If You’ve Asked Someone to Pray for You

(Mark 8:22-26 TLB)

“I can’t see!”

And it’s only getting worse.

I’ve been grumbling about this for nearly a year.

Finally, someone who can actually fix my problem listens.

My brand new, uber sweet, uber patient ophthalmologist. 

And just like that, she schedules me for cataract surgery the following week.

I love her.

As excited as I am about the possibility of seeing again, I’m also a little nervous.

After all, we’re talking about my vision here.

So when my church reaches the point in Sunday’s service when prayer teams are available, I seize the opportunity.

The team jumps right in.

“Lord, we’re asking You to restore Cindy’s physical vision, and give her eyes to see You.”

Physical vision and spiritual vision.

A BOGO prayer.

A week and a half later, both surgeries are behind me.

My vision is a little fuzzy, but my ophthalmologist promises it will “crisp up.” 

In the meantime, I turn to my daily Bible reading.

I’m only in the eighth chapter of Mark and already the disciples have stepped either in or out of a boat twelve times. 

In, out.

In, out. 

Learning something new each time about Jesus  . . . or themselves. 

Today’s passage marks step-out number thirteen. 

Onto the shore of Bethsaida.

Some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch and heal him. 

Usually I ask myself where I am in the story, but this time I know.

Nope, not the blind man.

Just a spectator.

Struck by the dogged persistence of the people who bring the blind man.

The word Mark chooses for bring implies a habitual bearing up.

These are not just “some people.”

These are his people.

Day in and day out.

His support network.

His peeps.

Jostling their way through the crowd.

Determined to reach Jesus to plead, implore, pray for their friend’s healing.

Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village.

Do the peeps tag along?

I suspect they do.

Because I suspect what’s about to happen is for their benefit too.

Jesus spat upon his eyes, and laid his hands over them.

“Can you see anything now?”

“Yes! But I can’t see very clearly.”

As if to say, “Let me ‘crisp up’ your vision,” Jesus places his hands over the man’s eyes again until he sees clearly.

The formerly blind man stares in wonder.

drinking in the sights around him.

Instead of releasing him into the crowd, Jesus sends the man home.

Home with those faithful peeps who doggedly sought Jesus on his behalf.

Where they will marvel at seeing their pleas answered, be encouraged, rejoice with him.

And drink it in.

A concept which is “crisping up” for me.

How encouraged we are when we discover our prayers for someone have been answered.

When we have the opportunity to rejoice with them.

Not necessary, of course, but encouraging for sure.

Today my physical vision continues to “crisp up.” 

Near the top of my to-do list is a reminder to drop that sweet prayer team a line.

To thank them for their prayers and offer an update.

That they might be encouraged.

And drink it in with me.

Is there a pray-er you’ve been meaning to update?

See you in a couple weeks.

Love,

PS If you’re not busy on Thursday morning, July 9, I’m inviting you to join me at the All Saints Church women’s summer study. I’m that week’s teacher and I’ll be teaching on The Lord Is My Shepherd. It starts at 9:30 and should be over by 11:00.