Resurrection. Our hope as Christians.
And yet, I can hear the naysayers who would come up to me and say, "Tom, didn't you fail? Couldn't you have done something? I thought you believe in divine healing?"
The answer is, "I do."
"Did I fail?" Well, when you consider that our prayers - and our time of conversation and intercession - is with the One who is the Resurrection and the Life... I would say, "The problem is not on God's end of this praying process. He has the power. He has the desire. He has the love and compassion for each one... the problem is more centered upon my inability to hear, not His ability to heal."
I can't help but wish that I knew more about hearing the voice of God and obeying the unction of the Spirit... and can't help but think that if there was some way, I could have heard on Karla's behalf, she would be better today. "Jesus, just speak the word," was my prayer ... and I waited on that word and listened so eagerly for it... and yet didn't receive the unction of that voice of God's Spirit to pass on.
At the same time, it should be noted, that Scripture tells us there is an appointed time for all of us - and that God has numbered our days. I submit to God's sovereignty - and, when I don't hear a word of deliverance for someone in prayer, usually what I receive are words of comfort and encouragement in the midst of the battle. I believe there is also a Scriptural basis that we are to learn through our trials and draw nearer to the heart of God for His comfort through them - and this, too, is a way in which God can be glorified.
My premise about divine healing is that we are quick to run away from it and say, "God doesn't do that anymore," simply because it hasn't been our previous experience. What I have discovered is - as I practice the art of listening prayer and share it with others - God has a greater window for divine intervention ... and HE DOES intervene and heal when we place ourselves in that position of faith, hope and trusting in God's tremendous love for us.
So, was the cancer too hard for God to heal? The answer to that is most definitely, "No." I have seen God heal people of cancer, just as vicious and just as thorough as the attack Karla was suffering. Which is what makes this conviction of praying for healing so very frustrating sometimes... "Lord, if you did it for this one, why not heal this other person here... please?" "I know You can do it."
But that brings us back to what prayer is all about... I don't order God around. He is the Master. All I am doing is waiting upon Him to speak the "word," and then I act upon that - and I speak that.... for HE has the power to heal, not me.
The truth is: I don't know all the reasons for why God doesn't heal today... all I know is that if we don't pray with faith, believing, and waiting upon Him in His presence - listening and waiting in obedience to whatever unction He may say or give us - then no one can be healed.
And the greater truth is: Karla is healed today. She is on the road toward experiencing salvation ("sozo" in the Greek) which means "wholeness" ... total healing of body, soul and spirit. All I was trying to do - and all that each of us was trying to do in praying for Karla - was simply this... to get a touch of her inheritance in Eternity through prayer, and give her a glimpse of it here on this side of Heaven.
Either way... God gets all the glory. Either way... Karla is healed.
Of course, while she is in a place of total peace and joy right now ... it is the hearts of those of us that she left behind - and the loss that we feel and suffer from - that so desperately needs the Lord's touch today. Please join me in remembering Jack and the Tesch family in your prayers.
"Karla, we miss you... but with the hope of Resurrection in our hearts, we remind ourselves that we will see you in the morning." (Read Psalm 30:5b)
