Have Faith

“You may go; your son will live.”
The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
From John 4:43-54

It has taken me a lifetime to imitate the man about whom John wrote, and I have succeeded only some of the time. This man was a royal official, likely quite used to having his every need met without question. When this man’s child lay dying, he had probably tapped every resource at his disposal to find a cure. In spite of his position and out of desperation, he went to Jesus for help, never mind the bad publicity that seemed to follow Jesus everywhere. Something he had heard about Jesus convinced this man to set aside every other concern and worry in order to seek Jesus’ help. When Jesus instructed him to go home because his son was recovering, the man believed Jesus and went home. John tells us this man was not disappointed.

I am not sure of what this royal official learned about Jesus before he approached him for help. I am quite certain that this man knew only a tiny fraction of what we have come to know about Jesus in the two millennia since. Still, in the face of two thousand plus years of study, contemplation and proof of God’s love for us in more than a billion lifetimes, we doubt.

Dearest Lord, I know that you love me far more than I love myself, yet I doubt. Please strengthen my faith in your constant companionship and care. Let me simply believe and be on my way.

©2014 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved