I’m not sure who needs to hear this today but here it is. I read this essay last week by SARA TRENT and it resonated deep down in my heart. I haven’t experienced all the thoughts that the author of this essay has expressed but I do understand where she is coming from.

Each day - things happen in my life and the life of my family - friends - acquaintances - world events - and my immediate response is and must be - to pray!

Phil. 4:6 - Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving - let your requests be made known to God.

Mark11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

Matthew 6:6 - But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

We pray for healing in disease ridden bodies. We pray for marriages headed to the divorce court to be restored. We pray for prodigals to return. We pray for severed family relationships to be mended. We pray that an empty womb will be filled. We pray for finances to pay the never ending bills. We pray. And we wait for the answer!

Here is what Sara Trent wrote.

Jesus didn’t heal everyone. I’ve wrestled with that truth in the quiet places no one sees - in the hospital hallways where prayers echoed unanswered - in the graveside silences where I begged Him to come late like He did for Lazarus…….and still believe He could.

He didn’t always stop. He didn’t always speak. Sometimes………….He just walked by. Sometimes………….the thorn wasn’t removed.

And that truth used to ache in me like a wound I couldn’t name. I had an idea that if He could - He should. That if He was near, He would fix what was broken. That if He loved me, He’d rescue me - quickly - public - visibly.

But He didn’t. And yet, He loved me still.

I used to think miracles were the evidence of favour - of faith. Now I see - sometimes - the silence is. Sometimes the “no” is just as holy as the “now”. Sometimes the waiting is more sacred than the wonder.

Because the truth is - Jesus didn’t heal everyone.

Not every lame man walked. Not every blind eye opened. Not every storm was stilled. Not every grave was emptied.

But He saw every ache. He felt every cry. He wept at every tomb. Even the ones He didn’t raise.

I’m learning that His love is not proven by how quickly He answers - BUT BY HOW FAITHFULLY HE STAYS when He doesn’t.

He didn’t always heal the body. But He always touched the soul. He always restored what mattered most. And He always walked in love - even when His hands didn’t move the way I hoped.

So here I am - YEARS into a prayer I’m still waiting on. Holding the tension between faith and fatigue.

Still believing He can. Still trusting Him even if He doesn’t. Still finding Him in the places I didn’t expect - the long spells - the dry spells - the closed doors - the empty hands.

And maybe - just maybe - that’s the deeper healing.

Maybe He walked past them so He could walk with me. Maybe He withheld the miracle to give me more of Him. Maybe the greatest healing isn’t in the answer………..but in the nearness of the One who holds me while I wait.

He didn’t heal everyone. But He never passed by the brokenhearted. And I know now. He has not passed by me. (Thanks to Sara Trent for her thoughts)

God may not heal everyone but He heals some. Not every marriage is restored but some are. Not every prodigal returns but some do. Not every family relationship is restored but some are. Not every womb is filled but some are.

I love the story in the book of Mark in the New Testament where a desperate father pleads with Jesus to heal his son. In the conversation between the two - the father utters this statement - "“Lord I believe - help my unbelief.” I love this man’s honesty and struggle - having both belief and unbelief present at the same time.

So - we must be honest about what we are going through - what we are praying for. Pray that our faith will be strengthened and unmovable. Pray that we will remain steadfast during difficult times. Pray with the realization that God can and will meet us in our moments of doubt.

What grace we’re offered. What peace we’re given. What a blessing to lean into the arms of our faithful God - through thick and thin.

In the waiting - God is present.