Mike Davies on healings and when God doesn't seem to answer

Mike Davies

I spend a lot of my time praying for others and many who come for prayer are not necessarily looking for a physical healing or financial breakthrough, which I would expect in these times, but most are seeking what I refer to as a 'repair of the soul'.

Let me put in this picture a man called Thomas; he was one of the twelve with Jesus. Jesus tells the disciples where He is going, but Thomas is unsure and asks further questions. The Bible tells us how Thomas doubted the resurrection and would only believe when he saw Jesus for himself. Jesus stands face-to-face with Thomas. Thomas had an encounter which transformed his life from then on. Thomas had been in hopelessness, desolation, anguish and depression. For me this speaks volumes, as many of us get caught in situations where we are so bogged down with life it becomes difficult and painful.

Thomas had a reconnection, a transformation, a paradigm alteration in his life and it is that same encounter with Jesus that so many of us need. Thomas had been at an all-time low, at the very point of despair, but Jesus came and met with him.

Now let me be candid; at times we all hesitate in the faith or become downhearted with ourselves or with His church. We get to a point or may well be in that position right now where life hurts and that hurting becomes too much. A bit like playing the game of Scrabble when you appreciate you have a dreadful set of letters and replace them all for new ones.

As Christians we do not have the answers to everything; we are not exempt from the pain and the torture that this world may bring but we do have a 'hope'.

I am fortunate to travel to many countries and I provide opportunity for prayer after I have finished speaking. The majority who respond are not necessarily looking for physical healing. For many it's emotional, it concerns matters of the heart, for example a parent or a child who has died, a broken relationship, the worry of feeling that they are a fake even within their own lives, distress that relatives or church friends will find out about past activities, or present circumstances, or not really knowing that God loves them.

All of these are understandable. We are complicated and can be wounded in a whole host of ways. This is where healing needs to come. Healing comes when you can look back to a situation and have peace in your heart. Devastating events will always remain with you - you will often wonder what could have been - but you need to find a peace which is only available through and from God. If there is anything from the past or present which deprives you of living each day in all its richness then it needs to be dealt with. John
14:27 says "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." These are the words of Jesus.

In the letter to the Ephesians it has a most incredible first chapter. We have this mind-blowing letter written by Paul which presents the church, which is Christ's body, of which Christ is the head. This letter reveals the church as God's masterpiece. "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.." and "having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ".

Ephesians Chapter 1 is remarkable, overwhelming, breath-taking and yet very humbling. We need to know who we are and who we belong to in order that we can engage in the events that each day brings, whether good or bad.

You and I are not exempt or excused from heart-ache, or pain, but our God is bigger, better and greater. We need to have a faith and hope in Jesus who is our overcoming Saviour and it is in Him where our hope should be grounded.

I have seen many amazing healings, many people healed from cancer - where cancer has just disappeared, where people could not walk - they stood up and walked, where hearts were malfunctioning they were put right; all through the love and power of Christ Jesus. But sometimes I get hit and hit hard when someone that I love and care for does not come through. Now many of us have been there and that leaves us hurt and damaged, it leaves a tear in our soul.

A few weeks ago we had the church praying desperately for a little child. She was suddenly taken to hospital and within a matter of weeks she sadly died. This hit me and the church badly. What words could I offer to the parents who had just lost their precious little girl, without warning? What could I tell the children in our church who had lost a school friend? The miracles, healings, testimonies all now seemed to be a blur. Where was Jesus when this family cried out?

I receive many prayer requests and we are grateful for these. It is great to receive testimonies, some of them most astonishing. But I have to be sincere I also receive emails that start something like: "Sadly I have to inform you.."

As Christians it is when these times come that you question if everything you have always believed in is in fact genuine. Where do you turn to when the bottom falls out of your life?

In 1962, Thomas Kuhn defined the concept of a "paradigm shift". He argued that scientific advancement is not evolutionary, but rather is a "series of peaceful interludes punctuated by intellectually violent revolutions" and in those revolutions "one conceptual world view is replaced by another".

Think of a paradigm shift as a change from one way of thinking to another.

Using Kuhn's explanation for scientific advancement and then input the power of the living God and the comfort and joy of the Holy Spirit and we can see a revolution of thought or standing in the life of you and l.

Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; only believe." You may be reading this article and your life may be ok, but I would like to stand with anyone who needs a critical revolution in their life. This could be the need to accept Jesus Christ for the first time as Lord and Saviour, it could be for a miracle, financial breakthrough, a healing (physical or emotional), an increase of faith, a repair of a matter of the soul (our soul is our mind, our emotions, our will). It can be anything which has damaged you through relationships and most certainly anything which has affected you in your relationship with Jesus.

The Son of God was stripped naked, beaten and crucified for each one of us.

May you truly experience a refreshing of God's love for you today.