Have you ever modified a request of someone to make it more palatable in hopes they will grant it? It could be called sneaky, or simply tactical. The royal official in John 4:46-54 can’t afford to soften his request, he needs Jesus to come through in a big way right now. It’s a big ask and a big assumption that Jesus can deliver. We see our Lord delivers above and beyond with instantaneous healing and sends the official on his way.
The Lord sees who we are and all the things in our minds and in our hearts with perfect clarity. There’s no tactical approach when coming to God, he knows our words completely before we say them. Jesus won’t always give us what we want as he did with the royal official, but we are invited to ask full-heartedly anyways. The answer he does give will be for our good according to his greater purpose and his fingerprints will be all over it.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8
The Lord still heals in miraculous ways, for all intents and purposes, I am the son who was healed from death after almost drowning at 18 months old. Most importantly, every day he miraculously heals people spiritually. The Lord has his own plans for the world and we get to play a role in it. No matter what, we need to be real, open, and honest with the Lord, whether it be through laughter or tears. Meanwhile, our faith and the faith of others will be growing.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7
Jonathan Duncan