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in their attempt to cast a demon out of a young man. After chas tising them for their lack of faith, the Lord said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21).Thankfully, the disciples got it, though it strongly appears Gehazi never did.The situation became worse, in fact, as we’ll see in a later chapter. Elisha, under the influence of a double portion of Elijah’s spir it, stayed strong in the faith. Instead of going through the motions, he was “thriving in the mission,” as indicated by the following. Sympathetic- It was after Gehazi pushed the woman away that the prophet said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress” (2 Kings 4:27),which brings to mind Jesus’s response when Judas ques tioned Mary’s act of devotion. “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial” (John 12:7). Jesus could speak with such authority, having modeled sympathy and compassion throughout His public ministry. “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them.” Later, standing before a needy crowd of 5000 beside the Sea of Galilee, He “felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” Again, in Jericho, just days before His cruci fixion, Christ encountered two blind men. “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him” (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 20:34). Known for her sympathy and servanthood, MotherTeresa once encountered a man with a rare and deadly form of cancer. One of the workers in the hospital had vomited from the smell and could no longer help.When MotherTeresa stepped up to take over, the patient asked, “How can you stand the smell?”To which she replied, “It’s nothing compared to the pain you must feel.” 1 Real ministry begins when we are driven from our comfort zone by the discomfort of others. People don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Mentored by Elisha and filled with his spirit, he willingly displayed sympathy.

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