I always begin my emails and letters with the greeting; “I pray you are well.” I do this as an act of faith. It may not be well today or even tomorrow, but in every kind of thing, it will be well. This is the meaning of Amen., it shall be so. It is the word of faith that is the word of power that sets God’s creative light in motion. 3 John 2 states, “That you may have good health, that all may go well with you even as your soul is well.” In Deuteronomy, the Lord describes to the Israelites how it will be well with them: not when your challenging situation changes, or when your relationships and work are in good standing, but it will be well if you obey and walk in his commandments. The gospel of Christ lends its greatest belief in that all will be well because Jesus has, is, and continues to restore our faith in his unshakeable kingdom. We receive the sacred pledge of our Lord and believe in the unseen for Jesus is our righteous redeemer and holy is his name. As the old hymn heralds: Our faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed, it is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me! Hallejuah!

God has gifted Elisha with the mantle of Elijah’s ministry. He too has been called to restore Israel’s faith in God so that all will be well. The difference between the two prophets is that Elisha walks in the everydayness of people by demonstrating the miracles of God. So, we enter the scene of a kind, wealthy, and hospitable woman who did not know God but desires to bless this holy man with meals. She then goes out of her way to build guest quarters on the top of her roof where Elisha and his servant can stay the night when traveling through. She asks nothing in return. I can imagine this little chamber on the wall and see the stone steps going up outside the flat house. This would be much like a penthouse elegantly furnished, with all the necessities, who could ask for more?  This ordinary woman begins to cling to Elisha’s every word about the miracles God has done and knowing that he has a direct line to God. Elisha desires to bless her generosity with a child because she has been unable to conceive. He assures her that this time next year, she will embrace a beautiful son, “And he said, about this season, according to the time, you shall embrace a son” (2 Kings 4:13-16). Elisha declared aloud the word of faith. We begin to witness the growth her faith through this miracle just as those whose faith grew as they witnessed Jesus’ great works.

Meanwhile, as the child grew, he became very sick and died of a sunstroke. All she could do was pray. There were no doctors, no phones, simply connecting to God through faithful prayer. She did not hesitate at what to do next.  She went up to the roof and laid the child on the bed of the holy man of God.  I can only imagine her encounter with God’s presence in the upper chamber she had built for Elisha. Her unwavering faith overshadowed the death of her child. She told her husband she must go and visit Elisha, and with immediacy, she spoke the powerful words of restored faith, “All is well” (2 Kings 4:23). She came to Elisha’s servant and responded a second time, “All is well.” Imagine this for a moment. A barren woman has conceived a child by the hand of God, and he dies? She came to believe in God through this miracle and yet, we do not witness turmoil, anger, and a mound of questions as to why this happened; but rather, through her unsettling emotions, the beauty and power of resting in God’s trust. This is not the end, she fully knows that this holy man can restore her dead child to life, and this is the movement and vigor of her faith. But when she came to the mountain, she humbly fell to Elisha’s feet knowing that he held the key to her son’s complete restoration. Elisha returned to the upper chamber and stretched out over the child’s body and breathed the breath of life into him. He was raised to life by the powerful hand of God, and the mother went praising God’s name and embracing her son.

Full assurance of faith is seeing someone well and proclaiming with their lips, all will be well. A church where many prayers have been said is filled with the power of God. Every church should be a place where miracles happen. Anyone who enters the church for the purpose of glorifying God will encounter his resurrection power in Christ. Prayer is work and requires all to enter with a full assurance of faith. Do not let Jesus be your last resort for your circumstances to transform but come and enter his holy presence and see what he can do. For Jesus is our Great Physician.

Reflection:

• Does your faith need to be restored?
• How can you practice that all will be well?

Dear Father,

 I thank you for restoring and renewing our faith in Christ alone. We do not understand all of your ways, but we trust in your unending promises that all will be well. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for leading our steps to rest in God’s grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen!

Blessings

Dr. Caroline