My granddaughter, Corrie, texted me from college three weeks ago and asked the following question. I was honored she sought my counsel, but her question wasn’t an easy one. I texted her back a briefer answer than the one below, but since I’ve been asked the same question several times, I’ve expanded on my answer.
QUESTION:
Baba, I have a quick question and am curious about what you have to say about this. I just saw a social media post posted by a singer from Bethel Music whose daughter (she’s a toddler) passed away four days ago. She was asking for prayer that her daughter be brought back to life even though doctors pronounced her dead. She doesn’t believe her daughter’s time here is done.
That request has caused a lot of people to spread the word and pray for this little girl to be brought back to life. Now I do believe that miracles can occur. But this circumstance has me kinda raising my eyebrows.
The parents are Pentecostal, so they’re going to be more flamboyant and believe in speaking in tongues and signs and visions. However, if this little girl came back to life, that would be incredible!
Maybe I’m showing little faith by doubting she’s going to be resurrected. However, I just feel weird that they’re borderline demanding God bring her back. To me, it looks like they’re not willing to accept that Jesus has called her home. Just curious about what you have to say.
MY ANSWER
Corrie, I just read yesterday about this tragedy. To lose a little child is about the saddest experience anyone can endure. I really hurt for those parents. I, too, believe in miracles. I believe God can do anything. If it had been my child or grandchild, I’d be pleading for God to bring her back to life also.
Examine the Evidence
It’s not a question of whether God can. It’s a question of what God does and what He has promised to do in His word. There have been dramatic answers to prayer over the years; however, since the Biblical account of Jesus raising Lazarus, I’m not aware of any verified resurrection from the dead after four days. There have been numerous times when believers have prayed for another “Lazarus-type” resurrection but no confirmed evidence of it ever occurring. So obviously raising someone from the dead is not something the Lord does very often even though He is frequently requested to do so.
Study the Scriptures
The Bible hints that the supernatural signs of the New Testament era would cease (1 Cor. 13:8-10), and after Jesus’ resurrection, we shouldn’t anticipate additional signs and wonders. When the skeptics of Jesus’ day requested even more spectacular miracles, the Lord said there would be no additional sign given except that of the prophet Jonah. He explained that just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish so He would be three days in the heart of the earth. Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate sign, and they shouldn’t keep demanding more. (See Matthew 16:4.)
The original purpose of miracles was not just to ease pain or eliminate grief but to confirm the gospel was true. Jesus said, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves” (John 14:11). “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it” (Mark 16:20). “…This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:3-4).
This is one of the primary differences between most evangelical churches and most charismatic churches. Pentecostal and charismatic churches believe God still grants supernatural gifts to individuals as He did when the church was launched. Mainline and evangelical churches generally contend once the Scriptures were completed, the supernatural signs used to confirm the word were no longer necessary. “When perfection comes, the imperfect disappears” (1 Cor. 13:10).
Walk By Faith
Faith that pleases God is not one that demands dramatic miracles but one that places confidence in the ultimate healing in heaven. Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen, you believe. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Hebrews 11 honors heroes of the faith who endured hardship, persecution, and even martyrdom because they patiently “looked for a city whose architect and builder is God.” “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith that honors God (and frankly is a positive testimony to the world) is a faith that trusts God will one day make all things right in heaven regardless of what happens on earth.
The Bible says that death is the last enemy to be defeated. (See 1 Cor. 15:26.) The work of the grim reaper will not be totally eliminated until Jesus returns. Then “There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain…” (Rev. 21:4). Until then, let’s walk by faith, believing Jesus’ promise, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…”
I am concerned that a worldwide appeal to pray for this child’s resurrection will result in additional mockery of Christians if the miracle doesn’t occur. I would encourage the grieving parents to trust their daughter is now with Jesus, and if that’s true, she has no desire to return. As tragic as the death of a toddler is, perhaps God has spared this little girl (and her parents), from some horrible experiences, had she continued to live. We can only trust, through tears, that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28).
If the Lord chooses to perform a spectacular miracle and raise this precious child from the dead, I will be surprised but will greatly rejoice and give God praise.
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