MIRACLE HEALING

Nobody wants to be sick. Perhaps that explains why Americans allegedly spend about $300 billion a year on pharmaceuticals.

We also are saddened when others are gravely ill. One such person is a very young girl related to friends of ours. She has a fast growing tumor at the base of her brain that has defied medical experts' efforts to surgically remove it. Friends and family are praying for a miracle.

Should they expect a miracle?

I have heard preachers say that if the person has sufficient faith, God will heal them. In fact, I know a person that claims to have been miraculously healed by faith.

But the same individual who told me he had been miraculously healed, ultimately passed away due to another medical problem he had faith God would heal. I would like to ask the preachers who claim that you will be healed if you have enough faith, if they believe the Apostle Paul was lacking in faith, since he was not healed of his affliction even though he prayed for healing.

Obviously, at times God heals people miraculously. But just as obviously, at other times he does not – even when they have faith. In fact, most of the time he does not.

So, when you are praying for a miracle, what is the proper viewpoint to hold concerning the outcome?

I think the answer comes from the three Hebrews that were saved from the fiery furnace. Remember their attitude? They informed the King that God could save them. But they just as readily admitted to the King that God may not save them. No matter the outcome, they were determined to honor God. (Daniel 3) They were psychologically just as prepared to accept an excruciating death at God’s hand as they were a miracle, although they no doubt preferred and prayed for the latter. How many people do you know like that?