It's Not About the Sandals

Two posts in one week is unlike me, but this conversation has come twice this week.

When people hear the name Jesus, different first words come to mind.
Love
Death
Sandals
God's Son
"Just" a good man

Healer-Don't be scared off by the scripture...I'm not preaching.
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.-Luke 4:40
Jesus was the ultimate healer in the new testament.  At almost every gathering, Jesus healed someone.  It was prophesied that He would come and heal, and He did.

When I was young, my mamaw was very sick and I remember praying that the Lord would heal her.  At that age, it wasn't a question in my mind. From my knowledge of the Lord, you asked, believed and He would heal. When she passed away it was my first experience of disappointment in the Lord.

Healing in the new testament seemed to be rooted in faith for the most part. When Jesus would ask, "Do you have faith?" the people would cry out "Yes! Yes!" But I do wonder in their minds....in the back of their minds were they concerned about the healing not happening like they wanted it and that the outcome could possibly be.....death?

I had a conversation with one of my best friends this week about healing.  It was a conversation that opened up a struggle for us both asking where is the healing?  We talked about how we felt like it should be more common and not a rarity and how we have both seen many people die of diseases after hundreds, thousands and I'm sure sometimes, millions of people come in agreement in prayer.  I've been reading a blog about a man who is sick and they are asking, claiming and believing in healing.  I see his wife curled up on his bed beside him and my heart aches.
Heal him, please.  

Do I believe that God raises things out of death?  Yes
That His knowledge and understanding is more than my tiny brain can grasp?  Yes
That death is sometimes just the consequence of our actions and sins?  Yes
That God knew the power of death and that is why the Easter season is so celebrated because death is overcome and we should long for the days of the Kingdom?  Yes
Is it still hard to understand and grasp?  Yes

I want to see more healing.  Justin and I were talking about it and just asking questions back and forth to one another.  He was asking why we don't see it as much.  Some blame our American culture and that we don't rely on God or have the faith needed, which I am personally not in complete agreement with but I understand that it's hard to be reached when you have everything.  Justin questioned the lack of time given and dedicated to prayer and alone time....which at this season is dare I say, difficult.
And as stupid as this sounds I wonder, doesn't He know that people would then believe, that it would be a testament of His love and that He is alive....that He is real?  Where is the healing?  Where is the healing through prayer?  Where is the spontaneous healing that happens instantly in someone's living room while a small group is in prayer?
I don't believe it needs to be a spectacle or only happen on a Sunday morning or within the walls of the pastor's office. Some of the best work the Lord has done in me has been by ourselves, on a random Thursday, in my living room.

I do laugh to myself wondering if the Lord is saying, death is just the beginning.  This earth cannot even compare, it's like wanting Folgers over Starbucks. (that was the best I could do for now)
I just know, that if someone I loved needed life saving healing, I would pray for healing and pray that they could withstand the Folgers a little longer and trust that the Lord would/could/can heal.

As hard as it is to understand the whys , I will always put all my chips on the Lord.