When the Israelites were dehydrated from wandering in the desert, God heard their cries and provided fresh water, but the water came with a decree.
“If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in his sight, pay attention to his commands, and keep all his statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you…For I am the Lord who heals you.”
Exodus 15:26-27
God seems to make it clear that their health and protection are completely dependent on their good behavior. As long as they obeyed all of his commands, then he would heal them.
But what about Job? He was completely obedient; he loved God and turned away from evil, yet God allowed the enemy to destroy Job’s entire family, take away every possession, and cover him with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head (Job 1-2).
And then there’s Jesus. He healed many people, even those who were disobedient. He healed the ear of a soldier who came to arrest him and he saved the adulterous woman from being stoned to death. He healed the lame man by the pool of Bethsaida, but left a large number still blind, lame, and paralyzed (John 5:1-9).
Truth is, “The Lord Who Heals” is a mystery to human minds. Though he has the power to heal, he also has the power to allow suffering. We will never make sense of how he works (Isaiah 55:8). We’ll never understand why some people get sick and others don’t…why some are healed and others aren’t. God isn’t our Healer because he wants our lives to be convenient, but because he wants to bring glory to himself. And sometimes, greater glory is achieved through suffering.
We live in a sinful world where emotional, mental, and physical pain is inevitable. There’s no escaping it. But we also live in a world that was masterfully created by the God of the universe, who is able to end every bit of pain with the whisper of a word…when he wants to. So, how do we reconcile all of this when we’re in need of healing?
We run confidently into the arms of the Lord our Healer, knowing that he has the power to take away our pain and trusting that he will answer our prayers in his perfect way. Until healing comes, we meditate on his healing power in scripture, accepting that sometimes he brings glory through healing and sometimes he reveals glory as we wait.
Either way, we are confident that any sickness or injury we suffer in this world will not last. One day, he will wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. (Revelation 21:4)
Making it Personal
- What healing am I praying for in my life or the lives of my kids? Do I really believe that God is able to answer my prayer?
- How will I bring glory to God while I wait for healing?
- How will I respond to God, knowing that he may choose not to heal? (Be honest; he can handle it.)
March prayers for your adult kids
KRISTI and husband Tim were married in 1988 and live in Iowa, where they love doing life with their three sons, three daughters-in-law, six grandkids…and two very spoiled dogs. She is a teacher and instructional coach by day and a “Laughing Grandma” by night, writing to inspire grandmas to laugh without fear of the future as they plant the joy of Jesus in the hearts of their families (Proverbs 31:25). Kristi is the author of The BeforeBooks for children and Your Soul To Keep, a one-year prayer workbook for parents of adults. Connect with Kristi at kristi@thelaughinggrandma.com