to follow up on my weekend post about The Guardian. The “I AM” statement of Jesus saying, “I AM the gate/door to the sheepfold.” The miracle I used was found in John 4:46-54 where Jairus, the synagogue official, came to Jesus pleading for Jesus to heal his little girl. If you know the miracle, Jesus told him to go and his daughter would be healed. I made the following somewhat random points to close out with:
1. Prayer is difficult when we know that God can heal, but He sometimes doesn’t this side of heaven. Our thinking goes something like this: “If God can heal, why doesn’t He, especially when we pray in faith believing?” My answer: I haven’t got a clue! The old cliche’ “God is good all the time; all the time God is good” maddens me. I don’t see someone wasting away from cancer as God being good. But I will continue trusting that He knows best.
2. If a miracle does happen, that miracle is to point to Him and encourage us to trust Him. A miracle isn’t done for the “WOW” factor…regardless of the so-called hucksters who use fake stuff to fleece people. You may disagree with me (and you are free to do that), but I don’t believe in faith healers. I believe in faith healing, but not faith healers. Big difference. Maybe a better way to say it is that I believe in faith healing, but fake healers.
3. If I truly believe that Jesus is the Gate/Door and He protects and leads me, then how can I not see that in tough times as well as good? As I slowly watched my mom slip into unconsciousness and then take her last breath, I was sad…for me. But she was now enjoying being in the presence of the Savior she loved, as well as being reunited with her mom and dad. It was a win/win situation.
Pain is not easy to go through. Prolonged pain is sheer agony. But I’d like to suggest this thought: Listen for the Shepherd’s voice. Those who know the Word the best hear His voice the clearest.
{Note: I’m having a medical procedure done today. I would appreciate your prayers}
Prayers lifted for you, Bill! May all go well for you today and always. Blessings!
Thank you Martha. I’ve done this before and don’t anticipate any bad news.
Like you, I don’t have any logical explanations or theological jargon to defend how God works sometimes. But He IS God and I MUST trust that He is working things for good because that’s what the Bible says.
Prayers for a good report!
Sometimes logic falls short doesn’t it? In glad though because God would not be God if we understood Him.
Praying for you, Bill. Hope it goes well.
Thank you Glynn. Appreciate your thoughts and prayers
Bill I prayed for you today and I hope all went well. When we pray without ceasing and the prayers seem to go a long time without answers or you have been praying a long time for someone and they pass that is hard. This side of heaven we will not understand the the whys, and we just have to trust God and as you say listen for the Shepards voice and feel His comfort. When a good friend of mine passed away after a three year battle with ovarian cancer, my brother reminded me that if I asked her as she stood in heaven if my prayers were answered, she would say yes I am completely healed. I gave that a lot of thought, and yes my prayers were in fact answered, she was pain free, cancer free, happier than she ever been, and living a great life. Truly, that is exactly what I prayed for. I still miss her of course, and wish I could still hike with her.
Thanks for the prayers Gail. I write this on the other side of the procedure. I would agree with your brother without a doubt. When my mom would drift away and then wake up, she would say, “Oh I’m still here.” There was disappointment in her voice. How could i wish her back? Her joy was complete. So is your friend’s
Sorry,missed your post yesterday, so playing catchup. Praying that the procedure went well and recovery and any follow-up go well.
Thanks Ryan. The procedure went well. It will be a week or two before I find out some results.