Then [Jesus] took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”  Mark 5:41

Recommended Reading: Acts 9:36-43 “.³⁶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.³⁷ And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.³⁸ And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.³⁹ Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.⁴⁰ But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.⁴¹ And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.⁴² And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.⁴³ And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.”

COMMENTS: Today’s account of Dorcas’s resurrection recorded in Acts reveals that Christ’s prophecy to the disciples that they would do the same and even greater miracles than Jesus was doing was being fulfilled.  Peter healed Dorcas in the same manner as Christ raised Jairus’s daughter and Lazarus.  Yet in all cases God was the healer and Christ as well as Peter was the channel.  The same goes for Elijah when the widow’s son was resurrected.  Christ had to power to raise Lazarus and others but chose to put aside His authority and power to access same through the Father as Peter and even we do.  The Holy Spirit was at work providing access to the Father even in Old Testament times, but His accessibility and availability changed at Pentecost.  His accessibility and availability became more personal and continuous and our understanding and comprehension of that became more real and closer at Pentecost.  That means the personal relationship Joseph and Daniel and David had with God can be discovered and enjoyed by everyone who accepts Christ’s redemption and seeks that relationship.  The Holy Spirit never enters uninvited and leaves when neglected or shunned, but is always near and accessible. 

Yet there is a mystery that remains over the centuries.  Why are some quickly and completely healed while others endure a lifetime of suffering without physical healing.  Why are some healed of cancers or paralysis or even raised from the dead while many like Joni Eareckson Tata endure paralysis for 50+ years serving faithfully and believing yet still waiting for their healing?  God is sovereign and answer lies exclusively with Him.   We can not presume to understand such differences but can gain clues as see how His will unfolds in the lives and ministry of those who both are healed and those who’s healing is delayed.  Suffering and hardships open doors of ministry to many, as do full healings.   Faith is strengthened by both even though we still wonder why God couldn’t have healed some and accomplished the same good without their lingering suffering.  Likewise, who do some die early, leaving their loved ones to continue their work of ministry without them.  I am thinking of Eric Little and Jim Elliott.  Eric was an Olympic winning runner who left his successes to serve as a missionary in China.  Jim Elliot reached out to the Auca Indians with the gospel.  Both died young when their work was only beginning. 

We don’t know or understand but do know satan is behind the suffering and death.  He wants us to blame God. Yes, God allows satan to do his mischief but within defined limits and boundaries, as the book of Job shares with us, but scripture assures us satan’s time will end and Christ is returning to bind him and set up His eternal kingdom.  God continues to bring good out of satan’s evil deeds and from suffering and death His faithful followers continue to endure.   Lazarus and Jairus’s daughter and Dorcas still endured a second death.  Over the centuries what mattered more to them was Christ’s salvation for them rather than the resurrection that extended their life a few more years.  If you or I live to be 100 or 25, what will matter to us will be receiving Christ’s redemption, not how many years of life we experienced. 

Look at the extremes.  Is it better to live 100 years in great wealth, enjoying healthy bodies and luxury or endure paralysis at age 17 and build a ministries to millions like Joni Eareckson Tata or die at age 28 trying to reach an isolated pagan tribe with the Gospel like Jim Elliot.  Jesus gave us the answer with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31).  Sure, we should seek healing and relief in prayer when encounter suffering and hardship and tragedy, but there comes a time when we need to accept God’s response and focus on the work and ministry, and even the opportunities suffering opens, to move on and get on with the work God is calling us to do.  Is hardship or suffering preventing you from doing His Work or is it enabling you to do that work?  If the suffering is preventing, is it because His healing is needed or because we are dwelling on the suffering instead of focusing on Him?  The closer we get to Him, the clearer His perspective becomes and our response need to become.

Prayer is our access channel.  We enter the first room of prayer with our prayer requests and needs to communicate with Him. We progress into the second room of prayer when we let go of our requests and begin releasing our praise and worship to Him.  But then we progress to the third room of prayer when we “sit at Jesus’ feet” just enjoying His presence hanging on His every word not wanting to leave.

Such prayer is life changing and life directing.  Such prayer is what He is longing to share with us in suffering and in peace and prosperity.  We are more likely to journey into these rooms of prayer during suffering and crisis than during times of peace, but we need to motivate ourselves to enter these rooms every day and in both extremes of life’s cycles.  Some of our crisis may indeed be optional to God but some may be necessary to accomplish His Will.  If we are faithful, at least we can avoid the optional ones avoiding consequences from poor or sinful choices and wasting precious time that could be focused on ministry and worship to His Honor and for His Will.  AMEN?  AMEN!

God’s healing is always a gift of kindness and mercy. Ask Him if you are in need, and trust Him for His answer.  

“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”   Thomas Moore

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