Expect the Unexpected
Submitted by: Chaplain Barbara Embry, Citizens Baptist Medical Center
What can we do when we are called to hold to our faith when illness comes to disturb our everyday world? Where is our peace and the assurance that God is with us? We must rekindle every ounce of faith in us and be strengthen in God’s Word, thus the story of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha.
John 11:21-25 New Living Translation (NLT) 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying."
We, like Martha, seemingly have some idea of how Jesus is going to bless, deliver, provide for, or heal us. Even when we can hold onto our faith, we sometimes still stumble and almost fall as we wait for the manifestation of our petition. How can we become staunch and stable in our faith (our expectancy)? We can rely on God because He DOES NOT LIE!
Titus 1:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT) 1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. 2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised them before the world began.
God has given us assurances throughout The Word that He is with us and we need to ask and believe, in order to receive our petition. He said this to us in 1 John 5:14-15 about our expectancy, our confidence, our faith.
John 5:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT) 14 And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. 15 And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.
God loves us more than we can imagine and He will go beyond our thoughts and do the unexpected for us, because He is able to do so. Look above your illness, circumstances, and situations and see ONLY God. He is pleased when we expect Him in our situations. He loves being our Father! He is our Healer and He wants us to call upon Him! Don’t be discouraged: Jesus said we will never be alone; even the angels have been charged to keep us! Just know with Him, IT IS WELL. Expect the unexpected!
Prayer: Jehovah God, our heavenly Father we thank You for the Word that is truth and our Bread of Life. It is in You that we live, move and have our being. You are our health, strength, comfort and compass. We thank You for the wholeness of our body, mind, and spirit.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Eph. 3:20-21)