God Answers Every Prayer

Persistence in prayer is a sign of dependence on God

Far too often we underestimate God’s power because we measure its effects in human terms. When we pray for healing, does the person get better? If they are healed God must be powerful, but what if they aren’t?

“There was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:25-34)

Last Sunday we had a healing service at our local church. After the sermon our pastor invited people forward to be anointed with oil by elders as commanded by James 5:14. I didn’t see anyone receive miraculous healing like the woman in Mark 5, but I did have the privilege of witnessing God’s power.

One of our elders has a degenerative muscle condition; his wife has an autoimmune disease. Like the woman in Mark 5 they’ve undergone countless surgeries, therapies, and treatments. They haven’t been healed, and yet they stood at the front of our church gladly praying for everyone who came to them, expecting God to give to others what He has refused to give them.

The apostle Paul was presented with a similar challenge.

“A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

Paul’s persistence in prayer is a sign of dependence on God. Paul asked again and again and again to be healed before God gave him a clear no. God’s power is expressed both in the blessing of healing and the blessing of grace to endure without being healed. Whatever you need from God in this moment, pray persistently and you will experience His power.

Shawn

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