We ended up at a burial ceremony in Mukono, Uganda. A member of the church ministry we are working with died shortly after our arrival. We attended her funeral at the request of our contact. Then, somehow, in a surreal moment, we were swept up from the back row and given prominent seating near the casket.
Out of place, miles out of my
comfort zone and out of excuses, I did the only thing I could think
of….
I prayed.
I prayed just about as bold of any prayer one can pray. I prayed for
resurrection.
In full faith and expectation of her return to life I prayed for God
to right the wrong of her untimely death. For thirty minutes, eyes
clenched shut, hands in the air I prayed, “In the name of Jesus, you
will live and not die. In the name of Jesus you will live and not
die.” I payed 0ver and over and over again until the body was picked
up and walked to it’s final resting place.
Nothing happened.
That young woman is still dead. Her family is still grieving. Tears
are still being shed in her name.
Where was God? The Bible tells me to heal the sick, cast out dmons, RAISE the dead. As far as I can tell,
as far as Biblical truth will back me, she should have come alive.
But, the fact remains, she is dead.
I prayed, nothing happened.
Where do you go from there?
Option 1: Admit defeat. Be angry and confused. Believe that God doesn’t keep His promises, which is only confirmed by the fact that the dead body I demanded to live is still in fact, dead.
Option 2: Admit the truth. Stand firmly on what you have already seen God do. Revert to His promises and faithfullness and the things that you undoubtedly know are possible through HIM. Do not pretend to understand any of it, but rest on events you have witnessed and rely on your own testimony.
I chose option two. I had already seen God heal people physically. I
know that truth to be evident. So I stood there at the back of a
funeral praying for a second chance, not for me, but boldy asking God for another chance to prove Himself. Okay. Admittedly a tinge blasphemous, but what can I say, I was desperate for the supernatural power of God.
Be careful what you wish for……
