I recently attended a memorial service that was put together for the sole purpose of singing God’s praises and reflecting on the memories of people who had passed. It was not set up for any particular person and those gathered generally did not know the names of all those being remembered. When the songs were being sung people were invited to come to the front of the sanctuary and place a small cross, with their loved one’s name, on a tree as a symbolic memorial. As I listened to the songs, prayers and poems my mind turned to three men I know who are very ill. I sat staring at the tree as it filled with crosses and knew I did not want to be sitting in a similar setting in the near future talking about any of these men in the past tense. Prayers for their physical healing have been said. All who prayed certainly wanted God’s name lifted up but some of their thoughts were focused on these men getting better. We all want our ill family and friends to get better because we are afraid. We fear for their families, their friends and even for ourselves. We are afraid because, throughout the process, we keep asking what can we do?
During the service one singer sang Kari Jobe’s Healer and it quickly refocused my mind. As she sang these words “Jesus you’re all I need, more than enough for me, Jesus you’re all I need” it reminded me that none of the men had a relationship with Jesus. None were saved as far as I understood. Like others who know unsaved ill people, we know that the most important thing the lost need, even above their healing, is Jesus. To the ill person that seems an illogical statement to make and they definitely would not agree with that truth. In fact, they might question a believer’s faith because they seem more concerned about what happens after death and not what is happening now. When we visit our unsaved sick friends and relatives we are afraid that their illness will overcome them before they have a chance to call Jesus their Lord. We may be afraid that when we speak with them we will be inadequate and say things that would scare them away from any thoughts of God. But we know Jesus is all they need.
The women who sang Healer shared words from Jeremiah 17:14 which states “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise”. It hit me as to what we can do – trust God to be in control. God wants all of his creation to come to know Him and He will give each an opportunity to call on Him. Maybe that means you or I will be used by God to share some hope or maybe God will call out to them in the night as He did with Samuel. Whatever happens we must not fear or worry about what we can do because, God is in control.
What can we do? We can give it over to God and trust His will to be done. We can be attentive to the Holy Spirit who will call us to pray or even interact with the lost. We can be there for our ill friends and shower them with our love and trust God will set up the divine appointment where they will hear His truths.