For most people, the path of life is like a tapestry woven from certainty and chance, good fortune and adversity, joy and suffering. But for God, truly no event occurs by chance. Every event, whether great or small, simple or extraordinary, is never separate from His will and plan. For those afflicted by misfortune, suffering or prolonged illness, the greatest hope is healing and recovery from all their troubles. Their prayer is surely that God will soon provide a way forward.

When hopes and prayers are continually offered up yet we receive no answer, our faith gradually but surely wanes. The longer the wait, the more our hearts will ask: is there still hope? Is there still a possibility? Or should we simply resign ourselves and give up at this point?

It is not uncommon for God’s answers to come as if by chance, at the most unexpected of times. Nor do we ever anticipate the form in which these answers are given. 

The story of Jesus healing the man possessed by a demon in Luke 8:26–33 is further proof that God’s help often comes as a coincidence. After the boat carrying Jesus and His disciples had been tossed about by a violent storm, it landed in the region of Gerasa, on the opposite shore of the Sea of Galilee. No sooner had Jesus stepped out of the boat than a man possessed by an evil spirit approached Him. And it was no mere possession—he was possessed not by one, but by many evil spirits. 

That man must have been suffering terribly. Every human being is created with a mind and a heart that enable them to control their own body. The mind and heart enable humans to act and move according to their free will, in accordance with their desires. Thus, humans become free individuals. However, the man possessed by ‘Legion’ had lost his free will and his freedom. His mind, heart and will were controlled by the evil spirits. 

He wanted to stay at home, but the evil spirits dragged him to the graveyard. He wanted to be clothed, but the evil spirit left him naked without any sense of shame. He wanted to be amongst his fellow human beings, yet the evil spirit took him to desolate and lonely places. Time and again he was chained and shackled to prevent him from escaping, yet the spirit’s power was able to break the bonds. It is even mentioned in the Gospel of Mark that this man used to scream and beat his own body with stones. 

It is unclear how long he had been in this state. What is certain is that he was suffering terribly. His family, too, were likely sad, ashamed and distressed. It is possible that his family had already tried to care for him and take him to doctors, but found no cure. Perhaps his friends and neighbours had also given up on him. The only hope was that God would provide help or a miracle for the sick man. But between prayer, hope and a solution, there is sometimes an unimaginably long wait. So, when an illness shows no sign of healing, when suffering seems endless, when help is not immediately in sight, many people slowly but surely lose hope. They become desperate. 

Neither the man possessed by an evil spirit nor his family ever expected that Jesus would be in Gerasa and meet them. It all happened by chance and seemed completely unprepared. No sooner had the Lord Jesus and his party stepped out of the boat than the possessed man came running towards Jesus. How the man living in the tombs came running down to the shore is not recounted. Once again, the story seems purely coincidental. It was, in fact, the evil spirit dwelling within that man who appeared to already know and be on the alert for Jesus’ arrival in that region of the Gentiles. Jesus had not yet said a word, yet the evil spirits were already trembling: “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” The evil spirits knew who Jesus was; they felt disturbed and were worried by His arrival. By His power, the Lord Jesus cast out that host of evil spirits from the possessed man. And they passed from the man into a herd of pigs, which then rushed into the lake. 

How great was the gratitude of the possessed man. Perhaps he had never imagined that one day he would be healed. His family, too, may have had little hope left that the sick man would recover. 

Through this event, there are several things we can draw inspiration from together. Firstly, nothing ever happens by chance in the sight of God. God’s timing is always perfect. Just as the family of the afflicted man had begun to give up and left him to live in the graveyard, screaming and harming himself, God intervened to bring about his recovery. When hope was almost lost, God granted healing and relief. 

Secondly, God loves everyone regardless of their background. Gerasa, the location of the event that has just taken place, was, according to some experts, a region inhabited by foreigners—nations referred to as ‘unbelieving Jews’. Yet, the Lord Jesus chose to be present there, to reach out and bring healing to this place. Jesus’ heart is always moved by concern and compassion for the suffering of his fellow human beings, regardless of their racial or religious background. 

Thirdly, God’s help often does not align with human plans. Yet God’s actions are always for the best. God cast out the Legion—a host of evil spirits—from the man, then sent them into a herd of pigs, which subsequently ran into the lake and drowned. For some people in Gerasa, Jesus’ act of healing the possessed man might have been seen as a loss. Their investment in pigs was wiped out in a single day. If they had a choice, they would surely have said: “Heal that man, but do not kill our pigs.”

Some commentators suggest that, for Jesus, the restoration and salvation of a human soul is more valuable than all the wealth in the world. Even thousands of pigs, which must have been extremely valuable, are not comparable to the soul and life of a single human being. As the Lord Jesus Himself once declared in Matthew 16:26, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? And what can a man give in exchange for his life?” 

God considers us more valuable than all the riches of the world. How precious our lives are that God was even willing to sacrifice Himself for our salvation. Therefore, never squander your life. Remain steadfast in faith and hope. Never give up. God’s help will surely come at the right time.