Palm to Palm
Dear friends, I want to thank you all for journeying with me on this road of discovering who God is, as healer. I know discussions like these can bring excruciating pain, bitter memories, and heartache to the surface. My friend Christine says, “God breaks our hearts to bring breakthrough.” The reason I am pleading with God for breakthrough in our understanding, is because of my own broken heart.
We all have walked through different sorts of pain. I’ve not walked through yours and you’ve not walked through mine. It serves no purpose to compare our wounds. They’re different.
Several years ago a friend of mine died of cancer, at age 36. I prayed fervently for her healing. She left two young children. My dear Mama has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for 12 years. Nothing has broken me wide open like watching my precious Mama walk through pain, humiliation, suffering, frustration. It seems that daily I hear more news of young Mamas and Daddies dying of cancer, of sweet children’s lives cut short. Certainly suffering isn’t new to the scene, but I wonder if God isn’t stirring up in our spirits an Enough already broken-heart that might breakthrough, that we might see Him move mightily in our day?
I don’t know, friends. I don’t know exactly what He will do.
But I know Him. He’s my Dada-God.
And that is what I’d like to put front and center today.
This weekend I read a sweet book called Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet. I’ll admit, I believe that theologically we need to be very careful with that saying. Everything is NOT good and everything is NOT sweet, But God. God is good and God is sweet and God is gracious in all things. Let us always be certain we say that He is the gift, not the evil that He sovereignly allows.
Evil is evil and God is good.
But what I appreciated about hearing Sara Hagerty’s story of suffering, is that she brings all healing and suffering into the context of relationship. Similarly, in Heidi’s Baker’s phenomenal book Birthing the Miraculous, she always points back to the supernatural and miraculous happening in the context of an intimate, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. As Sara says,
“To know God as Healer is a relationship, not a moment.”
If we truly want to know healing, we must know Jehovah Rapha, The LORD our Healer. She also recognizes that for years she saw herself as a beggar, unnoticed by God, who needed to whine or beg to try to get his attention. She says,
“My request, around which my fingers had been clenched for years, was meant to be delivered palm to palm as I sat on His lap in confidence.”
Let us always remember our identity–beloved children of the King. He promises His goodness because of who He is (the Good, Omnipotent God) and who we are (His beloved children). We need not scrap and beg and whine. We’re not street urchins tugging on the robe of an uncaring ruler. We ask palm to palm. We need only crawl up onto His lap in loving relationship, immersing ourselves in the truth of His Word, and frame our requests in the context of relationship.
There is more, much more, I’d like to share, from the Scriptures on God’s power to heal, and how we are to proceed from here. I think there are some dangerous ditches on either side, and I want to be careful we don’t wind up there. So I’ll write some more in the following weeks, but wanted to pause here first. Because no matter what type of suffering we’re walking through, one thing is the same.
If you’re experiencing the suffering of persecution: Draw near to Dada-God.
If you’re experiencing the pain of sickness: Draw near to Dada-God.
If you’ve lost a loved one to tragedy: Draw near to Dada-God.
Instead of shaking a fist at God or recoiling in fear that it’s all your fault, crawl up onto His lap and honestly pour out your pain to Him. It does no good to mask it or make up our own theologies to explain away the hurt. It doesn’t work. The reality is that who God says He is, and what we see in our daily lives, don’t always seem to match up. Turn to Him with those areas of apparent contradiction and humbly ask Him to reveal Himself as Daddy, as Healer, as Redeemer.
God loves you. I pray that as we continue to travel this road and wade through the Word as it pertains to this topic, that you will know the love of God who bore our pain on the cross, who was acquainted with grief and sorrow, who walks with us through every valley of the shadow of death.
As we wait for our healing, hoping, hand-in-hand with Him, we are being healed.
Thank you for reading.
Is all “suffering” the same?
“Suffering is suffering is suffering.”
This is a quote I read in a book last year. At the time, I agreed, but as I’ve continued to study the scriptures this year, I’m rethinking.
In fact, I need to contact the author and let her know I think this is incorrect. So, that’s what I’m doing …
The author was me. (smile)
See, I’ve always thought that: suffering is suffering is suffering. That is, whether it’s sickness or hardship or persecution or emotional pain, it’s all vaguely classified as hard stuff, right? Or, in a biblical term, trials. Right? And so our response is basically the same–Rejoice. Scripture says to rejoice when we face various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces perseverance (James 1:2-3).
We can safely surmise, then, that it is God’s will that we suffer because that produces perseverance in our lives. So we can gladly accept any hard stuff, whatever it is, right?
Well …
A close look at Scripture reveals some interesting nuances; here are a few observations..
Please note: My prayer for us is that we simply make these as observations, and are slow to draw final conclusions or judgments. We are in the process of studying God’s Word and it’s a process. *smile*
- No godly person in Scripture ever died young of disease. (They were either martyred or lived long lives–God “fulfilled the number of their days” Ex. 23:26).
