How do we deal when that miracle we desperately need doesn’t come through? I am in a culture that believes in miracles. I am in agreement with that. I have lost friends though. They didn’t get their healing. They died. I think that when miracles don’t happen we deal in one of two ways theologically.

The first way is we just say that miracles are not for today. That they ceased with the death of the last original 12 apostle and that they were “attesting” miracles that happened to validate the coming of the messiah. The sad part about this is that it creates a fatalistic life view where everything, including disease and death comes from God and is some kind of life lesson. We accept whatever comes along. There is no power in this mindset.

The second way is that we create miracles where none really exist. To me, this is worse than the first. Because it justifies lying. We see miracles in everything. We have a cold and we get prayer and we maybe feel a little better so “we are healed”! Of course the next day when the cold is worse or has gone to bronchitis we blame the devil or our own lack of faith. And that leads to the huge problem I have with this. Since it can’t be God, it must be us. We had unbelief. Or we didn’t have the right kind of faith. Or enough faith. or whatever. Or it must be that perennial scapegoat the devil. This is superstition, plain and simple.

Neither of these theologies is good. I have to be honest with you, this area of the supernatural is a bit of a mystery to me. I know of a few really amazing testimonies of healings, that cannot be denied. I also know of a much greater number of people who go on and on and on and do not get healed. Some suffer greatly. Some die. Many of them are actively ministering in the Healing Rooms. They pray for others but they themselves have not gotten healed. I admire them in many ways for their fortitude. Bethel’s approach is to look at what God is doing not what He is not doing. I can’t do that. It’s not in my nature to ignore suffering. It’a also not my nature to blame the victim. Doesn’t hold up. Sorry.

I am mystified honestly. I have a few theories as to why we don’t see more healing. Most of them have to do with the evangelical church’s alliance with empire in the politically conservative evangelical white right. But that is not really a sufficient answer for me either. Because God heals for one reason. It’s his nature to heal and He loves us. I think also part of the reason is some have made a dog and pony show of it too. Again though it’s not a sufficient answer. I know God wants to heal and restore. I also know that these are acts of grace and therefore cannot depend on us.

So I don’t have an answer. I will not create a theology to explain why my experience does not match my belief. So I will pray for healing and restoration. I will not let failure define me either. I think there is something coming in this area that will draw the nations to Jesus. But we are not ready for it. Not by a long shot. So we wait…