When faced with difficult circumstances with no end in sight, relief from the pain is top of mind. During those times I have felt like the Psalmist in my prayers to God, “Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress; Incline Your ear to me; In the day when I call answer me quickly (Psalm 102:2, NASB).”
I know what I want and I want it now, but often God knows better. He has the long view of our life and a plan we often cannot see beyond this moment. To embrace that in the midst of our pain and suffering is not easy. This is why I admire the leper in Matthew 8:1-4.
There are three things the leper does when seeking healing. He goes to Jesus with his request, bows before Him, and then accepts that Jesus may or may not heal him when he said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean (2, NASB).” He humbled himself before Jesus and respected the will of God.
It’s sobering to me to read that and think of the times when I’ve demanded God to immediately change things—or worse, tried to fix it myself without seeking God first. To humbly approach God and respect his choice on how to address a situation is an act of faith so often demonstrated by the least likely people in the Bible.
Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. – Matthew 8:10, NASB
