What happens when God doesnt heal you?

[troymartin]

Throughout my days in the church, ive been told that jesus would heal me, restore me to good health and make me prosper.

Jesus has and will do this for some people but he hasnt done this for me yet.

Ive been praying by myself and with pastors and deacons for a year now for healing of a chronic health problem.
It causes me much discomfort and I sometimes wonder if ill ever get better.

The truth is that although jesus loves us dearly, he does not always rush to our aid when we are in desperate situations. Ive been praying for a year about this problem and Ive had absolutely no response.

Why does god choose to heal some people and not others?
Im afraid only god knows the answer to that question.

As for me my situation has only got worse.

My life as a christian has been characterised by suffering and dissapointment.

Am I going to give up on my saviour?

Never, never, never, never and never some more!!!

The truth is that we can and must expect suffering as christians.
One day the horror of death, disease and pain will enter your life like a lightning bolt. It is unaviodable.

This is the world we have created.
Sin causes suffering and death, god forgives us for our sins but he makes us suffer the consequences of our sins because he is a just god.

We all have our cross to bear!,
Jesus died to permit us to live with him in eternity, he did not die to take away suffering and pain in this life. If this life was so fantastic then why would we need to trust him and believe in him and depend on him.

In closing I realise this is not a pleasant topic for conversation but it is my personal experience, and Im tired of people being misled by some preachers who only preach healing, prosperity and happiness.

Many christians have died of terrible diseases, some have died in plane crashes, some die young, some go blind, some lose their whole family and so on.

That is the reality of this world.

I just pray that when your hour of suffering strikes that you will not lose your faith, because the devil will be waiting to trap you.

Praise be to god and only to god who is above the affairs of man.

I hope you will hold and cherish your cross as tighly as you can, and never, never, never let go.

 

[I'ddie4him]

I can honestly say that I have been there and been thru the same feelings myself. I have been battling back problems for 19 months now and have had 3 major surgeries to try to fix things. I have prayed for healing and relief from the pain, But, I have accepted things for what they are because I know that God has another purpose for me. While it may mean being in a wheelchair if things aren't going to get any better, I think he has me working in another capacity helping others who also suffer from Bipolar depression and other forms of depression. I try to help anyone that reaches out and asks for help and advice, I think that this is also beneficial to me in many ways. If you want to talk, PM me and I'll do what I can.

 

[Kira Faye]

I may not be christian but I can understand seekign a higher help to relieve pain and illness, I'v been doing it for 6 yrs + and I'm only 18 I'v been sick all my life too, I was diagnosed at 2 and have had 1 yr where I haven't been sick. What i'v been told is there si somethign we have to learn from this experiance, which can be easily translated to god tryign to help us learn to become better christians, maybe we have to learn to depend on others....who knows, but if I know my scriputers, god doesn;t give us more then we can handle.

 

[troymartin]

Thanks for the replies guys, i sounded a bit morbid in my post but I just felt that i was speaking from the heart there. The fact is ive got a good life, a good job, friends.
I guess what has made me bitter is that im only 20 and less than 2 years ago i was living the high life. My pain now is the result of my sins and substance abuse so its all my fault.
My major dissapointment is that i think i have so much going for me but all that is being threatened by my illness. Perhaps god is teaching me that as a christian my one true source of pleasure should be him. It is so hard for a man who has everything going for him in this life to seek the kingdom of god. Maybe i need to be stripped of all the worldy things i cling to so that i may be able to see where the true paradise is.

Anyway iddie4him thanks for the offer, im sure well see each other around on this forum and remember those 2 precious sayings from jesus that urge us to never stop praying for what we want until we get a reply from god. Never stop praying for healing, it shows faith, but also pray that his will be done. Ive heard of people who have prayed for years for healing but only received it when they had lost all hope. Above all we HAVE to trust in god or we will destroy ourselves with worrying. He is the only one worth putting your trust in.

 

[Salsa_1960]

I have found comfort in these verses from 2nd Corinthians. I especially like the translation from "The Message."

2nd Corinthians 12:7-10
[7]Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! [8] At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, [9]and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. [10] Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

 

[I'ddie4him]

MOD NOTE: Christian Apologetics Mods, I moved this thread from physically challenged and Kira Fayes post was in this thread. Please do not warn her for this.

