Healing has never been a clear-cut issue for me. While I have never experienced a miraculous physical restoration, I have seen God’s hand of provision at work in my body and others’ bodies.
But my theology and practice have often collided whenever I didn’t see God move in the way I expected. Recently, however, God unpacked a few more layers of understanding for me as I stepped forward to receive prayer for a torn meniscus at a youth service.
With teenagers gathered around me, I felt humbled to be the recipient of their prayers—especially since so many of them struggle to believe their prayers are valid or desired. But the greatest honor came as I heard the prayers of a 27-year-old woman on our youth ministry team. In her life, God’s answer to cancer had come through a mastectomy, not miraculous deliverance. Profoundly moved as she prayed about my need, I saw in that moment the greatness of God and the complexity of His ways. My minor torn meniscus, her life-and-death battle, and one faithful God. Prayer is a place of deep privilege.
Romans 11:33-34 reminds us that God’s ways stand far above anything we can comprehend. But there are some things we can definitively know about healing:
• Jesus’ death and resurrection restores our brokenness (Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 61:1-3; Matthew 11:2-5).
• Jesus’ triumph did not exclude suffering (Isaiah 53:3-4; Mark 8:31).
• God does not reject but rather welcomes and encourages our requests for miraculous intervention (James 5:13-18).
Just as the blind man in Mark 8:1-38 didn’t receive his healing the same way as others who had been healed, so too do our stories vary in the ways God works out His plans for our lives.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 9:28-45
More:
Read Isaiah 59:1-2, Matthew 13:57-58, James 4:3, and 1 John 3:22. According to these passages, what are some of the things we must address before bringing our needs to the Lord?
Next:
What life experiences have shaped your understanding of God’s healing power? How do your ideas line up with Scripture?
jimgroberts on July 23, 2013 at 4:57 pm
The ministry of healing with Jesus was in the majority for the unbeliever and was a confirmation of the message of the good news being proclaimed to the people. In Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” And in Acts 3:29-30 the disciples being persecuted in Jerusalem requested Gods intervention praying “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
God’s plan has a greater purpose for signs and wonders – He sees the greater good.
Paul himself having some sickness asked 3 times for healing but it was not part of God’s plan and said “My grace is sufficient because in your weakness I am strong” for Paul it helped keep Him humble because the surpassing wonders he had seen.
In James 5:15 “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well” we see that it is a positive affirmative statement “will”. But in James 1:6 warns us that if we doubt we will receive nothing. This concerns healing of the faithful.