So many times in life I have been caught in the judgment trap; watching the angry man launch a cat over a fence with his foot, a person buying their 3rd new car in 3 years while “fighting” debt, a leader who rules with a heavy hand, a parent who always sounds angry, a friend who is easily broken emotionally…etc.

I used to feel justified rightly judging by these exterior appearances but I was missing the real question, “Where did these people start from?” Where did the angry man start from, maybe last year he would have stepped on and crushed the cat that was annoying him but this year he restrained and flung it out of the way. The person buying their 3rd car may be settling out from a life of entitlement and even though they are buying cars they may have just paid off $100k in debt. The heavy handed leader may have had a nearly murderous father and just 2 years ago would just dismiss from his life anyone who he didn’t like so at least heavy handedness doesn’t dismiss people. The parent who sounds angry is frightening but their parents not only sounded angry but beat them and locked them in a closet when they were angry. The emotionally broken person has a family history they are trying to change, you don’t know that their siblings and previous 3 generations are medicated just to emotionally survive and this person is trying to walk out their life unmedicated seeking healing.

 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4

Coming in a state of poverty this lady gave generously, if you did not know she was in a state of poverty it would appear she was withholding rather than giving generously. How often have I made a similar judgment against someone rather than seeing the generosity because I didn’t have a back story? Ouch, yes I am sitting here ouching away.

I want to learn to hope, expect the best until proven wrong, love…love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and does not fail. (1 Cor 13:7,8) My eyes and heart need love especially for those near to me or else I fail in my relationships.

Next time you are frustrated with someone try and take the time to consider what their previous situation was, what their previous life was like, what they are trying to overcome and then reconsider your judgment for them. Does this justify their actions? No, but it will give you the compassion to handle the situation and probably bring healing to the person.

Next month marks the death of a close friend who I thought hoped and wanted to be healed. We prayed a lot, went through inner healing of memories and experiences, deliverance, forgiveness and more healing prayer. Many friends prayed and fasted together yet nothing seemed to turn, I had ideas of what we might have been missing but I did not know exactly what to do. 

Trying to walk out a life of healing, healing prayer, forgiveness, inner healing and deliverance can be heart wrenching and difficult. I have seen many miraculous stories and doctor confirmed supernatural healing BUT… the one’s who aren’t healed, that’s the elephant in the room, the discussion many struggle with. 

Christians received many charges from Jesus such as;

“Whoever believes in me will do the works I do and greater works… “ Jn 14:12-14

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, please the lepers, cast out demons…” Matt 10:8

“Heal the sick and say the Kingdom of heaven is near you…” Luke 10:9

The above verses are a sample of where my expectation is set when I go to pray for the sick, I don’t enter with an attitude of  “Now what will I tell them if they are’t healed?” (more on this in another blog post)

Now back to the blog title.

There is power in Heaven that I do not understand, it is beyond my human mind, it is greater than me yet is available through me (and all of us as Christians). There is a union and power in the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) that is beyond my understanding and I’m okay with that. I will gain knowledge my whole life yet when I die there will be things that “I don’t know.” There seems to be comfort in having all the answers, sometimes this comfort transfers to our friends who are in turmoil. Often times we don’t understand and we don’t have all the answers so the statement “I don’t know” or “I don’t have the answer” is just as comforting to a friend as having all the answers. 

Going back to our friend that died nearly a year ago, her husband and I have become very close friends, we’ve discussed the in’s and outs of what we may have missed in prayer but in the end my answer is “I don’t know” what may have brought healing, “I don’t know” what or if we missed something, “I don’t know” if my theology of healing is perfect (I actually know it’s not perfect!), “I don’t know” why the last person with stage 4 cancer was healed and your spouse died. What I do know is that I won’t stop praying for the sick, the down and out, the hurting or the successful because I don’t have all the answers, I will keep praying expectantly.

“I don’t know” IS honest, loving, true, faithful, thoughtful, meaningful, and more when delivered in this context. 

Now do you see the power in “I don’t know”?