John 4:46 Then (after his encounter with the people of Samaria who came to believe Jesus as Messiah) Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee (where he grew up) where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. 51 As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive.

V.46-47 tells us the one asking for healing for his son was “a royal official” who “went and begged” Jesus. For this kind of person to beg he must have been pretty desperate. V.50 then says “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him”.

In much of scripture, and in my own experience, faith is often a function of desperation more than anything else. I assume the royal official, before approaching Jesus, had exhausted whatever resources were available to him to heal his son. With no options left he pursued Jesus. I’m not proud of it, but that often describes me. I’m wondering if there is another way.