TOM came over to my home. He walked with a pronounced limp, dragging his leg behind him, his right hand hanging useless at his side. He sat down, his eyes wet with tears. “Why doesn’t God heal me?” he asked bitterly.
“Why should He?” I asked. “Because I pray for healing day and night. Ask my wife. I get up in the morning and spend an hour in prayer, same in the afternoon and in the evening. Sometimes when I can’t get sleep at midnight too.”
“So, it’s not for lack of asking” I said rather matter of factly. “So why am I not healed? Is He is punishing me for something I have done?” “Have you asked His forgiveness for whatever you have done?” I asked. “Yes,” said Tom nodding vigorously. “Then I doubt that’s the reason.” I said. “So, what’s the reason?” he asked angrily. “I think of God as a father,” I said. “And maybe we as earthly fathers can try to understand Him a little.” “Shoot,” said Tom nodding his head a little, wondering where this conversation was going.
“We earthly fathers,” I said, “want the best for our children, don’t we?” Tom nodded his head even more vigorously, “but we also want our children to be the best!” “Sure,” said Tom, who was the father of three little children. “Best means strong,” I added. “Sure it does,” said Tom again. “And is God looking at you and asking, ‘Are you strong Tom?’” “What do you mean?” he asked, suddenly uncertain.
“Ever since you had the stroke, have you become a stronger person or a weaker man. Have you worked at your limp leg and useless hand, pushing your muscles to move with movement and exercise or have you sat at home whining and crying?”
“I’ve prayed,” he said stubbornly. “Cried to God, would be a better phrase,” I said. “If you as an earthly father saw your toddler trying to stand and walk what would you do? Would you pick him up and carry him for the rest of your life or would you encourage him to stand and walk and run, using his own two feet?”
“What are you trying to say?” asked Tom. “That maybe God wants you to stop whining like a baby and start pushing yourself towards healing.” “He wants me to stand? To walk?” “He wants to watch with pride as healing takes place not through your tears but through your efforts. Pray for will power, for perseverance, then push yourself, and become a stronger you!”
I saw him the next morning, he was outside in the field, very early, struggling to push one leg after the other, moving torturously, slowly forward, but there was a gleam in his eye, and determination on his face. I felt God look down with pride..!
