# Seeking God, Finding God: Trusting Jesus’ Word
*2009-02-22*

> Bill reflects on John 4:50, where a royal official believes Jesus’ word without seeing a miracle, and offers a Lenten practice to trust God’s promises.

## The Scripture

Our reading comes from John 4:50: “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he started on his way.” The story follows the signs and wonders Jesus performed in Jerusalem, including turning water into wine. The royal official’s son was dying, and he begged Jesus to come. Jesus refused to go with him, yet promised that the child would live.

## Faith Over Spectacle

Many people followed Jesus hoping for spectacular miracles. The official, however, was not interested in the crowd or the miracles; he was desperate for his son’s life. When Jesus told him the child would live, the official faced a choice: stay and keep demanding a miracle, or go home trusting Jesus’ word. He chose the latter, and on his way home he learned that his son had already been healed.

## Living the Faith of the Official

Often we pray and wait for an immediate answer, becoming discouraged when we don’t see a sign right away. In those moments we are called to the same faith as the royal official—believing God’s promise even without visible proof. This Lenten season, we are invited to thank God as soon as we ask, trusting that He is already at work.

## Prayer for Trust

Lord, help me to put my trust in your word.

*True faith trusts God’s promise before the miracle becomes visible.*