After learning that a 7-year-old boy dying of leukemia wanted to be a police officer, several members of the Arizona Police made every effort to make his wish come true. Just days before he died, they made him an honorary officer—including his own law enforcement hat and junior-sized police uniform. That one wish launched a movement. Make-A-Wish, an international organization that grants the wishes of seriously ill children, was established in 1980.
Since then, Make-A-Wish has granted wishes to more than 254,000 children afflicted with life-threatening medical conditions. Sadly, there’s one wish they’ve not been able to grant—the wish to get better. Regardless of age, it’s the wish we all find ourselves praying for when an illness threatens our lives.
Sickness wasn’t a part of God’s original creation. So it’s only natural that we call out to our Creator to make us well. As we pray, it’s helpful to keep in mind that the Scriptures reveal a God who provides healing for some and grace to all.
The Old Testament records the Lord answering King Hezekiah’s desperate prayer for healing by allowing him to live 15 more years (Isaiah 38:1-5). The apostle Paul got a different response when he “begged” Jesus three times to remove something painful from his life—perhaps a physical affliction. Instead of healing Paul, Jesus said, “My grace is all you need” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
The good news of Jesus declares that a day is coming when there will be no more sickness or death (Revelation 21:4). Until then, it’s okay to hope and pray for healing. Jesus provides the grace we need to live faithfully in the present until the time comes when our full and permanent healing will be realized.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 14:15-35
More:
Read Philippians 4:19 and consider how God can meet our needs, even when we don’t experience healing.
Next:
Why is it important for us to bring our pain and suffering to God? How can we pray in a way that acknowledges God’s compassion and sovereignty?
Gary Shultz on August 13, 2016 at 6:38 am
Jeff, wow, you’re laying out some subject matter we have been working with. We see many folks struggling with health issues, and as you said, God never intended that. We as people are continually stepping away from what God intends, and yet God uses the pain of physical suffering to weave back the very thing we lost, fellowship with him. Results are in Good’s hand, are as His purposes and outcome. Each of God’s children pulls a different thread through life in God’s tapestry. There are those who have been faithful and still suffer as they lean faithfully on God’s arms as a witness that He will not forsake us, even through the passing of our bodies. God pulls each saint through a sin filled world to bring us, as Wayne Watson sang, “the ultimate healing, to be home free”. He is preparing us for this home, in His way. Thanks Jeff
ibitoytey on August 13, 2016 at 8:11 am
Two people cried to GOD, He answered both of them with two different answer.
When we call upon Him, He always answers us uniquely. Don’t give-up on GOD won’t give up on you, He’s able!!!
gagirllive on August 13, 2016 at 8:25 am
Jeff, you’ve written a very insightful devo here. I love this scripture passage. I don’t know that I could have prayed the words that Hezekiah prayed as he turned his face to the wall. Mine would be more a plea for mercy rather than a review of my faithfulness. I know that day will surely come for me if Jesus doesn’t come back first, so I am trying to get the right perspective about it now as I prepare for it. I think that if our sole purpose in life is to bring God glory, then we will have to see EVERYTHING as an opportunity to do that. That will mean entering our on Gethsemane and taking up our own cross. Whether it be a physical health issue or some other form of suffering, we will have to say like Jesus, “Not My will, but Thy will be done”. If we can get the mindset that nothing else matters except His glory, then we can accept His plans and purposes even when they are veiled to us. We have His faithful promise to NEVER leave or forsake us and that NOTHING can ever separate us from His love. In life or in death we are His. I still have a ways to go in actually responding this way all the time, but it’s my desire as I continue the journey. Thanks for the inspiration today, Jeff. Grace and peace to you.
sandy229 on August 14, 2016 at 11:56 am
Amen gagirl, we were made for His purpose and not our own. My mother suffered all her life but God used it for His glory. She was such an inspiration to all around her. Her brothers and sisters always used to talk about how much faith she had. I have to keep reminding myself that I may or may not be healed, but its what I do for Christ that matters, and everything I do should be to glorify God. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. I just need to remember that.
