Why I won’t pray for God to heal my child.
Mar 23, 2012
random
Posted by
Dale
Over three months ago I (Dale) wrote this on our blog:
“My prayer is that our son will reflect God’s glory. That is a scary prayer when we see a man in the Bible, born blind so as to bring glory to the Lord.”
Yesterday we learned that our son FX, has a syndrome called Williams. FX has struggled since he was conceived. He has struggled to grow, struggled with hernias, colic, eating, constipation, eye sight, heart issues and many other maladies that make most parents cringe. He will also grow up to have some physical side effects of William’s but we also learned about other amazing things about this “disease.”
If he is like most other with William’s he will have many blessings as well. He has gorgeous “starry eyes.” He will treat no one like a stranger but more likely will love everyone he comes in contact with. FX will have a beautiful ear to ear smile. He will be highly verbal relative to his cognitive skills. He will be affectionate.
One of the most amazing things about William’s disease is that FX will probably love music. I have seen video’s of soprano’s with William’s syndrome who can memorize 2,000 arias without reading music! I have seen drummers going off on crazy solos! They actually recommend that you get your kids around as much music as possible. They recommend lesson’s as well. God has wisely put FX in the perfect family. That’s like asking a fish to be around water. He will always be around music. He will always have something to dance to. Our son will reflect God’s glory and that gives us great joy. How fun to take him on tours.
So when people ask how they could pray for us, I answer, pray for us to get sleep and him not to be in pain. I will not ask God to take this syndrome away. God has created my son to be a blessing to the world. Today I was singing to him and he began to make sounds as if he were almost already singing back.
I can’t wait to make this album. I hope FX will be there for a lot of it, unless he’s crying and then he can go home!
PS- Thanks for the comments, although it’s kinda weird for you to say I am selfish but you are entitled to your opinion. This post is not meant to be divisive but to encourage those who are going through struggles. I am not saying I want my son to be in pain. I actually mention that in the post. Please pray for him to be comfortable. But I am also saying he may be uniquely gifted by God to be the man God desires him to be. What one may call a “disease” or “syndrome” others might call it a blessing.
It’s also interesting to think of the idea of how disease can be a “good” thing. My dad came to Jesus through his Parkinson’s disease and while he is no longer with us, I wouldn’t trade his presence for his salvation. Sometimes hard things are good things. I am thankful to God our redeemer for redeeming disease for His glory. Amen.
-Dale
dale@slsworship.com
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:18 am
Hi, thanks for sharing your story with your child. I just wanted to mention a little something….you cited John 9:3-4 about the man being born with blindness to bring glory to God. In Greek, words can br translated in the purposive or the imperative. Well, that scripture was translated in the purposive-which gives purpose later on in life. But, some would say it was supposed to be tranlated in the imperative. Translated in the imperative it would read like this, “Nor this man nor his parents sinned, now let the work of God be displayed in his life.” BIG DIFFERENCE! Just wanted to share that the scripture doesn’t actually read that he was born with blindness in order for God to be glorified.
Blessings!
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:59 am
God’s glory comes when you stand and walk in faith. God did not make your son this way…and not praying for healing is selfish. God instructs us to pray. In 2010 my then, 2 year old son, was diagnosed with cancer. We stood on God’s Word, trusted and believed that he was healed…and he is! God gets ALL the glory…and the many oppurtunities we had to share God’s love and truth also gives Him glory. God may allow things, trials, they are tests…tests we need to pass, not accept.
My prayer is that you would come to realize it is not God’s will that His children suffer in any way. And that your son would be healed in the name of Jesus.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Angel, I am Dale’s wife, Ashley, and another member of sls. We appreciate your words and are so thankful for the healing of your son and that God was glorified through his healing. Please don’t misunderstand Dale. We have definitely asked for healing-I think asking for him not to feel pain, to gain weight, etc. are ways of asking for healing for FX. But what we mean is, whatever God chooses that would bring most glory to God, that is our prayer. God may choose to heal FX as the way to bring Him glory. We would rejoice greatly. But He also may choose not to. We can rejoice greatly in that too. We know that He can work through all things and that what may bring Him more glory is not healing FX in the way we would normally choose. Our “normal” may be below God’s standards here. We have no idea what He has planned to do in and through our son. William’s has so many beautiful attributes that God could be glorified with. Although there will be struggle,”we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”-Romans 5:3-5. I hope that makes sense. If not, that’s ok. We are so thankful for the place of peace God has brought us to and hope we can continue to rely on Him for our comfort and strength. We’d love for you to continue to pray for our son’s healing and for wisdom as we raise both of our precious children. Thank you.
March 25th, 2012 at 4:04 am
Our son, now 3, was diagnosed with WS at 9 months. We know the feelings you’re going through–reeling at the sudden change in the path through life you thought you were on, but utterly dependent on the good God of grace and mercy that we serve. (I wrote a little “Letter to the newly diagnosed parent” here: http://notesfromtheholler.blogspot.com/2010/05/out-my-kitchen-window-day-363.html)
I completely agree with your sentiments about praying for God’s glory to be manifested through your son — I pray the same for our little guy. God is sovereign and always good and He certainly knew what He was doing when He knit together my child in the womb–creating him for His glory. (I also wrote a little article, “Did God Create Williams Syndrome?” posted here: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/04/04/did-god-create-williams-syndrome)
Many blessings on the new journey you find yourself on — and may the Lord pour out His comfort and wisdom on you over the following days and weeks as you work on understanding what the diagnosis will mean for you and your family.