Thursday, February 24, 2011

Your Faith Is Sufficient

3 Nephi 17

v. 7 Have ye any that are asick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or bleprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will cheal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

v. 8 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your afaith is bsufficient that I should heal you.

v. 9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their ablind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.

v. 10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did akiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.

This is a very difficult passage for me to read.  I have been chronically ill for four and a half years now.  I have prayed for healing, and those who love me have prayed for me to be healed.  I know that God can do all things, and that He has the power to heal me.  But He has chosen not to.  Not yet.
And when I read this passage, I wonder, is my faith sufficient?  Would He have healed me by now if I had had enough faith?  People have hinted to me that the answer is yes.  "You just need more faith..."

I have enough faith to bear this burden as long as the Lord deems it necessary for me.  I have enough faith to be patient and long-suffering.  I have enough faith to find joy and meaning in my days in spite of my illness.  I have enough faith to go to one more doctor and try one more treatment.  I have enough faith to believe that this life is still worth living.  I have enough faith to believe that I am still valuable to the people in my life who love me.  I have enough faith to keep trying to make myself a better person, every day.

Maybe that is what will lead me to have enough faith when the time comes for me to be healed.

2 comments:

  1. Ah Shelli,

    You indeed have enough faith. I've learned in the years I've been ill... (almost 17 years now) that I have enough faith. God does not choose to "heal" everyone in the traditional manner. I believe we will be healed one day and I keep praying it will be here on earth and not the day I die. It takes faith to step out and claim the promises we have been given and not see results. I think it takes MORE faith to continue on believing and claiming than it does to be healed. I would still love to be healed tho. It would make life on this earth so much easier. But as I said in one of my postings, would it be better????? Only God knows what is best for us. It takes a great deal of faith to accecpt that and continue on the journey we have been led to.

    God Bless you. You are willing to step out in faith and try new things to heal. God sees that and has His hand in it.

    Elaine

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  2. Elaine, I agree with you. I do think it takes more faith to continue believing and not give up. And I do have faith in the resurrection, that I will someday walk free from all illness and infirmity. It doesn't do too much good to worry in the meantime.

    Hugs and thanks for your comforting words.

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