abena25 on August 13, 2016 at 8:28 am
Many times we as believers in Christ Jesus do not understand why some children /adults suffer such terrible illnesses as illustrated in the devotion. I think it’s important to note that salvation is a dual package. Psalm 103:1-3 makes it very clear of our benefits that Christ bestowed on us as his children. Just think of it, if you were entitled to benefits from your work place that covered 100% of your child’s teeth braces and never knew. Somehow you always thought it was less than 50% covered how would you feel at the next dentist appointment? You would claim ALL and try to find out what else you have been missing out on. My brothers and sisters let’s take time and note all these benefits and command every forces of darkness to take their hands off our blessings. Remember that when Daniel prayed heaven had to send reinforcement to deliver the answer to his prayer. God bless you.
gagirllive on August 13, 2016 at 11:06 am
abena25, I love the psalm you have referenced here. I often pray those verses of praise back to God. We do have so many wonderful benefits in Christ Jesus! However, not all are fully realized in us yet in the physical realm. For example, we are healed from ALL our diseases—our sin-sickness being our main infirmity—but the power of physical sickness over us has also been broken in the ultimate sense. So why do saints of God still get sick and die? We are still waiting for the redemption of our physical body. (Romans 8: 23). Ultimately, sickness and death has no hold on the child of God. We know we have a Father who can heal us in this present life if He so chooses. But in His wisdom and sovereignty He may see that our sickness and suffering will bring Him more glory than our healing. The choice is His to make. Even Jesus wanted the cup of suffering to pass from Him, but the greater glory was the cross. I don’t believe scripture supports that God will heal us every time in this present world. On the contrary, Jesus has admonished us that in this world we WILL have trials of all kinds and we are to take heart because He has overcome the world. One day we will lay down these mortal bodies for our immortal ones. That is the promise we have in Christ. Grace and peace, friend.
sandy229 on August 14, 2016 at 11:33 am
Amen gagirl!!
ma1234 on August 13, 2016 at 11:03 am
This seems to be one of the hardest conversations to have when talking to someone who is weak in faith or an unbeliever. Honestly, I’ve not had to deal with too much physical, however, it seems the emotional and mental issues are harder to deal with because they don’t “show” like the physical. But the Lord is able there as well. That I have experienced.
gagirllive on August 13, 2016 at 11:23 am
I agree, ma1234. Sometimes emotional pain and suffering seems harder to overcome. I have read a lot of Christian biographies and I am amazed at how so many of the wonderful saints of old suffered, both mentally and physically. God did not choose to heal them but used their suffering instead to further His Kingdom. For example, William Cowper who wrote many hymns that we sing today like “There is a Fountain Filled With Blood” suffered from mental illness. He was institutionalized and even tried to commit suicide. The “Prince of Preachers”, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, was often sick in body and suffered from severe bouts of depression, yet God has used these men and many others like them in amazing ways. There is something very disturbing to me when Christians promote a “health, wealth, and prosperity gospel”. It’s unbiblical. We need to count it all joy to glorify God in whatever state we find ourselves in—in health or in sickness, in want or in plenty, in life or in death.
hsnpoor on August 15, 2016 at 11:13 am
Absolutely! Especially that last sentence. If it sounds like wedding vows its’ only because it is….this relationship between ourselves and our Savior is the ultimate Holy Matrimony and the wedding feast will be like no other!
gagirllive on August 15, 2016 at 11:36 am
A hearty amen, sister!
crossman61 on August 13, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Thank you Jeff for this devotional that is a very tough topic to explain to some people , at least the way I think , God looks at suffering. From my own personal sufferings of years of back pain that lead to feet pain and then back surgery . There is much to learn from suffering . I always refer to the book of job when it comes to suffering , and why God allowed it . I think what it comes down to is , if we can still praise Our Father in Heaven and not become bitter in our sufferings . Most can praise Him when things are going good . Is it His Way of weeding out the sheep from the goats ?