BY JESSICA LANDMON
I want to share with you a funny story that I read on social media. I’m sure many of you have heard this in one form or another:
A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you." The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me." So the rowboat went on. Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you." To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith." So the motorboat went on. Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety." To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith." So the helicopter reluctantly flew away. Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!" To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"
We all can agree that this is a humorous story. I’ve chuckled every time that I have heard it until about a year ago when I realized that I was acting just like the foolish man is this story. Let me explain.
Shortly after pregnancy, I noticed that my hearing wasn’t as sharp as it used to be. I went to my ear, nose and throat doctor only to confirm that my hearing was starting to go. As time went on, it continued to progressively deteriorate. Now to a normal person, this could be alarming, but I’m a FAITH GIRL. Confident that God could and would heal me, I really didn’t worry too much about it. I read all the healing scriptures, claimed each and every one over my ears, and trusted God.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5
Time went on, and my healing didn’t arrive. I pressed in with even more tenacity. I attended healing services and continued to believe that God would heal me (in His timing). After a particularly dedicated time in prayer, my doctor referred me to a specialist who determined that I had an unusual condition that could be corrected with surgery. As with every surgery, there are risks. So, I refused and continued to wait on the Lord.
A couple of years passed, and my hearing was down to about 65% in each ear. That doesn’t seem too bad, but trust me, hearing was a challenge. I caught only parts of conversations and became an avid lip reader. Embarrassed to tell most people I had hearing loss at such a young age, I just suffered through and smiled like I heard them.
Then one day, God brought this story to my remembrance, and I realized just how foolish I was being. I was expecting God to act a certain way, and consequently, was completely missing the answer to my prayer. I was anticipating a “divine” moment, but somehow missed God.
Can anyone relate? This can apply to any area you are waiting on the Lord. Perhaps you are looking for financial freedom, but haven’t been willing to change jobs. Or, you are waiting for a miraculous touch in your marriage, but refuse to go to counseling, the very means in which God intends to heal and restore it.
Well, I am excited to report that after this revelation, I opted to have the surgery done in one ear this past fall. And because my God was in it, I didn’t just receive an improvement in my hearing, but 100% restoration. I recently had the second ear done and know that I can expect the same results. Remember, I am a FAITH GIRL.
Ladies, we need to remember that God doesn’t use a one-size fits all approach to answering prayer. Make no mistake – God still heals supernaturally! I have been the recipient of this type of healing many times. However, if we expect Him to respond only a certain way, we may miss the answer altogether. We need to be sensitive to God’s plans and open to the many ways in which He can provide an answer. If we refuse to listen, we may miss the boat!
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12