Everyone had been cautiously praying for baby steps forward because for someone in Jasmine’s condition, recovery is very slow. We were encouraged by the improvement of her lungs over the past few days. After overcoming the initial shock of hearing that her condition was terminal, I asked, “What now, God?” As the concussive blow subsided and I began to regain clarity, there were two areas to address.

I asked everyone to shift their prayers from medical progress to praying for a miracle . . . literally a miracle! In the Bible, a miracle was more than a mighty work of God. He does that all the time; He was doing that in the hearts of people through Jasmine’s illness. A true miracle is an act of God that is physically impossible and instantaneous. That is how we needed to pray—for God to instantaneously heal her brain, lungs, heart, and kidneys. That was a medical impossibility. As we were to pray for a miracle, the other area that I asked for prayer was for God’s wisdom and strength as I interfaced with the doctors on deciding how to proceed going forward.

Whether God chose to demonstrate His miraculous power and raise Jasmine up or whether He chose to take her home to Heaven, the path forward would be an act of God’s mercy. In either case, she would no longer have to endure the long, painful journey of recovery that may have even resulted in she never being completely restored.

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8)

Stop and Consider: God has the power to perform miracles. There are some who demand it of God; it has been referred to as “name it and claim it.” Not only is that bad theology; it is spiritual arrogance. We might become angry, confused, or in despair if God doesn’t perform the miracle for which we pray, but we usually have a greater understanding when looking in the rearview mirror. Looking back upon times when God did not answer your prayer, how do you view His hand, now?

(Part 12: The Time Had Come)