When illness or injuries strike, it’s natural to seek out explanations and solutions. It can be tempting to look for easy answers or quick fixes in God’s Word. If you or someone you know is physically suffering, it can be hard to understand why God doesn’t immediately take the pain away.
God has a lot to say about illness and healing in the Bible. The Bible isn’t a spell book for curing diseases, so there are no Bible verses that can directly heal a person when spoken. God is not a vending machine, and He doesn’t operate that way. However, there are many Bible verses that can help believers when they are sick or injured. Let’s take a look at some of the most comforting and thought-provoking passages in the Bible for people who want to be healed. These passages point us to several key principles, which we will explore below.
The Most Important Healing Is Spiritual
If you’ve read about Jesus’ life in the Gospels, you know that He performed a lot of physical healing while on earth. Miracles were an important part of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and He really cared about peoples’ physical well-being. However, Jesus knew that physical healing can never be permanent. The ultimate reason He came to earth was to bring spiritual healing.
In Mark 2, Jesus is inside someone’s house, teaching His followers. A man who is paralyzed wants Jesus to heal him. His friends place him on a stretcher, climb onto the roof, and lower him into the room. This was a bold action to take, and it demonstrated their faith that Jesus really could heal. Because of the men’s faith, Jesus tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven. After this, Jesus also tells the man to stand up and walk. Miraculously, he can do so! Healing the man’s paralysis was an exciting–and public–way to demonstrate Jesus’ power. However, it’s worth noting that Jesus placed spiritual healing first, before physical healing. Spiritual healing lasts forever, and Jesus offers it freely to everyone who believes in Him.
Our Suffering Can Glorify God
When you’re suffering from illness, it’s hard to see how any good could come from the situation. However, when you choose to place your faith in God, even during suffering, you are bringing glory to Him. In Colossians 1:24-29, Paul describes the Christian life as a struggle. He tells the Colossian church that he finds joy in his suffering, for their sake.
Paul endured plenty of physical suffering during his time as a believer. He was imprisoned and mistreated by those who disapproved of his Christian ministry. However, Paul recognized that earthly suffering can provide spiritual opportunities. It allows us to demonstrate our faith in God to other people, and it can also motivate us to draw closer to God. When God allows physical suffering to happen, believers can glorify Him through it.
It’s Biblical To Pray For Each Others’ Health
In the book of 3 John, the writer addresses a letter to his friend Gaius. He tells Gaius that he’s been praying for his health and his spiritual well-being. Of course, as believers we recognize that someone’s spiritual state is far more important than their physical health. Still, God expects us to care and pray for each others’ well-being.
Does God always heal believers? Ultimately, yes. If you’ve put your faith in Christ, you will one day be delivered from pain and suffering, and you’ll spend eternity with Him. God doesn’t always provide healing on our timeline. However, God always cares about how you feel. The Bible says that He knows how many hairs are on your head! Your physical body is important to God, and He wants you to turn to Him when things are hard.
Illness Doesn’t Mean That A Person Is In Sin
In John 9, Jesus and His disciples see a blind man. The disciples assume that his blindness is due to someone’s sin. They ask Jesus who sinned–the man himself, or his parents? Jesus completely overturns their assumptions. He explains that the man was born blind so that God could be glorified through his body. Then, Jesus heals his blindness.
There’s an important principle here–we should never assume that someone’s suffering is their fault. We live in a fallen world, cursed by sin, and we all experience its effects as human beings. God sometimes allows suffering for reasons we can’t understand. We shouldn’t rush to find easy explanations, or point fingers, when someone has a serious illness.
God Often Uses People For Healing
In Matthew 9, Jesus’ disciples are asked why Jesus is always spending time with sinners. After all, Jesus has a large group of followers and a public presence. Why does He choose to eat with society’s outcasts instead of “nice” people?
Jesus Himself steps in to answer the question. He uses a comparison to make His point. He says that people who are well don’t need a doctor. Doctors are only for sick people. In the same way, Jesus didn’t come for people who already think they are righteous. He came for people who are willing to acknowledge their sin and seek forgiveness.
Jesus was mostly making a spiritual point, not a point about doctors. However, it’s worth noting that Jesus recognized doctors’ important role in society. In fact, Jesus compared Himself to a doctor.
Living in the 21st century can be complicated and scary, but it’s not all bad. We’re blessed able to access modern medical treatment today. God is not opposed to doctors or medicine–He often uses them to accomplish His will!
We Want To Help!
At Harmony Baptist Church, we are a family of believers that support each other and pray for each other. If you or someone you love is sick, we want to join you as brothers and sisters in Christ as you navigate this difficult road. We would love to pray with you and study God’s Word to discover more about His plans for you. Visit our Contact page to plan your visit today!
