Fickle Faith

Last Friday, a friend of mine faced major abdominal surgery. While confident that God was in control, she was understandably a bit nervous about the whole thing. I called her Thursday evening and prayed with her over the phone, asking God to take charge, even asking him to heal her in advance so the surgery would not be needed.

Friday, I received this text, "Just heard from dr. Surgery went great with no problems found. God is the great healer... Going home today after recovery."

My reply, "Exactly what we prayed for. Hallelujah"

God answered our prayers (mine and so many others), healing her from a known medical condition, making surgical repair unnecessary.

Just a couple days later, as we caught up, I asked, "So now your doctor needs to figure out what's been causing the weight loss?" What am I saying?

I suffer from fickle faith. We had prayed for a miracle healing, knowing the medical condition. I know I believe in my head and heart that God could provide such a healing. As I prayed, I really wanted Him to do exactly what He did! Then, just a couple days later, I humanized the result, looking for other causes to the problem, minimizing God's supernatural response to prayer. How often do I try to "fit" his miracles into boxes, putting them in a context I can actually understand?

How despicable. I know I believe in a powerful, mighty, loving and strong God - beyond my comprehension. Ephesians 3:17-21 says, "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

"The love of Christ...that surpasses knowledge," isn't that amazing? My knowledge is limited by my understanding. In this instance, I'm limited by my understanding of how the human body functions. God, though, is not so limited. Because of his great love for us, He sometimes chooses to do more than we can understand. "Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." My friend and I could imagine God's healing (and her faith has never wavered), but to what extent? He has knit her back together. I can't imagine how... that's so far beyond my comprehension. He is God. He fixes. What more do I really need to understand? Isn't faith trusting in the unknowable?

Dear God, Thank You for being You. I praise your awesome power and abundant love. Thank You for healing my friend, for doing it your way, in your time, with your power. Please forgive me for making You less than You are, trying to fit You in my head. You deserve all the glory, honor and praise for Your mighty works in my friend's body. I pray my lips will praise You all my days. Grow in me an unwavering faith, one that reflects Your mighty Godliness. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen