Q: Why is it that there are so many Christians who pray for healing and they never get it? —Wanderi
A: It’s true that Scripture tells of people who were healed or delivered from danger because of their faith. Some examples are Gideon (Judges 7:15-23); Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:14-15); Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:19-29); the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:13); the woman with an issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22); the man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:9-13); and Peter’s deliverance from prison (Acts 12:5-12). Even this partial list is impressive.
Clearly, faith in God may result in healing and deliverance. However, the Scriptures also show us just as clearly that there are times when a believer’s suffering or sickness has nothing to do with a lack of faith.
When Job lost his family, wealth, and physical health, his friends “comforted” him with the message that his loss and suffering were due to his own moral failure (his lack of faith). But Job was confident in his integrity before God. God Himself had declared him perfect and upright (Job 1:8). Later, God Himself denied the explanation that Job’s “counselors” gave for his suffering (Job 13:1-15). Even more importantly, God Himself denounced their words (Job 42:7-8).
Job’s faith wasn’t the problem. In fact, Job’s faith in God was so strong that he, without cursing or disrespect, defended his integrity to God and questioned Him about the injustice of his suffering. Yet, in the midst of his agony, he continued to trust:
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him” (Job 13:15-16).
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27).
Job’s faith was eventually rewarded and vindicated. But he wasn’t spared the terrible suffering that allowed his faith to be tested and proven.
Even at a time when miracles often occurred, God allowed Stephen to be stoned (Acts 7:59-60 ) and James to be beheaded. Although Acts 12 tells of Peter’s supernatural deliverance from captivity in prison, Jesus had already prophesied that he would eventually die a martyr’s death (John 21:17-19), as (according to tradition) did all of the other disciples except John.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 Paul eloquently described the suffering and trials from which he hadn’t been delivered. He also suffered from a particular “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7, 10) for which God had not provided a remedy. When Timothy suffered from a stomach ailment, Paul didn’t exhort him to have greater faith. Instead he told him to take some wine as medicine (1 Timothy 5:23). There isn’t the slightest hint in these passages that Paul’s trials and Timothy’s sickness were the product of unconfessed sin or deficient faith. In fact, rather than proclaiming that our faith in Christ should deliver us from the suffering and trials of this world, Paul extols the spiritual benefits of suffering.
“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance [produces] character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us” (Romans 5:3-5).
James also made it clear that strong faith is no insurance against suffering:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
On the basis of Scripture, we can say that faith is always relevant to suffering. Our reaction to suffering—whether in faith or in despair—determines whether it will produce spiritual growth or despair. But because spiritual healing is more important to us than our physical circumstances, faith is not a barrier against suffering.
Whenever we are inclined to presume that the illness or suffering of another person is the result of that person’s sin, we should recall the foolishness of Job’s “counselors” in attempting to explain the mystery of God’s will. Although faith won’t always deliver us from tribulation, it will keep us conscious of God’s promises and of the assurance that He will work everything out to good of His children (Romans 8:28). —Dan VanderLugt
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daisymarygoldr on March 9, 2012 at 4:30 pm
This Q is similar to asking “why is it that there are so many Christians who pray for prosperity and they never get it?” or “why is it that there are so many Christians who pray for freedom from persecution and they never get it?” Obviously, God does not do the same things for everyone. God does not provide healing for everyone. When we struggle with such questions it helps to remember, healing is not an end in itself.
The purpose for healing is to manifest God’s glory. It is mainly for evangelism. In other words, it is an advertisement that displays God’s healing power to the unbelieving world that does not know Him. Jesus healed people to confirm His deity and that the power of God was with him. He directed his disciples to preach the kingdom of God and also to heal the sick. The disciples healed to demonstrate God’s power to unbelievers.
We exercise the same authority to preach the gospel and to heal the sick. It is the evidence of God’s power available even today and gives us the opportunity to preach the Gospel (Mark 16:18). Therefore, healing is a sign to unbelievers. For believers, God is glorified when a person is healed. He is also glorified when we are not healed because it is only in weakness we can be the best showcase of God’s power (2 Corinthians 12:9).
God has greater purposes for believers than healing all our diseases. What will ultimately bring more glory to Him takes priority over the temporal health of His people. The purpose for Paul’s thorn in the flesh was to keep him from pride and to teach him that God’s grace is sufficient. Hence he takes pleasure in his weaknesses ─ in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles.
Healing is according to God’s will and for His purpose alone, not ours. When God heals someone, our extended life span is not meant for personal pleasure. God heals to use that person for some specific ministry. Whether we are healed or not healed, the sole purpose for our existence on earth is to live in a way that glorifies God and brings honor to His name.