Even When...預覽

Even when there is sickness . . . Before 2020, this statement might have been a hypothetical one for most of us. This year, we’ve all come to know sickness all too well, in one way or another. We’ve gotten sick, we know someone who’s been sick, or we hear about all of those who have been sick on the news everyday. And I wish so much that this wasn’t true. I wish that we never knew what a coronavirus was. This year has been beyond anything the world has experienced. It’s easy to see that one of the symptoms and side effects of sickness and pandemic is fear. Fear takes hold when what we are up against is greater than what we’ve experienced. 

And I think that’s why so many of us have felt afraid this year. It’s one thing to sing that Jesus is a “way maker, miracle worker” and it’s another thing to personally experience the truth of those words. It’s not our fault. This year has challenged us all to trust God more than ever before. Many of us, for the first time, needed to figure out how to trust God and have faith, even when there was sickness. My faith has been challenged this year. I’ve had to learn how to lean on the Lord in the face of sickness all around me. So, how can we do it? How can we trust God, and place our hope in Him even when there is sickness. To be completely ironic, I believe there are three pills we need to swallow to realize the function of our faith even when there is sickness. 

Pill #1 We need to believe ALL of who Jesus is. 

Psalm 103:3 says “H​ e forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.​” I think a lot of us read the first half of that verse and miss the second half! He doesn’t just forgive us of our sins, He heals us. We all have faith and confidence that He will forgive our sins, but we’re squeamish about believing God for healing. If we’re going to choose hope in the face of sickness, we need to remember and believe that Jesus is our forgiver AND our healer. 

Pill #2 We need to trust the Father’s heart. 

Matthew 7:9-11 says “​You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?​ ​​Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.​” Let’s make this practical. Have you ever felt like you are bothering God by praying for healing when you are sick? Have you ever felt hesitant to believe that God will heal the person you’re praying for? I think we’ve all had a moment or two like this—I certainly have. But what this verse helps us to remember is that God cares about us. He cares about the things that matter to us. This is His heart. He knows what is best for us more than we know what is best for us. Because of this, we can trust the nature of His heart. His character is trustworthy, even when there is sickness. 

Pill #3 We need to pray “big ask” prayers. 

James 4:2 says “... you have not because you ask not.”​ Could it be that there are things God is waiting to unlock for us, blessing, healing, provision, favor, just because He is waiting for us to ask. Pastor Todd takes this verse and says that we all need to be praying some “big ask” payers. Prayers that are big in expectation. Big in faith. Big in vision. Don’t be afraid. Be bold. Ask and believe for healing. Are you holding back on your big ask prayers? 

Pastor Julie says this all the time “if you follow Jesus far enough and long enough, you will encounter the miraculous.” I believe that when we swallow these three pills, we begin to face sickness in a different way. All of the sudden, the side effect of fear will fade to the background. 

Even when there is sickness, I’m believing all of who Jesus is. Even when there is sickness, I’m trusting the Father’s heart. Even when there is sickness, I’m praying big prayers.

Why? 

The whole idea can be summed up in this: Even when there is sickness, I know the Healer. 

How will you face the days ahead knowing that even when there is sickness, you know the healer?