“The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live.’ The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” John 4:49-50.
Let’s set the scene for our scripture today. Jesus has gone back to Cana where he had previously turned the water into wine. A royal official has a son who is gravely ill in Capernaum, 18 miles away. The official makes his way to Cana and, when he finds Jesus, the man begs him to come back with him to Capernaum so that Jesus can heal his son.
The official’s request was straightforward. Urgent. But Jesus’s response is not what the official expected. I imagine the official playing out this scenario with Jesus on his way to Cana; finding the man they call Jesus must have felt like a sparkling oasis after the long journey. But Jesus’s unusual response must have felt like a disappearing mirage.
On the long walk from Cana back to Capernaum, the man must decide if he is going to travel the dusty road back to Galilee, walking by faith and not by sight. The official would have to exhibit unconditional trust and faith in Jesus. This is not easy, but it is what Jesus required of him because the boy would be healed by the Word and not by the Hand.
My dear sisters, we must be careful that we don’t fall into a conditional type of faith. Conditional faith is when we say, “I’ll believe it if…” or “I’ll believe it when…” The problem with conditional faith is that it is like sidewalk chalk; it is beautiful in the light of the full sun, but washes away at the first sprinkles of a rainstorm. Do you find yourself somewhere between Cana and Capernaum?
You offered a heartfelt prayer but it wasn’t answered in the way you wanted. Can you still walk by faith when you cannot yet see the solution?
The man’s prayer was answered and he son was healed. In the same way, Mamas, your prayers will be answered too. Faith doesn’t manifest when you receive what you asked for. No, your faith becomes evident somewhere on the journey between prayers offered and prayers answered.
You may make many journeys from Cana to Capernaum. Remember to let trust and obedience be what guides you, and keep walking in faith allowing God’s Word to lead you home.
Blessings as you walk by faith,
Susie and the Help Club for Moms Team
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