Lord , my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever. Psalms 131:1-3 NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your faithfulness. In a time and season such as this, these words are so applicable. Help us to quiet ourselves before You and to walk with understanding in Your ways. Lord Jesus, please guide and protect us, that we might walk in Your ways and live honorably before You. Lord, let our hearts not strive to “do” or “make” or “force” but instead help us to hear Your voice and to obey. Lord, it is only in You that we find truth. Only in You that we find security. Lord Jesus, please hold us in Your ways and teach us what Your will is daily. Let us not be distracted by arguments, nor slide into selfishness, but instead with humility bring all our needs before You. Thank You for all Your wonderous works. Please, free the captive, save the lost, heal the hurting and sick, protect the innocent, provide for the needy, and return the prodigal. Thank You. Amen.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” John 5:2-6 NKJV
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” John 5:7 NKJV
He didn’t understand Who he was speaking to.
He couldn’t see past his need.
He wasn’t expecting to be healed because he had no one to help him into the water.
What came next must have been outside his ability to guess.
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” John 5:8 NKJV
And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. John 5:9 NKJV
Can one picture the depth of surprise and elation of this man who had been sick for 38 years?
He didn’t even know Who healed him. (John 5:13)
In Mark we find another man who was seeking healing, but didn’t find it, not a first.
Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” Mark 9:17-18 NKJV
It doesn’t take much imagination to feel the disappointment and sorrow of this man.
But the story doesn’t end there.
So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:21-24 NKJV
The honesty and humility of this man, this father, is answered.
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. Mark 9:25-27 NKJV
Two men, both received healing from Jesus, but neither of them were expecting what occurred.
Healing often does not come the way one would like nor in the time frame which is desired.
Healing is often not seen as the hand of God, but instead as the working of proper medical treatment or change in lifestyle.
And sometimes healing is something which occurs in the heart instead of the body.
But healing is an everyday occurance.
From the small cut on one’s knee to the restoration of healthy mental attitude, God is in the business of healing.
Where He wants healing to occur for all of mankind is in the relationship between Himself and every single one of us.
Sin leads to death of all sorts, including physical death, and Jesus came to save us from that.
Healing may not always happen when and how and where we would like, but as long as we accept His healing, His payment for our sin, then our souls will be healed.
Truly, healing of the soul is the best place to be made whole.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for both of these stories which remind us that You are in the business of healing. Lord, please help us to realize the importance of allowing You to restore our soul, how much more valuable that is to any other healing. Lord, often we over look the times You have healed and focus on the times we couldn’t see Your healing. Lord, please help us to realize You alone see what is best and we can not. Help us to have faith that You are doing a work of healing even if we do not perceive it. Thank You for Your faithfulness in all things. Thank You for Your salvation which brings us life eternal. Thank You for the way You are continually working to restore our hearts and minds to a right relationship with You. Lord, thank You for loving us so completely. It is in Your name I pray, Jesus. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 