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Counsels for the Church
pleaded, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.”
Matthew 26:39
. And if they were appropriate for Him, the Son of God,
how much more are they becoming on the lips of finite, erring mortals!
The consistent course is to commit our desires to our all-wise
heavenly Father, and then, in perfect confidence, trust all to Him. We
know that God hears us if we ask according to His will. But to press
our petitions without a submissive spirit is not right; our prayers must
take the form, not of command, but of intercession.
There are cases where God works decidedly by His divine power
in the restoration of health. But not all the sick are healed. Many are
laid away to sleep in Jesus. John on the Isle of Patmos was bidden to
write: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their
works do follow them.”
Revelation 14:13
. From this we see that if
persons are not raised to health, they should not on this account be
judged as wanting in faith.
We all desire immediate and direct answers to our prayers, and
are tempted to become discouraged when the answer is delayed or
comes in an unlooked-for form. But God is too wise and good to
answer our prayers always at just the time and in just the manner we
desire. He will do more and better for us than to accomplish all our
wishes. And because we can trust His wisdom and love, we should
not ask Him to concede to our will, but should seek to enter into and
accomplish His purpose. Our desires and interests should be lost in
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His will. These experiences that test faith are for our benefit. By them
it is made manifest whether our faith is true and sincere, resting on
the word of God alone, or whether depending on circumstances, it is
uncertain and changeable. Faith is strengthened by exercise. We must
let patience have its perfect work, remembering that there are precious
promises in the Scriptures for those who wait upon the Lord.
Not all understand these principles. Many who seek the Lord’s
healing mercy think that they must have a direct and immediate answer
to their prayers or their faith is defective. For this reason, those who
are weakened by disease need to be counseled wisely, that they may
act with discretion. They should not disregard their duty to the friends
who may survive them, or neglect to employ nature’s agencies for the
restoration of health.