Devotion: To Heal or Not to Heal, That is the Question

To Heal or Not to Heal, That is the Question

by Marsha Iddings

Matthew 9:20-22 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

In Jesus' earthly ministry He often healed people of physical diseases and we see an example of one such healing here. There are many who teach from this passage that if we have enough faith God will heal us too. Then when healing isn't forth-coming, the ill are told they didn't have enough faith. How crushing this is for someone who loves God and wants to do His will! It is tantamount to spiritual abuse.

Jesus healed many people in His earthly ministry to show them that He is God and that He has all power. Jesus displayed His power over demons, sickness and death. Only God can do that.

Sometimes God will heal someone and sometimes He does not. I am sure there were many people that Jesus passed over and did not heal during His earthly ministry. We also have the example of the Apostle Paul with his "thorn in the flesh".

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul went to the Lord three times begging for healing, but healing was not forthcoming. Instead God gave him the grace he needed to live with the infirmity. Sometimes God's power shows up better in those who God has chosen not to heal, but instead gives them grace to live with it. It is then that we are forced to grow in our faith.

It reminds me of a conversation I had with a lady at Costco about forcing tulips to grow. They have to be put in a dark cool room for a certain period of time before they will begin to burst through with growth and blossom. So it is with us. Sometimes God chooses to put us in a cold dark place and it seems we have been forsaken there. But if we allow that cold dark time to mature our faith, we will burst through with new spiritual growth and our blossoms will encourage others in their trials too.

Don't lose heart if God is not healing you. Remember that God has put you in the cold dark for a reason. Let your faith grow and mature there so that you can grow spiritually and eventually your blooms will burst forth to encourage others.