India Recap
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WORDS // JESSICA BILLS
There were only a few moments when I understood the power the Enemy has over the territory of this Asian country.
I saw what I’ve only read about in the New Testament of healings and demons being cast out. I wrestled for a few days as to why we don’t see these miracles stateside. And even personally, what was my faith’s reaction to seeing such things? As I pondered, one morning my team’s devotional was set out of Mark 6:30-52. Jesus had the apostles go out on a boat to have some rest while he preached to this great crowd. Time passed and hunger grew for many. Jesus called his apostles back telling them to feed the crowd, but they only had five loaves and two fish. Jesus broke the bread, said a blessing, and the food was distributed by the apostles so that no one there was hungry anymore. Immediately, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him in the boat and he stayed with the crowd. Time passed, night fell, and the sea fought against the apostle’s set course. Jesus saw the wind was against them, he went to them. How did he go to a boat, in the night, in the middle of the sea? He walked.
He walked on the water. And when they saw him they freaked. They literally thought he was a ghost. He told them to take heart, don’t be afraid. He got in the boat and the wind stopped. Then get this, they were astounded! “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened”
(verse 52).
Hardened hearts.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
So if we are shocked, befuddled, amazed, surprised, perplexed, or even astounded (as the apostles were) at a miracle, does that mean we have a hardened heart?
And even more, where is our faith at if we have hardened hearts?
Take heart dear American Christian, do not be enticed to feel guilty for where your faith is at. Guilt never grows us. It is a favorite tool the Enemy uses to craft us into being stagnant or backsliding.
I believe we are hardened because of a lack of experience, and much of that is due to our cultural differences. My pastor on our team explained that he believed healings happen in developing countries because they do not have the same kind of access to the healing of medicine. This thought left me seeing God’s providence through medical advances here, as well as providence through faith in India. Praise the Lord.
PHOTOS // JESSSICA BILLS