The following is an excerpt based on Chapter 8 of Why Me? (And Why That’s the Wrong Question), by Jim Davis. Jim’s book encourages readers to focus on the right questions about suffering so that instead of turning away from God during hard times, they will turn to him and his healing, in whatever form it takes. For more of Jim’s writing, visit jimdavisbooks.com.

Looking for a miracle? Be open to the kind you cannot see.

He went seeking a miracle. 

Actually, he was carried. The man couldn’t walk. But he had friends willing to take him to see Jesus. The crowds were too heavy to enter the house, so his buddies took him up to the roof, peeled away the mud and straw, and lowered him down to where Jesus was teaching.

God loves faith like that, and Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Umm … thanks? But that isn’t why I came to see you. I was hoping for a miracle. Remember how I can’t walk?

We don’t know what the paralytic was thinking at that point, but I wonder if he was a little disappointed. He went through a lot of trouble to get to Jesus after hearing of Jesus’ healing powers. He did not get the healing that he wanted, though (not yet, anyway). He may have felt left out. He may even have felt cheated.