and he healed all who were sick.
Matthew 12:15
I have noticed that when Jesus heals people in the Bible there are typically two things occurring. The body is healed, and usually a soul is changed.
I find it confusing when in my life, I pray for healing and nothing happens, usually wondering if maybe the reason is because God is working on the soul. Yet, in this scripture in Matthew everyone is healed and there is no discussion as to who, why or souls.
When dealing with sickness today, a prayer for healing is often seemingly ignored by God. I don’t believe God ever ignores a prayer. He tells us to keep asking which, by the very nature of this instructions implies that the first prayer is not immediately granted with an immediate miracle.
I suspect that sometimes the reason a prayer does not receive its immediate resolution is that God has something else he is working on. For example, is God working on the soul of the sick person? Is God working on the soul of the person offering the prayer? Or does God have a different issue that He is pursuing?
I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
Is 46:10
God has a plan. His plan will be accomplished. Just because I pray for healing of another person and yet that person receives no immediate healing due to my prayer, doesn’t mean that God heard the prayer and choose sickness over health for the person God created in His own image and loves in ways that man can only start to comprehend.
God does heal and more importantly, God loves deeply. In His love, it is inconceivable that God would choose His child to be sick. Yet it happens all too often leaving us to question why.
Anytime we want to question the one true God who can do as He pleases, we must dive deeper into our understanding of Him, His ways, and His words. It’s a very beneficial exercise!
In Galatians 5, we see the fruit of the spirit to include Joy, Love, Peace, Goodness, Kindness, Faith, Self-Control and the one word that seems not to fit with the others - Long Suffering.
Long Suffering requires suffering. That is a gift from God! Crazy enough! But it is. And it is there for a reason. The reason is a mystery but we know we need to appreciate this gift in a way that may appear contrary to a prayer for healing. Yet, I don’t think that it is contrary to a prayer for healing at all.
We gain something from prayer. If we got what we wanted every time we asked, I suspect God would have an earth full of spoiled brats. That result would not be consistent with the nature of a God that works in our best interest.
His instruction is to pray. His instruction includes asking repetitively. The process here is important. It is the recognition that God is the healer - no one else. When we constantly remind ourselves that we must rely on God for our needs, it goes well for us.
As for healing… keep asking. Never stop. Years can go by! Never stop.
Comments