 

[wannagohome]

Thanks for the replies guys, i sounded a bit morbid in my post but I just felt that i was speaking from the heart there. The fact is ive got a good life, a good job, friends.
I guess what has made me bitter is that im only 20 and less than 2 years ago i was living the high life. My pain now is the result of my sins and substance abuse so its all my fault.
My major dissapointment is that i think i have so much going for me but all that is being threatened by my illness. Perhaps god is teaching me that as a christian my one true source of pleasure should be him. It is so hard for a man who has everything going for him in this life to seek the kingdom of god. Maybe i need to be stripped of all the worldy things i cling to so that i may be able to see where the true paradise is.

Anyway iddie4him thanks for the offer, im sure well see each other around on this forum and remember those 2 precious sayings from jesus that urge us to never stop praying for what we want until we get a reply from god. Never stop praying for healing, it shows faith, but also pray that his will be done. Ive heard of people who have prayed for years for healing but only received it when they had lost all hope. Above all we HAVE to trust in god or we will destroy ourselves with worrying. He is the only one worth putting your trust in.

God Bless You!!! It is good that you are keeping your faith. You have it right, when you pray, you must remember for Gods will to be done, because he knows the best path for you. Congrats on kicking whatever habit you had, that is a miracle within itself. Jen

 

[DanielRB]

God bless you, Troy. I can only imagine what it is like to live with chronic pain. All I can do is encourage you; you have a strong faith, and I praise God for that. May He place people in your path that will help you bear this burden, and may He give you strength through His Holy Spirit. And I will still pray for healing for you; though it may not come soon, it will come some day--when He comes again, if not before.

In Christ,

Daniel

 

[johnd]

Can God heal us of all ailments? You bet. Will he? That depends.

The simplest thing I can say is that it is God's universe. And you and I are God's property. More than that, we are the objects of his divine affection. You must remember he also has our best interests at heart. We may wander from a clean bill of health into who knows what... or actually God knows what...

I know that may not be comforting to hear. And if it comes across like I am telling you to suck it up, I apologize. I do not mean it that way. I have compassion for you in that I also am burdened with several chronic ailments. The older you get the more life will help you to deal with these unwanted companions on the journey. They temper us like steel.

So you know I am not comparing moles to you ailment, one of mine is life threatening and may well be the manner in which I depart from this world someday.

Regards,

 

[Glaz]

I remember with my wife, she would go through severe episodes of pain that not even her medication would not ease. We'd pray, and many times her pain with go away almost instantly. I often felt His presence at those times. He didn't heal her cancer, though we did pray for it, and she passed away last year, but I was and am thankful that He was there for her at the times He was. I don't know why He allowed her to die, but because of what He did do for her, I know it was not because she was doing something wrong or that He did not care. He eased her suffering, and any amount of Mercy He shows us is worthy of our praise.

 

[Dead Man Walking]

Throughout my days in the church, ive been told that jesus would heal me, restore me to good health and make me prosper.

Jesus has and will do this for some people but he hasnt done this for me yet.

Ive been praying by myself and with pastors and deacons for a year now for healing of a chronic health problem.
It causes me much discomfort and I sometimes wonder if ill ever get better.

The truth is that although jesus loves us dearly, he does not always rush to our aid when we are in desperate situations. Ive been praying for a year about this problem and Ive had absolutely no response.

Why does god choose to heal some people and not others?
Im afraid only god knows the answer to that question.

As for me my situation has only got worse.

My life as a christian has been characterised by suffering and dissapointment.

Am I going to give up on my saviour?

Never, never, never, never and never some more!!!

The truth is that we can and must expect suffering as christians.
One day the horror of death, disease and pain will enter your life like a lightning bolt. It is unaviodable.

This is the world we have created.
Sin causes suffering and death, god forgives us for our sins but he makes us suffer the consequences of our sins because he is a just god.

We all have our cross to bear!,
Jesus died to permit us to live with him in eternity, he did not die to take away suffering and pain in this life. If this life was so fantastic then why would we need to trust him and believe in him and depend on him.

