Scriptures: Matthew 28:20, Matthew 1:23, Psalms 34:18

The Miracle of God’s Presence 

There are many things in this life you can’t handle. As a matter of fact, I find most days to be more than I can handle. Life is full of pain: death, disease, and destruction. The pain is worse if you believe that no one cares and is unbearable if you believe God doesn’t care. Sometimes, in the worst storms of your life, you might feel as though God has deserted you. You are not alone in this feeling. In fact, some of the Bible’s psalms are prayers where the author expressed feelings of abandonment by God. 

The good news is we don’t have to handle anything alone. Matthew began his gospel with another name for Jesus—Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (1:23). This is the miracle of God’s presence. He will never leave you. He knows what you are going through, and He wants you to realize that He is with you. He is greater than the storm you currently face. 

But here’s a question: Do you invite Jesus into the storms of your life? I hear Christians say things like, “I’ve got this! I’ve been through this before!” It is not until you discover your profound weakness in the storms of life that you can experience Jesus’ true strength from heaven and receive the miracle of His presence. 

No matter where you are, Jesus can hear you from where He is. Do not be afraid of praying but rather run to Jesus with your requests because knowing Jesus changes everything. It changes the way you look at life and the way you pray in the face of pain and suffering. If you are ready to cry out, Jesus is ready to listen! He is with you always. 

Reflect: Have you experienced the miracle of God’s presence in the midst of your storms? How so? If not, invite God into the storms of your life, acknowledge your weakness and need for His strength, and pray for the miracle of His presence in your pain.

Scriptures: Luke 11:1-4, Matthew 6:5-13, James 5:16

Learn to Pray for a Miracle 

When you need a miracle, where do you go? Do you go to friends, family, doctors, or books? Or do you go to Jesus? Turning to Jesus in prayer should always be your first step, particularly when you need a miracle. 

So, how do you pray for a miracle? Prayer can be intimidating, especially when praying for a miracle such as healing. You may ask yourself, Am I praying the right way? Well, take comfort in the fact that even the disciples wondered how to pray. In fact, they asked Jesus directly, and in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, Jesus gave them (and you) His answer. You may know it as the Lord’s Prayer. 

In taking a closer look at Jesus’ prayer, we can see the following steps for praying for a miracle: 

• Pray simply. You don’t have to pray forever; you just have to pray briefly for what you need. 
• Pray authentically. You do not need to sound like the King James Version of the Bible in order for God to hear you. Pray to God as your authentic self. Authenticity is beautiful to the Lord. 
• Pray daily. This one is self-explanatory. If it is a day that ends in a y, then bring your needs to God in prayer. 
• Pray specifically. When praying for a miracle, I encourage you to be as specific as possible in what you need. 
• Confess your sins. Notice that the Lord’s Prayer asks God for forgiveness of sins and help to forgive those who sinned against us. James 5:16 explicitly says to confess your sins and pray for others in order to receive healing. If you want power in your prayer, put confession of sin into practice in your life. 
• Approach God with boldness. He is God Almighty in heaven, but He is also your dad on earth. He wants to hear your requests. He loves you, cares deeply for you, and wants you to call on Him boldly! 

Reflect: Which of the steps in learning to pray for a miracle challenges you the most? Why is that, and what might you be able to do about it?

Scriptures: Matthew 8:1-4, Ephesians 5:17, Psalms 77:14

When God Answers “Yes” to Your Miracle 

A miracle is God intervening in your or someone else’s life to change the present circumstances. You are asking God to change the very fabric of reality. So, when you need a miracle of this magnitude to confront a massive problem in your life, you must begin by reminding yourself of the immense power of God. And you must pray. God is not in the business of answering prayers we do not pray. 

But what do you do when God answers your prayer for a miracle with a yes? You praise God for your yes, and you discern God’s will for your life now. Let’s look at Jesus’ healing miracle of the man with leprosy in Matthew 8. After his healing, Jesus gave the man a new mission: He told him not to tell anyone about his healing but rather to go to the priest and be examined, thereby providing a public testimony of his healing. Can you imagine receiving such a miracle and Jesus instructing you to tell no one? If I had received that kind of miracle, I would have wanted to tell everyone immediately. But Jesus had a different plan. Jesus wanted to make a powerful point. Often, God’s plan differs significantly from ours. As you seek God’s will for your miracle, you also have a mission: remain obedient no matter how difficult or strange obedience appears. 

