how do faith and God's will fit in?
Mary says:
My friend got into a horrible car accident, and many many people were praying
for her to be healed, and I had so much faith and believed she was being
healed so strongly. They took her off life-support this morning because
there was no brain activity and surgery would do no good. Why wasn't she
healed? Was our faith just not strong enough? I don't understand :(She was a Christian, so I know she's in heaven right now.. But I can't shake the
feeling that it's my fault for possibly harboring any doubts or not having
absolutely perfect faith.
Although there were already several good replies to Mary’s question, I was so moved by the pain implicit in her questions that I felt inspired to add the following reply:
My condolences, Mary. I am truly sorry for your loss.
It is not your fault Mary. God does not choose to grant or deny prayer requests because of the faith (or lack thereof) of those praying. If it is the right thing to do then God will do it. If it is not, then God will not do it. He always hears our
prayer, but he does not always grant them, because only he is God and only he
knows what is best.
However, sometimes prayer can change God's decision, but not because of the great faith of those praying. In fact sometimes, the reason that God might change his decision is because of the weak (though sincere) faith of those requesting it: he may grant their prayers in order to show them that their faith is justified. However if our faith is strong enough, we do not need God to make demonstrations for us.
Another reason that God might change a decision in response to prayer is that our faithful prayers may have changed us (and they do) in a way that also changes what is best for everyone. Praying faithfully to love others, for instance, is
almost always rewarded.
The matter of your friend is painful and difficult to understand and almost everyone struggles with it. You have said that you had so much faith in this and I do not doubt it, and that you know that your friend is in heaven. Then hold fast to that same faith and use it now: have faith that God loves your friend every bit as much as you do. And just as you would never do anything to hurt her, know that God also will always do what is best for those whom he loves.
Have faith that God knows both what is right and what is best for your friend and for everyone. Have faith that God has brought her to her reward and glory now because that is right, even if we cannot understand it ourselves.
When we grieve at the death of a Christian friend we are really grieving for ourselves, not them. They get to be with God in heaven, it is we who have to continue life without someone whom we love. And that is more than enough reason to mourn. Have faith that just as Jesus wept for Lazarus, so God also mourns your loss.
Have faith, not just in prayer, but also in God's wisdom, in God's decisions and in God's love.
The grace and peace of God be with you,
RBarryYoung
