Today we went to pray for a woman, named Maria, in a slum called Limonada(yes it means lemonade). We heard about Maria through Adam who is a friend of Lauren’s. Adam shared with us that his mom, Maria, has been sick for the past 15 years. She is unable to walk because there is no cartilage left between the bones in her legs. Because she suffers from osteoporosis and arthritis there is an unimaginable amount of pain in her hands, shoulders, and back all day long. Even though, Maria takes calcium pills to try and supplement where she is lacking, it is not enough.
I want so badly to tell you that when we finished praying, Maria jumped out of bed, ran through the house, out the front door and into the streets praising God’s name.
We had tried to help her stand up, but as she was still without strength and unable to walk I could see every ounce of pain in her face displaying the internal brokenness she possessed as she softly cried out “I wanted this more than anything.” That statement brought me to a heavy flow of tears asking in desperation for God to move.
I spent the remainder of the day wrestling with God, pleading, and praying about the entire situation. Slowly, but surely He is giving me understanding.
At the end of the day, I believe in the God of Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David. I don’t have to hope in what I see because knowing Jesus and the power of His name is enough for me even amidst all the pain that is in the world around us. Maria loves The Lord in spite of everything and her faith has more eternal worth than any physical healing.
I realize that I come from a prosperity gospel preaching culture and as much as I try to combat it I admittedly idolize health, wealth, and prosperity in the cleverest of forms. Even if Jesus is the means of obtaining those things it is absolutely wrong to desire those morally good things above him. I want to want Jesus regardless of all the things I gain or lose in this life; Regardless of whether I can wake up tomorrow and walk.
I have experienced countless stories like this. Praying and walking away wondering why no healing came from the God I put all my faith in. Each time, I remind myself that I do not put my hope in God’s miracles. Nevertheless, I will not stop believing in his amazingly incomprehensible power, but I will all the more strive to know Christ through it all.
Glory be to God who has allowed me to see a spiritual miracle in the hearts of many-even my own. Eyes that were once blind to the endless beauty and eternal glory of Jesus Christ can now see and be compelled by His love. That is the true miracle I treasure and testify to the world.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise, The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Romans 8:23-26
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:26-35
Dear friends, I encourage you to continue persevering in your faith, hoping, enduring and making a conscious effort to treasure Christ above all things ( :
Grace and peace