As you process God’s will for your miracle, ask if there is something God wants you to do and then surrender to whatever it is. Our attention is almost always focused on the here and now. God is focused on forever. The man with leprosy had been healed by God, not to return to the way things were but to embrace a new mission to show the world how things could be. 

All healing miracles are an extension of life and a new mission for life! Ask God what mission He is sending you on with your miracle. 

Reflect: Pray for discernment as to God’s new mission for your life now that you have received your miracle. What is God telling you?

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, Matthew 27:46, Hebrews 13:2

When God Answers “No” to Your Miracle 

It is so difficult when God answers your plea for a miracle with a no. You want to know why—why didn’t God say yes? You shouldn’t feel bad about asking God this question. In Matthew 27:46, Jesus asked God why He had forsaken Him just before He died. Jesus wanted to know why God said no! This is one of the most powerful verses in Scripture for those who get a clear no to their request for a miracle. If God can say no to Jesus, He can and will say no to you and me. 

Now that you have received a no, you must figure out how to move forward. Whatever your loss, whatever your pain, try asking God, “How?” instead of “Why?” That is, How will I survive when I feel I cannot? This is a better question, and the answer is: with the power and strength of heaven. 

When God wants to send you strength, He will often send an angel. Angels are all around us, sent by God to strengthen His children when they get a no to their prayers. Some of those angels will be from heaven, and some will be ordinary friends—angels on earth. Friends who cry and stand with you as you find your heavenly strength. God will not say yes to every miracle you pray for. God will not allow you to avoid all suffering, but He will never ask you to suffer alone. 

Remember, death does not have the last word; Jesus does. Every no on earth for a miracle will be a yes in heaven. I am so sorry if you got a no to your prayer, but one day, because of Jesus, it will be a yes. In heaven, there will be no more tears, no more death, and no more nos. 

Reflect: Instead of asking God why He said no to your miracle, try asking Him the following: How can I move forward in my pain? What do you hear God saying to you?

Scriptures: Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 18:1, Psalms 40:1

When God Answers “Wait” to Your Miracle 

Most people who receive a yes to their miracle receive it after waiting. If you are waiting, don’t give up. God can do miracles years after your initial request. 

But what do you do in your waiting? 

First, remember that you are speaking to an eternal God. God does not exist in time but created time so you and I can exist. It is natural to want God to move faster, but it is supernatural when you learn to wait patiently for the Lord. 

Second, know that God’s slowness has a purpose. There may be more God wants to do than simply to grant your miracle the first time you ask. God is not making you wait to punish you; He is empowering you. 

Third, waiting for your miracle is one of the ways you learn to become entirely dependent on God. Instant gratification will relieve your suffering, but it may do nothing to conform you into Christlikeness. 

Fourth, take comfort in the fact that you are in good company in your waiting. Noah had to wait for the rain to stop and the water to recede after the flood. Abraham had to wait for a child. God allows you to wait so that you have the strength to handle whatever answer He gives. 

Finally, hold tight to the knowledge that God is actively working amid your situation. God works all things for good in your life. Waiting teaches you to look for the Lord with your soul and not just with your sight. 

I know it’s hard to trust Jesus with your request. I realize that you may have prayed for a miracle many times, and many times, it might not have been granted. Don’t give up! As you repeatedly seek the answer to your prayer, you will not grow weaker but stronger in your faith. 

And if you don’t have the strength to keep praying anymore, you can borrow God’s! If you are tired, admit it. Tell God, “I’m tired. I can’t keep asking anymore.” Psalm 40:1 tells us that God hears you. You may not know what He will do, but you know He will never leave you! 

Reflect: What are you struggling with the most as you await your miracle from God? Borrow God’s strength and spend time in prayer, acknowledging the work God is doing in you while you wait.