I recently received some news that the life trajectory of someone whom I love and have been praying for over the course of many years was continuing in a destructive direction. After hearing this, I felt extremely confused and discouraged. Why has God not moved? Why would He give me words to pray and then not answer that prayer? I was left wondering, “How long, Oh Lord!”, and struggling to continue to pray faithfully. I then read Luke 7:11-17, and felt like I had some insight into the potential emotions of the mother in this story. Below is my retelling (admittedly editorializing) of this story from her perspective.
------------------------------
There was a woman who had no family left living except her son. They were dependant on one another, and so had a very special relationship. It came to be that her son get very ill, and the doctors said he was on death’s doorstep.
But the woman had heard stories, and from reliable sources nonetheless, that there was a man traveling around the region who had the power of God with Him to heal any injury, illness, or ailment. In fact, His power was reportedly so great that He even had authority to command evil spirits. He had already healed hundreds of people, and news had come that He was less than a day’s journey away in Capernaum! The woman saw a glimmer of hope--He might come to their village next, and she knew He would heal her son.
But he didn’t come. Her precious son was taken by his illness, and she was left all alone. She was overwhelmed by grief as they prepared the body for burial. And then, as the funeral procession commenced, this man she had heard so much about showed up. In that moment, her sorrow was mingled with confusion and frustration. Why hadn’t He come in time? Why would he show up now? Why was her hope let down and her heart crushed? Could this man know what she was going through? And how could there possibly be so many people following this guy?
Then He walked up to the woman, a look of deepest understanding and compassion on His face, and said, “Do not weep.”
Somehow, someway the spark of hope was renewed inside of her heart at those words! What would he do next?
The entire procession slowed to a halt. He walked up to the grey body of the woman’s son and said, clearly enough for many to hear, “Young man, arise.”
The son sat up. For a moment, the woman wondered if this could be some sort of trick, but then she heard the voice that she had missed since the sickness first started to drain the life from her son--a voice full of life. And the man led her son back to her. Their reunion was all the better because of the presence of the One who made it possible to overcome death.
And those who witnessed the event went from their glorifying God, saying, “God has visited His people.”
-------------------------
I hope some of you find this encouraging.
-Richard
Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash