First off I believe God has healed ALL our sicknesses but as you know WOF folks die of sicknesses all the time while they say they are believing on that truth.
Yup - Hobart Freeman was "Taken out" by a easily treatable infection that Hobart "Knew in FAITH" was healed - until it killed him, of course.
DEATH, of course is the ultimate healing. Lots of TRUTH in that. And the "Religious stuff" that people "SAY" about what they're "believeing"/"have faith for" may not mean much of anything.
"But I am stumped how to respond when someone comes to me and says, "why did my friend/spouse/etc die when they were a strong faith person."
The QUESTION, of course is what does "being a Strong Faith Person" actually mean. Folks may have a STRONG FAITH in one area, and ZERO faith in another. FAITH, after all is revelatory, and if you DON'T KNOW what God's intention in a certain area is, then there's NOTHING to base a claim of "Faith" on. Paul ministered Resurrection to people, and yet left Trophimus behind in Miletum when he got sick. "FAITH" for one thing doesn't necessarily mean "FAITH" for something else. FAITH is revelatory, and Sourced by God - the "Hearing of Faith" (Gal 3:2-5).
"Most if not all point to the a failure on the sick persons part."
BINGO!!! That's the WoF "Back door clause". IF it didn't work - IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT.
WoF folks have gotten beat up for saying it was because of their lack of faith, and rightfully so.
True statement, and the FACT IS that when the thing believed for DIDN'T HAPPEN, then there WAS NO FAITH - PERIOD (God won't tell you He's doing something, and then NOT DO IT).
What was TAUGHT as FAITH (By the WoF false teachers) was nothing more that PRESUMPTION, and false hope.
"you can just say you don't know, because you don't."
BINGO!!! if you don't know what to say - then it's not a SIN just to say that you don't know.
"But, when you do know some details such as the person was struggling with doubt what do you say then?"
Same answer. If you Don't know what to say (and the Holy Spirit isn't "filling in the Blanks") then HEAVEN'S SAKE don't try to "Make up" something religious that supports your "theology"!!!!
Bottom line - Hebrews 11:1 DEFINES Biblical faith, as being the SUBSTANCE (The established reality) of the thing hoped for, and the EVIDENCE (of the existence) of what's not there.
FAITH KNOWS. And if there's doubt, or confusion about the situation - IF you DIDN'T Hear from God about His intent - then there may be "Belief", and there may be "HOPE", and there may be well-meaning folks trying to Tell you religious things about what God WILL DO (maybe) - but the FACT IS that you DON'T KNOW what God will do, and so there's NO FAITH - period.
My Favorite illustration was the 24 year old fellow in my bible study back in the '70s who was a "Dead man walking" - Sent home from the hospital with a terminal cancer. Cold to the touch, weak as a kitten, and pale as a ghost - Chemo had failed, and so had radiation, and there was nothing left to do but keep him as comfortable as possible until he died in a few weeks max.
They were all United Church of Christ folks, so they were ultra-liberal theologically, and Nobody, other than myself, who'd ever even HEARD of "WoF teaching" (generally called "Name it, and Claim it" at the time).
And God TOLD his mother, who was also in my study, that He would recover fully, and NOT die. She DIDN'T ask us to pray for healing (no need, it had already been granted), but to join her in thanking God for His provision. And so we did.
Nobody else in the study had any real FAITH that He'd be O.K. (when you see a need, it's EASY to "Hear a voice"). but we joined her in the HOPE that She really had heard from God.
And then over the next few weeks he "just got better" his color came back, hair grew in again, his strength returned, and 8 months later the medical folks declared him "Cancer free" - and 30 years later (The last time I heard) he still was (and a member of the AoG in St. Mary's, Ohio).
Just like Peter and the cripple at the temple gate (but not as immediately). Pete didn't "PRAY" for the man's healing - He KNEW what was going to happen, and just SPOKE IT. That's Biblical "Word of Faith".
Faith KNOWS.