For some people God is not enough. Originally Israel was governed by the covenant and the cooperation of the twelve tribes. Unfortunately many people feel uneasy with freedom. They prefer someone to control their lives and tell them what to do — and that is just what the Israelites did. They asked Samuel to give them a king — just like all the nations and people around them. Samuel was upset and disappointed, for he felt that they were rejecting both him and God. Sometimes we can be too eager to give up our freedom and let other people run our lives. It takes time and energy to discern the truth and the correct way of living, but it is well worth the effort. That is what spirituality is all about.

In the New Testament, it was usually the faith of the one suffering that brought about healing. In this case, it was the intense faith of his friends — those who loved him enough to stand by him and spare nothing to find help for him. Faced with an overcrowded house and no way of entering, they literally tore the roof off in order to lower their friend down to Jesus. Do we have such faith when we need healing? Are we willing to go to such lengths to help our friends and others? Are we willing to push aside obstacles in our eagerness to do good? The miracles of the Lord are made possible by the strength of our faith and the yearning of our heart.