Much Needed Dancing After the Mourning

Almost a year and a half ago, I received a startling message that a dear friend had been in a horrible car accident and was in the hospital. Caleb was one of my first friends in Addis Ababa. He was a mover, the kind of person who has the charisma to envision things and also get them done. He was passionate about Jesus and the Gospel.

When a call to prayer was made for this thirty-one-year-old follower of Jesus who lay almost lifeless in a coma, you better believe many prayers were prayed. Even people who hadn’t prayed before were praying! The week of prayer ended in sadness and confusion as we received the news that Caleb had passed.

We had faith like Jairus and boldness like the hemorrhaging woman in today’s Gospel. We prayed because we knew that the Lord did not make death, “nor does He rejoice in the destruction of the living” (Wisdom 1:13). And yet, our prayers did not result in a miracle. At least, not an immediate one that could be seen and palpated on this side of Heaven.

With this in mind, I write today for the mothers, sisters, friends, and even strangers who have prayed for miracles yet saw nothing like what Saints Peter, James, and John saw that day (Mark 5:37-43). For all those who are mourning their unanswered prayers, I write for you.

To you who do not see but believe (John 20:29), the Lord sees you (Genesis 16:13). He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). To the ones who have learned to pray humbly and boldly, while remembering that the Lord’s ways are better and higher (Isaiah 55:8-9), that He cannot be manipulated by our prayers but that He remains sovereign over all (see 1 Chronicles 29:10-12), you are a light to all of us.

Your faith is beautiful. May you continue trust that He will make the dawn shine on your nights of weeping. He will surprise you in your mourning with some much needed dancing (Psalm 30:5, 11). Sister, don’t stop following Him. It is all worth it.

It is all worth it. // Rocio HermesClick to tweet

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