ACKNOWLEDGE THE HIGHER REALITY

As the scripture tells us, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of the unseen. It is such a vital part of a Christian's walk with God that the relationship cannot exist without it. In fact, the same writer that defines faith tells us that it is impossible to please God without it (Heb 11:6). No other statement can emphasize the significance of faith in a believer's life. 

The Bible is full of so many stories that show the effects of faith but I would like to explore the story of the Shunammite woman. It is one of the best faith stories in the scriptures and a personal favourite. Her story is found in 2 Kings 4:8-37 and the first part gives us a brief history, highlighting her hospitality towards Prophet Elisha and how she conceived and gave birth to a son according to the prophet's word. I'd like to focus on what happens later to the son today.

When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon and died.

2 Kings 4:20

The son had experienced pain in the head just shortly before dying on his mother's lap. She took him to Elisha's room and left him on his bed. She began the journey to meet the prophet and upon encountering her husband, she just said that all was well. It is. She also met Gehazi- Elisha's servant- and gave the same answer. Now pay attention to what happens when she finally meets Elisha.

...But the man of God said, "Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me"

2 Kings 4:27

Elisha is one of the greatest prophets to ever walk the earth but he could not see in the spirit what was wrong with the woman. How was this possible? This was a man who had received a double portion of Elijah's anointing so what made God hide the information from him? The answer is very simple: faith. The woman's faith made it so that even heaven had to agree with her.

One could argue that she was just in denial, which is usually considered one of the early stages of grief. It does make sense from a psychological point of view because she had just watched her son take his last breath but she saw beyond her current situation. To her, a universe in which her son was dead did not exist. She refused to acknowledge what she could see in the physical realm and instead chose to acknowledge a higher reality. This reminds me of something Paul the apostle said:

...while we do not look at things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Cor 4:18 

 Similarly, Tony Evans, in the book Victory in Spiritual Warfare: Outfitting Yourself for the Battle, says:

"If all you see is what you see, you will never see all that there is to be seen." 

This woman knew that her son's death wasn't all there was to see. Her confession that all was well was a statement of faith. Because of her unwavering faith, she received the miracle of having her son brought back to life. 

He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite woman." So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, "Pick up your son."
2 Kings 4:35-36

We learn from her to confess what we believe to be true, not what we see. One of the pastors at our church calls confessing what we see being a journalist. A believer is called to live a life of faith, not report what they're seeing. Hold fast to your confession even when there's overwhelming evidence in the natural that things are dead. After all, faith is the only evidence we have of things we are yet to see. Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:18 that whatever we permit or forbid on earth, the same shall be done in heaven. It is with this authority and confidence that we can declare something and just like the Shunammite woman, heaven will agree with us. Even when everything is falling apart right in front of you, choose to speak life. Provoke heaven with your statement of faith until you see your miracle. Some may call you crazy and say you're just in denial of reality but keep saying that all is well until it really is!