While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. (Luke 5:12-13)
Jesus wants us to ask Him boldly with faith for our needs and wants. “You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2b) We’ve all prayed fiercely for miracles of healing. I did so for my best friend who died a couple weeks ago from aggressive melanoma. The question is always, “Is God willing?” God wasn’t willing to heal my friend. He called her to heaven.
Luke, a medical doctor, tells us this man was covered with leprosy, probably close to death. Lepers were required by law to stay away from others, shunned from society, so at all cost the leper boldly approaches Jesus, bows before him, and asks Jesus to make him clean. Jesus was willing to heal the leper because He had plans for the leper to increase His kingdom on earth.
Father, God, help us to pray boldly and faithfully. When your answer is, “no,” when you’re unwilling, help us to understand your will is best and encourage us with your grace.
When you pray so hard for something, it is hard to understand when you feel your prayers have not been answered. God knows the plan and he knows what is right for each of us. I know that you still hurt over the loss of Julee, and I guess His plan was having Julee in Heaven. God will give you strength in your time of sorrow.
Thanks for your comment. I know it was God’s plan for Julee to go to heaven and be healed in her new heavenly body. It was a blessing that God showed her daughter, Julee’s greeting into heaven. I miss her a lot, but God is giving me peace, and when I’m weak, God’s strength lies upon me!