In the scheme of life God is almighty and I am nothing. He can wipe me out in an instant before I ever realized what was going on. It’s an understatement to say that I am nothing without God and with that comes the choice to believe He is who He said He is all throughout the Bible. It’s been a bit over 5 months ( 23 weeks) since my father was diagnosed with liver cancer and it’s all we can do to hold onto the promises of God. But how do you believe if everything around you is trying to make you doubt?
In Malachi 3:6 it says that he never changes. God’s words are true and he’s faithful, as it states in Psalms 33:4. Then I have to believe that He wouldn’t go back on his promises, right? That the promise of Ephesians 6:2-3 still applies today. That a long life will follow those who honor their mother and father. My father did an awesome job of honoring his father and mother and did the best he could to care for them when they got older. They lived with us and my dad provided for them and always showed them respect. Surely God remembers that, right?
In Psalms chapter 128 verses 1-6 it explains that those who fear the Lord will reap blessings and live to enjoy their children’s children. My father hasn’t experienced being a grandfather yet but that should be his right. He has feared the Lord from what I can see. Maybe I’m wrong but my dad always put God first and started his day with praying and reading the Bible. Shouldn’t that promise apply to him? But regardless of these, healing is the children’s bread as we learn in Matthew 15: 22-28. We are the Children of God and that is why He came here!
I don’t doubt God can heal my father. In fact, I know he can. I know of many healing miracles and do not believe that God is any respecter of person; Act 10:34. So why is this so hard for me to maintain my sound mind of faith and go forward as if my father is all ready healed?
First of all, it’s hard to give up control. I want my father healed now. I don’t think my father should have to wait anymore. But God doesn’t work in the time dimension. He’s not limited like we are. God didn’t inflict this disease on my father but it was allowed to come in for some reason. The devil has come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). It would be just like him to attack my father’s body and plant doubt in our minds so we stop believing that God is in control and still the most powerful, almighty being. As the Creator of the World, the Everlasting God and Prince of Peace I believe he can handle a small request of healing. A God that can raise the dead can surely handle wiping out any amount of tumors and some cancer cells, no? So aren’t we really fighting the doubt that the Devil is using to weaken our faith?
“Your faith has healed you” shows up at least four times in the Bible that I know of: Mark 10:52, Luke 7:50, Mark 5: 34 and Luke 17:19. Clearly healing centers on faith and faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Am I absolutely sure that God can heal my father? Yes. Do I think we deserve it because we’re a perfect family and we’ve done everything perfect? Absolutely not. Am I a bit fearful that I may personally do something that may block the blessing of God or we may begin to doubt and nullify the promise? Yes.
And that’s really what this is. Because I don’t see that healing right now it causes me to doubt and to wonder that maybe I’ve done something wrong that is holding the healing back. If it’s all ready done in heaven by the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5) then why isn’t that truth being made evident here on earth?
My only conclusion is that the devil is fighting hard to block the miracle. Those that wait patiently on the Lord shall renew their strength like the eagle, as it says in Isaiah 40:31, and soar above the problem to see the situation how God sees it. To wait patiently on the Lord must mean more than just allowing time to pass. It must mean that throughout the entire trial until its end we fight and reason with our minds making Jesus our focus and not the problem. If I wait for a guest to arrive at my home I don’t choose that time to busy myself with other projects. Typically, as you wait for a guest to arrive you are making preparations for that guest to enjoy. Shouldn’t it be the same with God? As we wait for Him to intervene and do as He promised we should be preparing for His arrival. We clean the house and we set the table for Him. We fill our soul (house) with faith and set our table (fellowship) with thanksgiving.
If the devil wins the people lose faith. God wants us to win – He wants his people to be victorious over the devil so that His name is magnified and glorified which is why it says He intercedes for us in Hebrews 7:25. To fail at this test is not God’s fault – it would be ours. The promises of God are Yes and Amen ( 2 Cor 1:20) which mean the victory is all ready ours. God has given it to us all ready but the devil is standing right beside us waiting to intercept it. Every problem, every turn of events, every trip to the hospital is another attempt to intercept our promise. That’s why faith is to be certain of what we do not see. We may not see it but it’s there – we simply need to push a little harder and recite every promise God has made so He can be glorified once and for all. God doesn’t intend for us to have a spirit of fear or timidity but of power, love and sound mind (2 Tim 1:7) – otherwise we can’t beat the devil and all of our promises are lost.
I’m not prepared to lose my promise for my father. I am prepared to fight Satan with every promise I have in my arsenal. I trust God to be true and every man a liar (Rom 3:4) and that’s all we really need.
Becoming Invincible 