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Healing and Loss

What if God doesn't heal?

July, 2022


In May, my mother was seen by a doctor for minor symptoms. Less than two weeks later, she underwent surgery for a brain tumor. What followed next was a series of complications, hard decisions, and an almost-constant downward spiral. Seven weeks after first suspecting anything was wrong, she died under hospice care. Family and friends had blanketed the entire situation in prayer. Yet the outcome was the opposite of what anyone wanted.

Contrary to what well-meaning people believe, healing in this life is never guaranteed, even for a faithful Christian like my mother. Such knowledge does nothing to ease the pain of losing a loved one. Yet it can spare us from the bitterness of unmet expectations. Nor does that perspective make prayers less fervent. Rather, it adds an even greater sense of trust, knowing God is perfectly and absolutely in control.

Those familiar with my ministry work know my distaste for the so-called "prosperity gospel." Word of Faith is an approach which leads people to believe God's promises include health, wealth, and happiness in this life. Many have turned away from Christ when life doesn't coordinate with this false teaching. Tragedies of human experience don't square with the cartoon version of God peddled by smiling salesmen. The suggestion that earthly blessings are guaranteed for those sufficiently faithful is—literally—a Satanic lie (Matthew 4:9). I'm committed to the biblical view that God is God, and can heal anyone, but He does not have to heal everyone (Job 13:15; John 16:33). Not all sickness, or any duration of sickness, is the result of spiritual flaws (John 9:1–3). Hearing a "no" in response to prayer does not mean God failed to keep His word.

Even amid our family's sorrow and struggles, we have reason to praise God for answered prayers and small mercies. We were assured of my mother's faith in Christ; her healing was guaranteed either in this life or the next. Her overwhelming sense of peace reflected onto her family. Our relationship left no loose ends or regrets over wasted moments. Even more, we were gifted opportunities to express parting thoughts in her last days. My mother fell asleep in peace and woke just days later in the presence of her Savior. It was a passing as serene as anyone could have hoped for (1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 15:54–56). And through it all, she was given the dignity of making her own decisions.

This month's spotlight verse is among those cited as "proof" that God's will is to remove all our earthly troubles. It's crucial to understand that Psalm 103:3 promises no such thing. God does not vow to instantly cure all our problems, medical or otherwise. God can do those things, and often does. But He never promises believers health or prosperity in our earthly life. Following His wisdom gives us better odds in a world of cause and effect (Proverbs 3:1–8), not ironclad guarantees. The greatest blessings of faith are not necessarily seen immediately (John 16:33). Promises of health and happiness are always references to heaven (Revelation 21:1–5).

Even before losing my mother to brain cancer, I realized how frustrating that reality can be. That God's promises are not tied to our preferences is a hard truth, most of all for those of us who experience deep suffering. This same idea was a struggle even for men like the apostle Paul. He battled with some physical ailment, and asked God to remove it. Without doubt, Paul was saved and faithful, but God's answer to his request for physical healing was an emphatic "no" (2 Corinthians 12:7–9). The Bible does not specifically link physical healing with spiritual healing. Sometimes those with faith in Christ are physically healed, but this is not always the case. It may be God's will to heal, but sometimes it is not. The last two months haven't shaken my faith in God—but they have deepened my appreciation for that perspective.

The apostle John gives us the proper perspective: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). The crucial phrase is "according to His will." Anyone who says it's easy to tell God, "I don't understand, and I don't like it, but I trust that you know best" is lying. It's not trivial, and neither is our pain. Yet knowing God is perfectly in control reassures us that His ultimate purposes are good.

God still performs miracles. God still heals people. Yet sickness, disease, pain, and death are intrinsic to this fallen world. That's the reality of the brokenness sin brought into our lives. Unless the Lord returns, everyone who is alive today will eventually die. The vast majority, Christians included, will die as the result of a physical problem. That might be disease, sickness, or injury. It is not always God's will to heal us physically.

Ultimately, our full healing awaits us in eternity. When we're united with Christ, there will be no more pain, sickness, disease, suffering, or death (Revelation 21). We can't help but care about our physical condition in this world. Nothing in the Bible says we're expected to endure sickness and suffering with a stiff upper lip, showing no pain and with a forced smile. But the best way to prepare for physical struggles is with spiritual readiness (Romans 12:1–2). Then we can focus our hearts on preparing for the day we no longer have to deal with sickness and death. Revelation 21:4 describes the true healing we should all be longing for: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

A few hours before my mother passed, I read to her from the Bible: sections of John chapter 14 and 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Her faith in Christ—the faith proclaimed by the Word of God—told her He would not leave her, but that she would live as He lives. As it did Paul, faith enabled her to celebrate death's defeat through victory in Christ. In her prayers, my mother didn't demand healing; she asked sincerely, knowing God would do what was best, either way. The Lord certainly didn't follow the script I would have written, yet He was faithful to my mother in her last moments. He offers the same to all who trust in Him (Hebrews 13:5–6) .


-- Editor
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