What Line Are You Standing In?
I love hearing about answers to prayer. Whether it’s health or finances
or a loved one opening their hearts to Jesus, I do flip-flops of joy when
answers come. Matthew 21:22 says: “If you believe, you will receive
whatever you ask for in prayer.” It’s been a privilege to listen
to people who have been healed of diseases. One evangelist I interviewed
prayed for a young man in Africa who was raised from the dead. These are
powerful miracles, and they increase our faith. But what about when our prayers
seem to hit the walls of heaven and come back unanswered?
This week I got a phone call from one of my closest friends, Joyce. Her brother
John had just died of cancer. He came from a large Christian family who had
sent up thousands of prayers for his healing. He even created a web-site
where he wrote his steps in his walk with cancer. Hundreds of people responded
and were encouraged and blessed. But he died. How was God glorified in this?
He was not an old man and he had so much yet to give.
Joyce recalled a dream John told her he had when he was a young man. He dreamed
he was standing in a long line and everyone looked so happy. Jesus was at
the head of the line. John realized he had died and was waiting to get into
heaven. He looked and he saw another line of wailing, crying people. He understood
that these people were in line for hell. A man he had known his whole life
was in that line. Tom turned and saw John and called out to him with such
sadness in his eyes, “John, why didn’t you tell me about Jesus?”
When John awoke he hurried to tell his agnostic friend Tom about the dream.
A miracle and answer to prayer was that before John died Tom flew in to say
good-bye and told John, “John, I believe. I will see you on the other
side.” What a miracle! And yes, an answer to prayer. Joyce said she
could not recount all the miracles and prayers answered during their time
of mourning. When God doesn’t seem to make sense He always does. Look
for it and wait and hope and believe.
Love ya,
Kathy
Kathy Thomas is the director of Woman to Woman Ministries
of Tucson, dedicated to the encouragement and healing of women, which airs
a weekly radio program on KGMS 940 AM every Sat. at 2 pm. and on cable television
Tuesdays @ noon on channels 72 and 120, and Sundays @ 10 a.m. on channels
74 and 99.
Email Kathy at hooperandhonker@msn.com
© 2008 Good News Tucson™
