Do you believe John 3:16? Then why isn’t Mark 16:17–18 your daily life?
Hi, I’m Addison. You’re reading (or listening to) Bigger Than Me—a weekly guide devoted to removing the fears, doubts, and misconceptions that keep believers from healing the sick in everyday life.
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Rumbi unmuted her microphone mid-way through our Friday Bible study.
Her two-and-a-half year-old nephew JJ had fallen into a swimming pool and drowned.
JJ was pulled out and rushed to the hospital.
Now in a coma, he was breathing with a ventilator and showing very little brain activity.
We prayed.
We commanded JJ's body to be healed, his brain restored, and the return of his motor functions.
We commanded JJ to wake up in Jesus' name.
Two days later Rumbi reached out to me:
On the surface, the news wasn't good.
JJ's brain was shrinking, which usually indicates severe, irreversible brain damage.
My first thought was to pray over his brain again.
Before I could follow through with it I heard:
“Leave it be”
We didn't pray for JJ's healing again. Instead, we thanked God for His work in JJ's life, and for continued peace for JJ's parents.
We talked about standing in faith and encouragement for her family.
A week later Rumbi had more news:
Over the next few weeks, Rumbi would continue reporting how JJ was doing:
Turning his head toward voices.
Lifting a hand when his siblings visited.
Becoming more alert every day.
Eventually leading to her sharing this from her brother, JJ’s dad:
Nagging Questions
After a report as disheartening as JJ’s brain shrinkage, it's easy to believe you have only one of two options.
Keep praying the same command, over and over, hoping repetition helps finish the job.
Or stop praying for the situation, assuming your job is done and it’s wait-and-see time.
One choice can feel like unbelief, while the other unhelpful and dismissive.
Neither option feels right, so we act based on whichever questions are nagging us more that day:
Did that prayer work? Since I didn’t see results, do I need to keep going?
Am I supposed to just tell them “It’ll all work out” and then walk away? Is that responsible?
Underneath the Surface
There is a third option we often miss:
“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, he knows not how.”
The farmer doesn't dig up the seed to check on it.
He doesn't walk away from the field.
He keeps tending what's actually his to tend, trusting the seed is still growing below the surface.
When you command healing, Holy Spirit's life is already flowing.
It keeps working, whether you can see it yet or not.
That's why we asked for God's peace to be felt instead of for more healing.
That's why we prayed for the strengthening of the family's faith.
That's why we considered it settled, despite the bad news.
A Prayer for Trusting the Growth
Dear Father,
Thank You that You finish what You start.
Thank You that You are the God who heals.
Jesus, thank You for teaching me to trust what's growing where I can't see it.
Thank You that Your finished work doesn't depend on my ability to track its progress.
Holy Spirit, thank You for giving me discernment to pray for others while You work.
Thank You for giving me Your peace, strength, and trust to stand in faith.
I release the fear that stepping back from repeating my prayer means I've given up.
I reject the lie that praying for anything else now means I don't believe You've already finished the healing.
I will tend what's mine to tend, and trust You with what's growing beneath the surface.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Until next time,
Addison
