Why we should contend for miracles

Why do we believe in miracles at all? Why do we pray for healing and seek God’s supernatural intervention?

When you survey the Gospels, you will notice a strong emphasis on Jesus’ miracles, healings, and deliverance ministry.

In the Gospel of Mark, nearly one-third of the content records the miracles Jesus performed. Of the 18 specific miracles mentioned, 13 are healing miracles.

The message is clear: Jesus works miracles – He heals the sick and sets the oppressed free.

Let me walk you through a continuous sequence of events, a day in the life of Jesus that reveals what He has power over.

1. Jesus has power over nature. In Mark 4:39, He was in a boat in a storm but  He commanded the wind to “Quiet! Be still!” And it became calm.

2. Jesus has power over evil spirits. In Mark 5:1-20, Jesus delivered the man possessed by a legion of demons by commanding them to leave. The crowd saw him “sitting there, dressed and in his right mind.”

3. Jesus has power over sickness. In Mark 5:24-34, a woman who had suffered from a bleeding condition for 12 years reached out and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:29)

4. Jesus has power over death. The daughter of synagogue leader Jairus died when Jesus was on the way to Jairus’ house. Jesus took the hand of the girl and said: “Little girl, get up!” “Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.” (Mark 5:42)

Jesus is all-powerful, and with Him, nothing is impossible!

Whether you’re going through a crisis, battling spiritual oppression, struggling with long-term sickness, or hopeless situation – Jesus has the power to meet you right where you are.

Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 

The same Jesus who calmed the storm, cast out demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead – is with us today, by His Spirit. 

Why did Jesus perform miracles?

A 2006 Pew Forum survey across 10 countries on four continents found that around 200 million Pentecostal and charismatic Christians claim to have witnessed divine healing.

The report showed that 39 percent of non-Pentecostal, non-charismatic Christians (who usually do not emphasise miracles), also claimed to have witnessed divine healing.

In short, hundreds of millions today have claimed to have seen miracles. This suggests that God is still a miracle-working God who continues to move powerfully in our world today.

Now, why did Jesus perform miracles? Not simply to show His power or to prove He is the Son of God, but because He cares for us. He did miracle because of His goodness, compassion and love.

God cares deeply about our lives, every part of us, body, soul, and spirit. His heart is for us to prosper in all things, to be in good health, even as our soul prospers (3 John 2).

He is not only concerned about our spiritual condition – He also cares for our physical health, emotional and mental well-being, relationships, and daily needs.

In Mark 1, Jesus healed a man with leprosy. The leper believed Jesus had the power to heal but he was not sure if Jesus was willing. In response, Jesus said, “I am willing. Be clean!” (Mark 1:41).

The Greek word for “willing” here is thelō. It conveys more than consent, it expresses “desire”, “resolve”, “taking pleasure” in doing something.

In Mark 6:34, 8:1-3, Jesus multiplied the few loaves and fish to feed the hungry multitudes. The Bible says He was moved with “compassion” to do so. 

The original Greek word for compassion is splagchnizomai, which is to be deeply moved from within, the “seat of the affections.”

In other words, from the depths of His being, Jesus longed to provide for His people. He cares about our needs: Our financial burdens, our daily stresses, our quiet worries.

Whether it is healing our sickness, providing for our needs or delivering us from depression and spiritual oppression, Jesus desires to, is determined to, is deeply moved to act.

So why is it hard to believe in miracles?

We know what the Bible says, but sometimes believers find it hard to believe in miracles.

As Professor Candy Gunther Brown, professor of religious studies at Indianapolis University, stated in her paper “From Believing in Miracles to Contending for Miracles: A Response to Craig Keener”, praying and expecting miracles is a risky endeavour.

Firstly, there is the risk of disappointment.

Praying for miracles stirs hope, but when the miracle doesn’t come, that hope can turn into deep disappointment. 

After all, if we never hope for a miracle, we can’t be disappointed when it doesn’t happen.

