Have you ever been faced with a difficult circumstance and been left wondering if you lack faith because God didn’t answer your prayers to remove the hardship? I sure have.
In fact, I’ve been in a very long season of struggling with anxiety and chronic headaches. I’ve prayed bold prayers, publicly declared freedom from these struggles, and had many people pray over me. Yet God has not completely healed me. I often wonder if there’s something wrong with my faith.
But recently, God led me to read about someone in scripture that brought such relief.
John the Baptist lived a life completely devoted to his calling to prepare the way for Jesus. He gave up living what we could consider a normal life. He lived in the desert, sometimes eating bugs. He never married or had children. He preached the Kingdom message and had followers. Some even thought him the Messiah. But when Jesus came on the scene, he pointed everyone to Him.
There isn’t anywhere in the Bible I can find John lacking in faith. Yet he ended up in prison and was eventually beheaded. Jesus was around. He knew of John’s predicament, yet he did not intervene.
Jesus in the flesh did not intervene for the life of the man who had prepared the way for Him. I’m sure there were many praying for John. I’m sure John himself was praying for God to make a way out for him. But, in the end, it was not part of God’s master plan.
It may sound strange that this story lifted a burden from me, but I don’t think I’m alone in this struggle of feeling like my faith is somehow lacking.
Don’t get me wrong, there is always room for my faith to grow. There is always room for greater levels of freedom and healing. This will not keep me from praying bold prayers for healing. In fact, I think the opposite may be true. Truly understanding the outcome doesn’t depend on my faith but on God’s work, I can pray with assurance that God’s plan will be accomplished in every circumstance I pray over.
Lord, Thank You for healing and for intervening in our lives in the most important way through the gift of Salvation. Help us to not get caught up in doubt when our prayers are not answered the way we expect. Give us boldness to continue praying even when we don’t see immediate results. Thank You for Your Sovereignty and that You make everything work together for the good of those who love You. Help us to remember the outcome of our prayers is not dependent on our faith, but on Your plan and Your work. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Crystal Storms says
Love that last line, Michelle. What a beautiful reminder that answers depend on God, and we can pray with boldness knowing that the outcome, while different than we hoped, will still accomplish His plan.