Begging God to Heal Bob
October 27, 2015 • • in News
Carol was 14 when I was born. She had the “privilege” as my older sister to help raise me.
When I think of what God can do for our loved ones as we pray unitedly, I always think of her. You see, during my rebellious years of drug use, Carol joined my parents and many others in praying earnestly for me. I finally became miserable enough to recognize my desperate need of Jesus. This was an answer to prayer for Carol.
However, Carol’s spiritual life was more a cultural habit than a real living experience.
While she usually attended church, she never got very involved. As time went on, her life filled up with big problems. Her first husband left her for the neighbor woman. She was devastated. Then she married Bob. While Bob was a good husband and helped her raise her two sons, he was not a Christian.
Then her husband, Bob, was diagnosed with liver cancer and the doctors said he had only about six months to live. Once again she began to plead with God, this time to heal her husband.
“God I am begging you to heal Bob! I really need you to save him for the boys and me,” she would earnestly pray.
Bob accepted Jesus on his deathbed. While God healed him spiritually, Bob passed away a few days later. As a result, the “why God” questions turned to bitterness in Carol’s heart. Why hadn’t God allowed Bob to live?
As time went on, Carol quit attending church because of her anger and confusion. This time it was my turn to pray, earnestly pray, for my sister, Carol. Many others joined me.
I felt impressed to claim the promise in 1 John 5:16, which says, “If anyone sees his brother (loved one) sinning a sin which does not lead to death (the unpardonable sin), he will ask, and He (God) will give him life.”
As I prayed, I was thinking God might send Carol a very spiritual new husband.
After some time Marlene, a longtime friend, began to mail Carol an encouraging note from her daily devotional time every day. This went on every day for two years. Carol slowly came back to life in Jesus as she realized that Jesus could meet her personal needs in beautiful ways. Praise, prayer, and the Word of God became a part of her life once again!
Carol had a number of providences happen soon after that, leading her to minister at an Adventists college. She was able to touch the lives of many students before she passed away suddenly a few years ago. She was walking with Jesus until her death and one day will be reunited with Bob, who God has healed for eternity.
Remember, united prayer unleashes God’s power to do amazing things in our loved ones’ lives. Don’t get discouraged praying for those you love. He has promised to open blind eyes and set the captives free. He did it for Bob, He did it for Carol, and He did it for me!
By Jerry Page, Ministerial Association secretary
Note: To view this week’s prayer requests for the world church, please click here!
Practical Application:
We know that it is God’s will to heal His children, but we don’t always know the timing of the healing. It may be immediate, it may be gradual, or it may not come until the resurrection.
However, there is one thing that God promises to do right now if we ask, and that is to heal us from the leprosy of sin. Considering the following thought from Inspiration:
“The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing the soul from sin…In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but NOT SO WHEN WE ASK FOR DELIVERANCE FROM SIN. (Emphasis added.) It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. And “this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1 John 5:14, 15. {FromDesire of Ages, p. 266}
Dear Heavenly Father, we all need to be healed, some of us physically, but all of us spiritually. Please heal us from the leprosy of sin. Also, help us not give up praying for our loved ones that need this special healing. We know you have promised to set us free. Thank you for hearing this prayer, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Promises to claim: Ezek. 36:26, 1 John 1:9, Ps. 103:3
