Article March 23, 1992 Issue

Spiritual perception and healing

When comfort and healing are elusive, we may need a clearer view of how God really made man.

George O. Strong

Many of us have probably felt at some point that we couldn't overcome an especially challenging situation. Maybe illness threatened our health or the health of someone close to us. We may have yearned for consolation, wishing that someone would comfort us.

Whom can we call when things seem beyond hope and we feel alone? What comfort is at hand? The Bible points us in the most helpful direction. For example, we can learn a lot from what John's Gospel tells us about Christ Jesus' healing of Lazarus.

In spite of the fact that his sisters, Mary and Martha, had sent word to Jesus, telling him of their brother's illness, Lazarus died. Jesus arrived four days later. When the Master asked where Lazarus was laid, Mary and those who were with her said, "Lord, come and see." Maybe they wanted the Master to share in the sadness of the time and to see Lazarus's final resting place. But Jesus had a different perception of the situation. Earlier, referring to Lazarus's death, he had told his disciples he was going to waken him out of sleep, and he still had every intention of doing just that. Giving thanks to God, Jesus called Lazarus from the grave, and he came out alive.

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