In closing I realise this is not a pleasant topic for conversation but it is my personal experience, and Im tired of people being misled by some preachers who only preach healing, prosperity and happiness.

Many christians have died of terrible diseases, some have died in plane crashes, some die young, some go blind, some lose their whole family and so on.

That is the reality of this world.

I just pray that when your hour of suffering strikes that you will not lose your faith, because the devil will be waiting to trap you.

Praise be to god and only to god who is above the affairs of man.

I hope you will hold and cherish your cross as tighly as you can, and never, never, never let go.

Where did you read that Jesus didn't die to take away suffering and pain?

Isaiah 53:5
He was wounded for our trangressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes WE ARE HEALED

Mark 16:18
...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Jesus and the Apostles never (that i'm aware of) prayed for healing. They laid hands on them and they were healed. You've gotta have Faith!!!

 

[AdJesumPerMariam]

But God never promised us a rose garden. We will all die at some point, we don't know how or when. I have breast cancer, which was diagnosed a year & a half ago. Stage 4. I have never had any pain, nor been really sick, even though I have gone thru 2 different rounds of chemo. It has done nothing more than draw me closer to God and made me slow down & appreciate my friends & family.

I have a friend who died 2 yrs ago from ALS. She was healed completely when she went to heaven. We may not be healed physically in this life-but all are well in heaven.

 

[ahab]

Hi troymartin,



Bless you for your post.



I believe that some of great faith who are physically suffering or incapacitated are in better spiritual shape than some physically perfect non-believers.



The thing about healing is that there really are many things to consider, such as what sort of healing do we receive, how and when.



As to physical healing, (I have had miraculous healing but although miraculous it was hardly significant) but I have seen where other have been miraculously healed and have also failed to see evidence of others being healed. So I know that I don’t always see it but I know that it happens.



Jesus could not do many miracles where there was no much faith, so we need to be careful that our faith is not robbed at the expense of our understanding.

 

[Carico]

I believe that if God takes me to Him at a certain point in my life, then only He knows why, how, and when is the best time. Jesus said that we have to be willing to lose our lives in order to save them. This includes our physical lives as well. I want God's will, not my will to be done. I literally owe MY life to God for everything he has done for me, not the other way around. Paradoxically, I've found when we completely submitted our lives to God, only THEN do we give him the power to heal us! When God told Solomon He would give him anything he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom. Then God told him that because he didn't ask for anything worldly, including his own life, then God would give him everything! But God still has the soveriegn choice. therefore, let thy will be done.

 

[Celticflower]

"All things work together for good"


This is something I really had to hold on to when my sister was going thru her battle with cancer. Unfortunately, the cancer won. But her doctors learned things about the newer treatments they tried on her, her battle inspired a friend of hers who was ready to give in to her cancer and her experience has made all of us mindful of just how important it is to be vigilant and faithful about doctor appointments and mammograms. My sister's sons matured quickly--one is in the Marines now and just graduated 3rd in his class at aviation electronics school. The younger boy has become more responsible and better behaved. And her husband proved to himself that he was strong enough to face her illness and death without returning to the bottle.

for all suffering thru some sort of health or life problem.

Celtie

 

[SPALATIN]

Paul said in his 2nd letter to the church in Corinth

7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

As to what his "thorn in the flesh" was is a mystery as he doesn't say. Some have said that he was going blind or just had poor eyesight as he wrote to another congregation that he was writing his letters very big.

Take refuge in the last two verses cited as the issue has been put before him and knows your affliction very well now. Don't go looking for odd reasons why you are suffering but as Paul said "Grace is sufficient."

 

[newname]

God promises healing and prosperity!

The healing and prosperity are not physical healing or physical blessings.

The healing that the church must seek is the healing of the heart. Jesus Christ is our physicain and His commandments are his "perscription". If you study the word" commandment," it will lead you to the meaning that Jesus words truly are a perscription for the heart, healing and curing the desease we are born into this world with.

Jesus words heal, while Satan's word is poisen, Satan uses God's word and waters it down, thus becoming ineffective and useless. The church must be willing to take full strenght medicine, even if it taste bad! and yes, even if it's hard to take.

Some in the church focus to much on physical healing and don't look for the true healing that saves the soul.

