“But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”” (Luke 7:7-8).

Life just got in the way.  I’ve used that phrase a lot.

I was excited to get together with friends this week, but life just got in the way.

I was planning to volunteer this weekend, but life just got in the way.

I was sure I’d hit my deadline this week, but life just got in the way.

And when life gets in the way, it has this funny way of being something negative derailing something positive.  

Of all the times I’ve said the phrase, life getting in the way of me going to work because I happened to find a winning Powerball ticket never seems to be one of them.

I think the centurion in this chapter of Luke could have looked to the illness of his servant as life got in the way. And even though he knows he doesn’t deserve a visit from Jesus, let alone a miracle from him, that doesn’t stop the centurion from demonstrating amazing faith in Jesus. 

He shows how deep this faith is by not just asking for healing, but by recognizing the true authority of Jesus.  By saying that Jesus simply needs to give the command to heal, he’s acknowledging that there are powers at play beyond his earthly comprehension.  Jesus is not merely manipulating forces like some sort of magician.  The authority of Jesus is unlike anything else. Whatever Jesus speaks happens.

The centurion understands that there are forces at work in the world that are much bigger than he is, and Jesus has the ultimate authority over everything.  When powers in the world “got in the way” of the health of his servant, Jesus exercised his authority to bring healing.  

It leaves me asking myself if there’s a dimension to this world that I haven’t considered?  Am I missing the fact that what I’m dismissing as “life getting in the way” is something in the spiritual environment that is very real?  And something that Jesus has authority over?  

When I pray to Jesus, seek his aid, or his counsel, I need to believe that there is a power and authority being offered that is stronger than those negative forces at work.  “Life happens” moments aren’t something I’m powerless against when I have access to Jesus. 

Which I always do. 

Have you had one of those “life got in the way” moments recently? Were you like me and dismissed it as just “life happens”? What if instead of feeling powerless, how does embracing the spiritual authority of Jesus to combat these very real negative forces help you find the positive experiences Jesus desires for you?