Miracles, Management and Mercy

In Luke 7, the centurion was looking for a miracle. And isn’t that what we all want when we are praying to God about our problems! But sometimes, that is not God’s answer.

How do we deal with it? Looking at the chapter, we see that John the Baptist is in prison and is struggling with his faith. God doesn’t send an angel to deliver him. Is that because he had weak faith? No! Jesus says, “Among those born of women there is no one greater than John…” Sometimes, God just gives us the strength or the ability to manage life. Paul talks about this, “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:7-10

Okay but what happens when I don’t get a miracle and I’m not even managing so well?!? That’s when we come before the throne of God for his mercy and ask for him to throw his arms of love around us and give us strength!

So then, we must cling in faith to all we know to be true. For we have a magnificent King-Priest, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who rose into the heavenly realm for us, and now sympathizes with us in our frailty. He understands humanity, for as a man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin. So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness. Hebrews 4:14-16 TPT