- MANY godly persons in Scripture died as martyrs (i.e. persecution). In fact, all the disciples except John died martyr’s deaths. John died of old age after a long life.
- Jesus completely healed every single sick person who came to him. (While certainly not every single sick person was healed during Jesus’ time on earth, but all who came to Him were. That is, Jesus never said “no” to a person requesting healing.)
- Jesus did nothing to prevent the martyrdom of John the Baptist, who was beheaded.
- The “prescription” for those suffering, is to pray (James 5:13)
- The “prescription” for those sick is to “call for the elders and let them anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:13).
- In Scripture, the suffering of persecution was a sign of godliness, a crown, an honor, a way of identifying with Jesus’ suffering on the cross (Heb. 10:34, Phil 3:10, Heb 11:32-38)
- In Scripture, the suffering of sickness was a sign of sin (NOT necessarily that particular individual‘s sin but the general decaying effect of sin) and the curse and was removed by the power of Jesus’ finished work on the cross (Matt 8:17).
- The Great Commission (to make disciples) was 3-fold: 1)Preach the gospel 2) Cast out demons 3) Heal the sick. The early church prayed specifically, when they were being actively persecuted and their lives were in danger, “Grant to your servants to continue to speak your words with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29).
- Although the persecuted are promised special blessing in the beatitudes (Matt. 5:10-12), there is no such reward or promise for the sick.
- In the promised “hardships of ministry” (1 Cor. 6:4-10) sickness and disease are nowhere mentioned. Persecution and poverty, yes. Disease, no.
Now, please hear my heart–that last thing I intend to do is to discourage the sick by saying there is no promised blessing or by pointing out that no godly person in scripture died of sickness. The LAST thing that sick folks need is discouragement!
My point is this: We need to pray in-line with God’s will, with confidence knowing how we are to pray and respond to various types of suffering. And although yes, we ARE to rejoice always (again I say rejoice!), we also need to armed with the truth and pray effectively.
We tend to resist any form of persecution and pray resolutely against it and yet we lie down and accept sickness and diseases of all forms. It’s backwards! Jesus said to rejoice when we are persecuted for His name, but to lay hands on and heal the sick. [bctt tweet=”Jesus said, Rejoice when we are persecuted and heal the sick.”]
Why? I don’t know the answers, but I do know that it all has to do with displaying God’s power and furthering His kingdom.
I hope and pray to know better the powerful love and will of Jesus, and to know His heart. As best as we can, let’s pray in accordance with His will, knowing He hears. Amen? Thank you so much for reading.
The Gratitude Gospel?
Something finally broke inside. Enough already. For six months something had been stirring. Something unsettled, exactly that same unsettled feeling that haunted me through the early fall of 2010 when The Hole In Our Gospel stuck real poverty in my face and something broke.
Enough already.
Sure, I cannot fix the world, but I can commit to throwing as many starfish in the water as I can. The work is ultimately God’s, nothing saps our spirit quicker than believing the lie that this whole thing depends on us. It doesn’t. But His work of conviction, that snap inside where we finally say, Enough already, it enlists us in His troops to choose His cares above our own, and we get the joy of living beyond ourselves.
What Enough already am I talking about? The Enough already with not doing, living, and seeing what the Bible clearly teaches. Enough already with over-spiritualizing the gospel, ignoring the real needs right in front of our faces, the very needs Jesus did not ignore.[bctt tweet=”Enough already with over-spiritualizing the gospel, ignoring the real needs Jesus did not ignore.”]
Last time, the revelation was that the Bible clearly teaches God’s heart toward the widow, orphan, alien, poor. God’s Word clearly teaches we are to serve, love, uphold, and give to help the least of these. Scripture clearly teaches that our hearts will be where our money is, so when we turn our funds toward the least, we turn our hearts there too.
It’s clear.
Strangely enough, this is about that too. This is just another Enough already with not doing, living, and seeing what the Bible clearly teaches.
This time, the revelation is that the Bible clearly teaches Jesus healed all who came to Him with physical ailment. (Certainly not every sick person was healed during Jesus’ time on earth but every person who came to Him was. He never said “no” to a person seeking Him for healing.) “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases” (Matt. 8:17).[bctt tweet=”“He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” (Matt. 8:17)”]
He used miraculous healings to teach spiritual truths, as a sign of His power, but He never negated or diminished or dismissed the very real presence of physical ailments and disease, but completely healed all who came to Him. God’s Word clearly teaches that He gave authority to His 12 disciples and the unnamed 72 followers and those of us who would come after them, commanding us to 1) Preach the gospel 2) Cast out demonic spirits, and 3) Heal the sick (Matt. 10:7-8, Luke 10:8-9). Scripture clearly commands us to lay hands on the sick and they will be healed (James 5:16).
Then why aren’t we and why aren’t they?
Of course I don’t know the answer. But I’m committing this year, as I read through the Bible, to write down everything the Scripture teaches about this. I’m only halfway through the gospel of Mark and there’s two whole pages already! Who knew the Bible was FULL of this stuff?!
For now, one thought:
There has come into our culture a movement that seems good but gets twisted out of proportion. Just as the Prayer of Jabez took a good prayer from Scripture and we blew it up out of proportion so that all we prayed was to have more territory and not have pain, so the new Gratitude Gospel takes everything in the world and gives thanks for it, chooses to see it as good.
That sounds fine, but everything is not good.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), not to give thanks for the works of the devil. Yes, we are called to give thanks in everything, but not for everything. Nowhere in Scripture does a desperate, sick, suffering person come to Jesus and Jesus’ response to them is, “Hey, just look on the bright side!”[bctt tweet=”Never in Scripture does Jesus’ respond to a sick person, “Hey, look on the bright side!””]
No, He heals them. He delivers them. All of them. When we ignore the real stuff that Jesus did, we over-spiritualize the gospel, inadvertently removing much of the GOOD that is the Good News!
I know I’m walking a fine-line here. I do not mean to imply that giving thanks is bad. I’m a fanatic thank-er! In fact, often healing and victory come through thanksgiving. But only giving thanks is incomplete. So we ask, Are there ways we’ve turned gratitude into the whole gospel? Are there ways we have accepted evil, thinking we better just be more thankful, rather than fighting against it?
Are there ways we’ve given thanks for the works of the devil instead of destroying them?
Perhaps today, as we continue to give thanks, we might ask the Father if there is any way He desires us to also partner with Him in destroying the works of the devil. How can we fight against evil while still praising God for who He is? On this adventure with you. Thank you so much for reading.
Dear Daughter,
My dear, precious daughter, Heidi,
It’s your birthday today, hooray! How I have looked forward to this day, maybe even more than you have, this day to celebrate you and shower you with special affection and love. You are sweet and six today, curls dangling down and cheeks still round and tiny mouth full of sweetness. We’ve counted down the days (since 17!) and it’s finally here–your birthday.
I stopped by Fred Meyer late, in the middle of the night, on my way home from my retreat, for just one special purchase: Frozen light-up athletic shoes. The ones Daddy told me about, the ones you saw, the ones that made your face all light. They’re bright and blinking and branded, all my least-favorite things :), but I know your heart, and my heart skips a beat just thinking of your face lighting up when you open them today.
The truth is, it takes restraint on my part to only give you a few gifts today. Although you are so cautious in your requests, although you are so mindful not to ask for things that are too “espensive,” although you are so incredibly precious in your simple Wish Lists and you willingness to not receive every whimsical desire, I love these qualities about you and the truth is:
I LOVE showering you with gifts. It gives me immeasurable pleasure to pour out my blessings on your little life. When I saw the reader-board sign that read “$1 sundaes” at Burgerville, I couldn’t wait to text Daddy and tell him–I knew he’d take you out on a little date while I was away, and I was so excited for you to get this special treat.
Here at my retreat I just sifted through my goodie-bag, the one they give each gal, and saved out the Hershey Kiss for you, because I knew your eyes would light up: “For me?!”
Giving you a chocolate kiss is so much sweeter than tasting one myself.
The truth is, the only reason I ever don’t give you something is only for your own good. The only reason I hold back anything is because I don’t want to spoil you or ruin you, or fail to teach you important truths such as waiting, faith, trusting, delaying gratification.
The truth is, I’d just shower you with delightful gifts all day long, every day of the year, but I want you to be good and godly even more than I want to give you gifts. Besides, sometimes I want to just give you me, because our relationship–you and me–is the most important thing I can give you right now.I know that for years down the road you will remember our relationship more than any single item I ever gave. Our relationship will be what you turn to when things are hard, when life seems bitter, when inevitable disappointments come your way.
But, my sweet girl, just know: I delight to give you gifts, I delight to give you me, I delight in you. You are more precious than words could ever describe. I cannot breathe enough of your breath. I cannot hear you laugh enough times. When you shuffle out of bed, sleepy-eyed, and crawl into my lap for morning Bible time: I can barely breathe for how sacred those times are to me.
Above all, my greatest hope and desire is that you know you are extravagently loved. The Hershey kisses and Frozen sneakers are just little tangible tokens of my never-stopping, never-failing, always-and-forever love for you … my precious daughter.
I love you. Happy birthday.
Love,
Mommy
*Dear precious friends, please take a moment and re-read this letter, but this time, insert your own name in the place of my daughter, and at the very end, cross out “Mommy” and write, “God.” I believe you will get a tiny glimpse of the Father’s extravagant love for you. I don’t know what the “Frozen sneakers” represent in your life, and you’re probably not 6-years-old, but the Father delights in giving you good gifts, most of all Himself. Happy Monday, and thanks for reading.