I got to thinking last night, and when I get to thinking, especially at night, good things rarely come of it. I really hope I can clearly convey these thoughts.
Let’s say you know someone who’s dying of a terminal illness, and I’m talking they’re “supposed” to die like in a few days. The doctors all say it, and most of the laypeople surrounding the situation have resigned to this fact. But for some reason, you feel a clear word from God to pray for healing for this person. “They’re not dead yet,” you reason, “God can still work this miracle.” So you have this really strong conviction that God will heal this person and they will not die in a few days. It seems very unreasonable, but then again since when is God “reasonable”? You pray healing for this person because you believe that’s what God’s directing you to do. You know God can heal this person if He wanted to, but do you have the faith that He will?
After a couple days, you’re given clear direction from God to go to the hospital to visit this dying individual. Your job is to speak to this individual and tell them that God has led you in prayer for them and that you believe God will heal them. You need them to know this so you can pray with them about it. God can still provide this healing, but do you have the faith to claim victory over this illness such that this person will walk out of the hospital alive and without blemish?
What I’m trying to reason in my mind is the difference between faith and expectation. If I’m led by God in something, should I have the faith that it will work out the way I think it ought to work out? If I’m praying for healing for someone, should I expect that person to be healed? What if they’re not healed? Has my faith been in vain? If I really love this person, and I feel led by God to pray for their healing, and they die because of it anyway, what went wrong? Why would God want me to pray for healing only to have my loved one die?
In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus says if we ask it will be given to us, if we seek it we’ll find it, and if we knock the door will be opened to us. Is that talking about Salvation, or is that any petition we ask of the Lord? In other verses (that I can’t think of right now), we can read that if we ask God for something in His will, He will give it to us. Are we really trusting God if we pray for something we know God is leading us to but still keep our expectations low so we don’t get hurt? Am I the only one who feels that doing this cheapens the power of God in my life? So what if my expectations aren’t met? If I’m really doing what God is leading me to do, then there is a reason beyond my understanding for why things didn’t turn out the way I wanted, and I will know that reason in time. Maybe, just maybe, keeping my expectations low will keep me from reaping the blessings that God has in store for me as I follow His will.
Tell me your thoughts about this. I really want to hear them, especially if you have experience to back up your claims.
-j
I'm Jason, and I like to write.