I looked into his eyes for a moment. And I realized in that moment that I should stop praying for his leg, that Jesus wasn't going to heal his leg right now.
This month I have been at Home of Hope, a ministry that literally goes out into the streets of Bangalore and picks up the homeless, dirty, dying souls who are passed by others every single day. The mission of this place is entirely in Jesus name and it is incredible. As I look around I can picture where these dear people have come from. I have seen them with my own eyes on the streets. They were dirty, tired, many severely injured and entirely overlooked. But not by Home of Hope. They saw these people and clothed them, fed them, cared for them. And I can see exactly why this is a home of hope. So this is where I met him, Radhamaji. I was sitting on the ground talking with another man when he drug himself over next to me. I began talking with him, which was difficult because he didn't speak a word of English or I, Hindi. However, I soon figured out due to his gesturing that he wished for me to pray for his leg. He showed me how it wouldn't extend fully and pointed out the swelling around his knee joint. I smiled and began to pray.
"Jesus please heal this man, show compassion for him…restore his leg back to its full health, it's full creation.." I prayed for ten minutes or so but when I asked him to test his leg out by extending it, nothing changed. His face winced in pain. I bowed my head to pray again. I begged Jesus on behalf of this man to heal his leg. But this time something stopped me mid sentence. I realized I had to speak with this man, I had to know his story. Once I found one of our translators, I learned through him that Radhamaji had been brought to Home of Hope by the police who found him on the streets but now desperately wanted to return home to his wife and family. When I asked about his leg he said he did not know how he became injured, just one day it swelled at his knee and he has been unable to bend it since. My heart broke for him. I then asked him if he knew Jesus, he nodded yes and that he believed in him. Now, for someone of Hindu background it is not a problem to believe in Jesus Christ. They have over a million different gods, why not just add another? But to say that God is the one true god and ONLY God is a problem. So I asked him if he believed that Jesus is the one true God. He hesitated, but no he didn't. My translator explained that this is common for Hindu background believers, that their conversion is usually a process. I understood.
But I was sad, because in my heart I knew that if Radhamaji didn't believe Jesus was the one true God then he couldn't believe that Jesus could heal him. I had a hard time looking at Radhamaji. I struggled with what to say, but thank goodness Jesus helped me. I looked into his eyes and that is when I realized that I needed to stop praying for his leg, that is not what needed healing.
"Radhamaji I cannot pray for your leg anymore. If you don't believe in Jesus he cannot heal your leg. He needs to heal your heart first. He wants to heal your heart, and then he wants to heal your leg. He loves you too much to just heal your leg. And I want you to know that he forgives you and he loves you."
To my utter amazement I began to see tears form in his eyes. He began to shake his head no but I told him yes! Yes, Jesus can! And He wants to. I asked him if I could pray for him again, but this time for his heart. And that is what I did. Pretty soon after that I was told it was time to go. I tore myself away, but I gave Radhamaji's hand one last squeeze and told him one more time the truth that would heal him, that's healed me. I don't know if I will ever see Radhamaji again on this earth, but I am certain because I know who God is that I will in His glory.
