A man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years was healed by Jesus in Bethesda (John 5:1-15). In Luke 8:43-48, Jesus healed a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years in Capernaum.

I’ve wondered about the healing miracles. How did Jesus choose who to heal? It appears that having faith (or having friends or loved ones with faith) has a lot to do with it. The invalid had been suffering long before Jesus was even born, and we presume that the woman had recently come to faith because she’d heard of Jesus’ healing. But in one moment, both were healed.

I’ve spent a lot of time lately wondering about healing and faith and listening to God. I fell and broke my kneecap in March and had surgery in April. After sixteen weeks I’m just getting back to driving and walking without a brace or cane. I still have physical therapy to go but am expected to make a full recovery and for that I am thankful.

For me, healing didn’t come in one decisive blow. It has been very gradual these past 16 weeks, more like the blind man in Bethsaida who first sees trees and then later sees people (Mark 8:22-25) before his vision is finally fully restored.

I believe that emotional healing is the same for me as physical healing. It takes more time and is a bit unpredictable. The emotional loss of a good friend, or a contentious personal relationship may take a while to heal and I can’t hurry it.

I’m resting now in the understanding that healing is on God’s time, not mine and I can be assured that he will bind every wound and wipe away every tear.

I pray that we all take the time we need to heal from physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments. We can’t hurry God’s time, but instead we can rest in the knowledge that God will heal us.

Peace, my friend,

Agatha