Second, there’s the risk of inner tension – that unsettling emotional struggle when what we believe doesn’t seem to match what we see.

For example, the Bible is filled with promises that urge us to expect miracles.

James 5:15 says: “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.”

But based on what you’ve seen or experienced, you may doubt a miracle will happen.

This creates a deep conflict within – the tension of the Kingdom now and not yet. 

You know God is still healing “now” – you may have seen glimpses of it. But you also live in the “not yet”, where healing doesn’t always come, and pain is still present.

So you find yourself caught between faith and disappointment. You believe God’s promises, but your reality feels far from them.

As a result, you pray in doubt rather than in faith.

To ease the tension of unanswered prayers, some Christians suggest that miracles are no longer needed. Or that sickness serves a divine purpose. Or that healing may distract us from God’s greater priority, which is saving souls.

Over time, we risk falling into a pattern of learned helplessness.

Studies show that when people face trauma that they cannot escape despite trying, they may stop trying altogether, even when escape later becomes possible.

In the same way, people who once gave up contending for a miracle – maybe because of disappointment or unanswered prayer – may become less likely to believe or persevere in prayer the next time.

This kind of learned helplessness can lead to hopelessness, and hopelessness can be devastating to one’s spirit.

How then should we pray?

How the healing comes and when the miracle happens: That is God’s job. He is sovereign.

Our job is to ask, seek, and knock, persistently contending in prayer for His healing and breakthrough.

Jesus tells us that we should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1).

Praying for miracles is risky: It means trusting in God’s love and power even when faced with disappointment.

The story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 boldly encourages us to risk praying for miracles.

She was ignored, rejected, and even challenged by Jesus, but she refused to give up.

“Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table,” she told Jesus.

Jesus responded with admiration: ““Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Unanswered prayers could not bring her down.

Disappointment could not silence her voice.

Emotional conflict could not break her spirit.

She just kept asking – until the breakthrough came.

Just like the Canaanite woman, we must contend for miracles, knowing and believing that Jesus is our healer, our provider, our deliverer.

Instead of dwelling on questions like: “What if the miracle doesn’t come?” And “What if healing doesn’t happen?”, let’s shift our focus.

Let’s ask ourselves: “What if the miracle is just one prayer away?” 

This devotional is taken from a sermon, “Contending for Miracles” by Rev Dr Bobby Chaw, preached at City Harvest Church on  August 2-3, 2025.

Two special events are taking place this week:

LoveSingapore’s Miracle Weekend

Friday, 5 September
Pentecost Methodist Church
4 Pasir Ris Drive 6, Singapore 519420
7.30pm, Vietnamese with English translation. 
Speakers: Ps Don Wong, Ps Nam Qui Trung and Simonboy

Saturday, 6 September
Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church
300 Bedok North Ave 3, Singapore 469717
4pm, Mandarin. Speakers: Ps Don Wong, Ps Lou Ming-ho and Peter Yu.
7.30pm, Vietnamese with English translation. Speakers: Ps Don Wong, Ps Nam Qui Trung and Felicia Chin.

Admission is free.

HEALSG Miracle Rally 2025

Saturday, 6 September 
Arena@Expo, 9 Somapah Rd, Singapore 487370
7pm
Speaker: Dr Rev Suzette Hattingh

Sunday, 7 September
Arena@Expo, 9 Somapah Rd, Singapore 487370
7pm
Speaker: Rev Raymond Mooi

RELATED STORIES:

LoveSingapore’s Miracle Weekend (September 5-6) brings powerful testimonies from three drug addicts-turned-Pastors

Come experience the power of prayer and divine healing at HEALSG with Ps Raymond Mooi and Rev Dr Suzette Hattingh

The blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear: Through his healing ministry, Rev Raymond Mooi hopes to bring the lost to Jesus

“Will you still love Me even if you don’t see a miracle?”: God asked the wife of a dying man hooked up to a ventilator

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