Overwhelmed and amazed.

Although the people in today’s reading had begged Jesus to heal the man who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, they were still amazed when God granted their request. Even though the man had been suffering for a long time, he didn’t complain, ‘What took you so long?’ Perhaps the man’s long years of suffering intensified the amazement of the onlookers.

I can relate to this story because God once healed me. I had endured over a decade of heartbreaking infertility. And when my husband and I attempted to adopt, the birth mother changed her mind and kept her child. Then, a few weeks after our twelfth wedding anniversary, I gave birth to our son. I, too, was ‘overwhelmed with amazement’ at God’s power. I most certainly didn’t ask the Lord what took so long as I cuddled my baby against my skin and marvelled at each and every one of his fingers and toes. Instead,  I rejoiced so exuberantly that the nurse remarked about the intensity of my happiness.

Whenever I’m begging Jesus to address my concerns, I remember that wonderful answer to prayer, and I focus on God’s ability to do all things well in his time.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to wait patiently and expectantly as we come to you with our concerns. Amen