"Jesus answered them … “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me” (John 10:34, 37).
When we suffer, we sometimes pray for, expect, and even demand a miracle to deliver us from our pain. As children of God, we can ask Him for anything that is according to His will, and we can certainly pray for healing (James 5:13–18). However, God might choose not to relieve us, as was the case with Paul who asked for his “thorn in the flesh” to be removed, but God refused to grant him his repeated request.
We are better able to accept God’s answers when we understand miracles and their place in redemptive history. A miracle is an action by God that is contrary to nature as we know it. It is a supernatural act by God. We read of a number of miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles, but not by laymen in the church. Because there are no more apostles today, God is no longer performing miracles through human agents. This is not to say that God is not working supernaturally today. He is certainly healing the sick, even by extraordinary providence. But the purpose of giving His apostles the power to perform miracles was to attest to their authority to proclaim God’s revelation, just as Jesus’ authority was confirmed by miracles (Matt. 11:1–6; John 3:2). Because God’s revelation is complete in the Scriptures and there are no longer any apostles, the need for a person to perform a miracle is no longer necessary.
It must be maintained that just because people are not performing miracles does not mean God is not acting supernaturally in the lives of His people. We can still turn to God and pray that He deliver us from our sicknesses. Many people can testify that God providentially healed them of a life-threatening illness. Yet, there are many people who continue to live with sickness. Has God abandoned these? Certainly not! Sometimes we are left with our infirmities because God is teaching us patience, endurance, and trust in Him. He is also giving us an opportunity to sympathize and minister to others who are going through the same trial (2 Cor. 1). Our response to God as we persevere in suffering should not be one of anger or frustration because He has not miraculously healed us, but of humble submission. God knows what is best for us, and we can trust in His wisdom, goodness, and love even in the midst of our pain.
Read Acts 19:11–20. Why did the evil spirit not obey the Jewish exorcists? Why were only Jesus and His apostles able to perform miracles? If you are suffering today, pray that God would heal you that He might be glorified, and if He refuses, that you would have the grace to honor Him by rejoicing.
