Meditation on John 4: 46-53

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. If it only it was that simple for us. If only we would put our hope and trust in Jesus Christ. This is hard for us, because it is not rational. And more frightening - it may not mean that we get what we are asking for. In this case, the man’s son was healed. In other cases, it may mean that we do not get the physically healing we desire. We may be healed emotionally, relationally, or spiritually instead.

What if we began to see our prayers for healing to Christ, as acts of trust. Acts of faith. Trusting that God will act. I told the Bible Study group this past week that I stumbled upon something interesting on the internet. It was labeled, a story about faith, and told of a town that had a major drought. The towns people decided to gather together to pray for rain. But as they came together, only one little boy brought an umbrella with him. In other words, only one little boy thought that their prayers would be answered.

Sometimes we pray to God for healing because we’ve run out of options other places. Prayers become a last resort. And other times we pray because its what we think we should do. But how often to we pray because we believe that God will answer our requests? Believe that God will move in a mighty way? Believe that God will heal?

The people of Cana knew Jesus performed miracles, it was the place where he turned water into wine. Yet, Jesus asked if that was really all they wanted. Just wanted a sign or a wonder so that they could believe? We are just like the people in Cana who beg for signs and wonders because we heard Christ did them before, now we want one of our own. Though we quickly forget the ways that Christ has healed us in the past when we are faced with a new crisis. A new test of faith.

Brothers and sisters, we are here tonight to pray. Its my hope that we’ve gathered together because we believe that pray matters. Believe that God acts. Did you come tonight hoping against hope or did you come tonight, like the little boy with the umbrella, knowing that God moves in a mighty way? It may not always be what we want, but sometimes, we get exactly what we ask God for. Let us be a people of prayer.