When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” The centurion replied, “Lord, I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. But  just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, He was astonished and said to those following Him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” Matt 8:5-10, 13 (NIV)

     How do you measure “great” faith? I wonder how many of us think we have great faith, but in Jesus’ eyes, not so much. The Bible illustrates this in Matt 17:14-21. A man approaches Jesus seeking mercy on his son who suffers greatly with seizures. The man continues, “I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” Jesus rebuked the disciples for being unbelieving, and then He rebuked the demon and healed the son. The disciples asked Jesus, “Why couldn’t we drive out the demon?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

     I get frustrated when I read accounts like this. Jesus gave us His authority and His power to heal others of all kinds of afflictions, yet I don’t see this happening on a regular basis. Why? I think I’m just like the disciples. I have so little faith that Jesus will  produce His miracles through me. I don’t pray with high anticipation and expectation that He will use me to heal others. I rationalize why I shouldn’t risk with someone. My faith is not “great” faith, or I would be risking every chance God gives me to see what He wants to do in a given situation.

     Let me tell you about a time when I failed to risk great faith. God has blessed me with a dear writing coach who I have worked with over the last year. Let me introduce you to Saundra Goldman:

     Early this year, she had a slipped disc in her back that caused unbearable pain. She would show up to our appointments with dark circles under her eyes. Pillows were carefully arranged behind her back to keep her comfortable, but the pain was showing in her face. The slightest of moves to adjust in her seat brought a grimace. While powerful drugs were trying to anesthetize her pain, she was drinking a tall Coke just to keep herself alert in our sessions. Saundra couldn’t get sleep at night. I’ll never forget when she described her bed as a “torture chamber.” I couldn’t even imagine what kind of debilitating pain she was feeling. There were several appointments I wanted to risk with her. I wanted to lay hands on her and pray for God to completely heal her back, but I didn’t. Why? Let the rationalizations begin! 

     First, Saundra is Jewish. I wasn’t sure how she would feel about my calling upon Jesus to heal her back! That might offend her. Second, we have a professional relationship. Would she think I was crossing boundaries to pray for her? Third, what if a healing didn’t happen? Will that change our relationship? Fourth, would she internalize a lack of healing as “God doesn’t love her?” This could be spiritually harmful. Fifth, would I get labeled a “Jesus freak?” I was so wrapped up in trying to count the potential cost to our relationship instead of counting the cost to my relationship to Jesus. I want to please Him by exercising “great” faith. I want to risk with Him rather than rationalize away the opportunities. I believe Jesus supports this kind of faith in John 14:12-14:

     “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  

     I’m all in. No more excuses. I want Jesus to be pleased with how often I exercise my faith. I want to super-size it to “great” faith. I want to pray boldly in all areas of my life, and I want to pray in “great” faith with others who need healing, whether it’s physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. I want to see Jesus’ reward of immediate results when “great” faith is exercised. I expect great results because Jesus promises to be my advocate before the Father so that He can bring glory to our Father. Jesus desires to bring glory to God, and so do I. I look forward to being His instrument! 

Blessings,                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Lee Ann