Joni Eareckson Toda – dove into the Chesapeake Bay a strong, athletic young girl. A split second later she was paralyzed from the neck down, completely helpless, and still under water. Though rescued from drowning by her sister, the doctors could not rescue Joni from the paralysis that swept over her body.
Medically, Joni came to accept the fact that she couldn’t be healed. But what about God? Didn’t Christ heal all kinds of paralysis and sickness? The more she thought and prayed about these things, the more she became convinced God would heal her too. So, she brought together a group of friends and church leaders and set up a private healing service. The week before that service, she publicly confessed her faith by telling people, “Watch for me standing on your doorstep soon; I’m going to be healed.” On the scheduled day the group read Scripture, anointed her with oil and prayed in fervent faith. Today, many years later, she is still a quadriplegic. She did everything right and seemed to have met all the conditions, yet she was not healed.
But, through her experience, God has used Joni in ways she would probably have never been used if she had not had the accident. She continues to minister to people all over the world about the love of God and the sovereignty of God.
Does God still heal the sick today?
As a pastor, I have stood in the hospital room of many who were sick and dying. I have been with the families through these struggles. I have been there, as their loved ones passed from this life. In every situation, we prayed and asked God to do a miracle.
There are many questions that loom in our minds about this subject of God’s power to heal the sick. Does God heal today? Is it always the will of God to heal? If I am not healed, is it because of my lack of faith? If I am sick, is it because of sin or even demonic activity in my life? There is a lot of confusion today over these matters.
What does the Bible say about healing?
By God’s own declaration, he is ultimately responsible for health, sickness, life, or death.
Deuteronomy 32:39 – “There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.
Isaiah 53 – “By His stripes we are healed”
Exodus 15:26 – “I am the Lord who heals you”
James 5:14-15 – Is there any sick among you…..
We also know the God who healed in the Bible is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Why does God heal?
•To bring glory to God
•To further the kingdom
•To relieve grief
•To alleviate suffering
•To strengthen faith
•To build up the church
•To demonstrate love
•To fulfill his purposes
Why does God not heal?
•Out of his love, compassion, and mercy, he knows when not to heal someone.
•God uses the trial to build us up and to mature our faith – faith that is not tested is weak faith.
•To fulfill his purpose
•To use the sickness as a tool for ministry
•We may never know why some people are healed and some are not.
What the Bible teaches us is that healing occurs according to the will of God. There is no magic formula. God is concerned about our needs. We bring them to him. We pray. But God is the healer.
Sometimes it is the will of God to heal now. Other times it is his will to provide the ultimate healing in glory. Either way, God’s will is done. Since we don’t always know God’s will, we come to him in prayer and faith and we know this pleases God.
Today’s Challenge: Reaffirm your faith in a God who knows what is best for us. Believe that he is a good father. Trust that he is still able to heal the sick and let’s ask him to do it.
