CAN I PRAY & EXPECT GOD TO HEAL ME? A s a chaplain, I would like to address three questions which trouble many patients who are facing terminal or life- threatening illnesses. I by no means have the last word on this, but hopefully these thoughts will help.
a way in which God chooses to be glorified. Do you recall the story of the man born blind and how Jesus’ disciples asked whether this man or his parents had sinned? He said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned. . .but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:1-3). As a chaplain, I am so moved when those who are dying choose to trust God in spite of their suffering. Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” (Job 13:15).—Now that is faith! Lastly, sometimes our illnesses are our own doing. We all recognize the fact that we bring on some sickness by our choices: smoking, not exercising, worrying, eating junk food, doing drugs, etc.—Is God to blame for this?—No, no more than I blaming God if the engine on my car blows because I never change the oil. Some illnesses are the natural consequences of the choices we make. Question #2. “But what about the illnesses that are not my fault? God obviously allows them.” Yes he does. The question is, “Why?” Please think with me: people who ask these questions are in essence asking, “Is God unjust? Is God really good?”—Once we state it that way, most of us see how ridiculous those underlying assumptions and doubts are. If God is not good and loving we’re all in big trouble! However, based on God’s character as revealed in scripture we know that God is holy, loving and good. Correct? God can do no wrong. If you and I could trade places with God, and see as God sees, and know as God knows, do you realize that we would not change a single thing that God is currently doing? Why? Because it would all make sense. God has His reasons for everything. We get ourselves into trouble when we try to second guess God. Our perspective on life is so limited. God sees the bigger picture. We don’t. When we get to heaven it will either all make sense, or it won’t matter, for we will know that God was right in allowing/causing what He did. Often the things in life which are the very worst for
Question #1: “Is God punishing me because I’m sick?” Think with me. In many ways, the question of whether cancer, or any life- threatening illness, is a formof God’s judgment or punishment is irrelevant. According to scripture, all of us are under judgment for our sins until those sins are forgiven (Romans 3:9-26; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-9). The good news is that God loves you, and Christ died for your sins so that you could escape the just judgment of God (John 3:16-18). Once you are forgiven, whether you are physically healed or not, you are no longer under God’s eternal judgment or condemnation. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 4:7-8 says, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man [or woman] whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”—Now that is good news. Until God establishes his Kingdom on this earth, death and sickness will remain part of life. All of us will die. It is only a matter of when. I don’t want to minimize what you are going through, but in the bigger scheme of things, how you or I die is really of little consequence. Where we spend eternity is everything. Speaking candidly, sometimes physical illness may be a sign of God’s discipline. According to Paul one reasonmany Christians in Corinth were sick, and some had even died, was because they partook of the Lord’s Supper in an unholymanner (I Corinthians 11:27-30). Jesus once told an invalid man whom He had healed, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14b). If you’re living in known sin, you may want to ask God to forgive you and for him to give you the power to stop. On the other hand, sometimes illness has nothing to do with sin, and may in fact be
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