Hopeful in Hopeless Situations

Please read Numbers 12-13, Psalm 90, and Mark 2 if you'd like to read through the Bible in a year. Tomorrow's readings are Numbers 14-16 and Mark 3.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
-Mark 2:5 (NIV)

This is my favorite scripture. Jesus is preaching the word in a Capernaum home. There are so many people in attendance that there was no room left, not even outside the door. But then we're told about four men carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. Because of the crowd, they couldn't get anywhere near Jesus; the situation appeared hopeless. So what do you do when things appear hopeless? You look up.

The men look up and decide to make an opening in the roof of the home where Jesus is teaching and then they lower the paralyzed man down through the hole.

We're told very little about the paralyzed man. There is no mention of whether this man had any faith whatsoever that he could be healed (if he had faith, don't you think Jesus would have said, "When he saw the faith of the paralyzed man, he forgave and healed him?). We're not told if this was his first attempt to be healed or simply the last. We're not told if the men who brought him were close friends or just people that recognized a need and knew how that need could be met. What we are told is that, when Jesus saw the faith of the four who brought this paralyzed man, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Why do I like this scripture so much? Because it speaks to the power of intercessory prayer. It's a reminder to me that if I look up and if I continue to place others before Christ, he has the power and the desire to heal and forgive, regardless of whether they want or desire forgiveness and healing or not. This is why I keep praying in what appears to be hopeless situations. If I keep placing others before Jesus, I'm hopeful that Christ will perform another miracle in another life.

May God grant you the grace to not give up in situations that appear hopeless. Healing and forgiveness are still possible. Look up and look out for opportunities to place others before Jesus.