Some in the church are even taking a "placebo" and don't even know it, they believe that they are taking in full strenghth medicine, but Satan has used his "subtilty" to deceive them. Of course it's easy to take and taste good, it's pretend medicine!

Part of this easy and taste good medicine is that idea that we can have what our "flesh' desires, what we desire with the eyes, and the deciet that God will give us what our "flesh" wants because he loves us. This is "false prosperity" and it will lead to destruction, just as "spoiled" children grow up and listen not to their father, the church also are "spoiled" and do not listen to their Heavenly Father.

Why would God, our Heavenly Father want us to have the things of this world when he knows that it's those very things that keep us from seeking Him and His truth!

Satan told Eve that she too could have what she desired, and he told her that "she won't die". He's still telling the same lie to the church.

Seek the healing and prosperity, God's blessings for the soul, the will lead to "life"

DO NOT seek the false prosperity that leads to "destruction"

speaking truth by the Holy Spirit,

newname

 

[crossrunner]

God's promise to us as written by John in the book of Revelation:

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

God bless all, especially those who suffer. My prayers are with you.

 

[mpshiel]

Wierd how there are all these messages that we are going to be "healed" in the hereafter but we aren't suppose to commit suicide.

Have to say anyone who preaches health and weath gets a bit up my nose - especially when we are promised trials as christians for as it says, "If we are not chastened, we would not be his sons" - The NT church saw that God used Christ for a purpose and in doing so tortured and killed him. That is why Peter and the others were so happy to be beaten (See acts) becasue to them, that was how God showed he was treating them like Jesus.

Personally, I find that viewpoint extreme.

This is my viewpoint and I suppose my "authority" -

I am not here to trade scars - I am extremely, extremely lucky in my life - even beyond my relationship with God, I have a life long companion, have travelled the world and accomplished many things that everyone including doctors though were impossible.

Sure, I have had cronic pain since a youth, and have another condition which lowers a person's life expectancy to 40. I've struggled with depression and other things but, and this is the but...

That is life. I have had the sweet and the sour - stood on the top of the world, and been at the bottom of the valley. To me, those are the experience which God had given me - sometimes unpleasant yes - but each one is a gift, to understanding myself and to understanding others. Sure, there have been times where I did not think I would be alive in the morning; where I had to look inside myself and say, "am I ready to see God face to face" - and yes, there was fear - who wants to die really? But if I was healed, presto! Then I never would have had that experience. I would never be able to sit down across the table with someone who I can recognize as having the same path as I and talk about it.

Life really is a gift - I still worry a bit about the "super times" and look for the "wealthy and happy" but truthfully, I'd rather just be at peace. A nice sunny afternoon, lying in the arms of someone who loves me - does it get better than that? Or struggling in the dark, knowing that God is there and fighting with me - maybe he cares enough to know how far I can fight, just how much strength there is in me. I am not afriad of the future, because I have survived the present. Not much on the health and wealth gospel - but a real gift to me.

 

[wobbly]

Hi Troy,

I'd like to show you some more of what God says about suffering and its purpose in our life, its actually part of God loving us and maturing us:

First Rom 5:1 ...

aTherefore, since we have been justified by faith, bwe1 have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also cobtained access by faith2 into this grace din which we stand, and ewe3 rejoice4 in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we frejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering gproduces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hhope does not put us to shame, because God’s love ihas been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.#_ftn1 #_ftnref1The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Good News Publishers.

and then Rom 8:18 ...
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time nare not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for othe revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation pwas subjected to futility, not willingly, but qbecause of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that rthe creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that sthe whole creation thas been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have uthe firstfruits of the Spirit, vgroan inwardly as wwe wait eagerly for adoption as sons, xthe redemption of our bodies. 24 For yin this hope we were saved. Now zhope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we await for it with patience.#_ftn1 #_ftnref1The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Good News Publishers.

and then v31 ...

31 What then shall we say to these things? pIf God is for us, who can be3 against us? 32 qHe who did not spare his own Son but rgave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? sIt is God who justifies. 34 tWho is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—uwho is at the right hand of God, vwho indeed is interceding for us.4 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,​

w “ For your sake xwe are being killed all the day long;​

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”​

37 No, in all these things we are more than yconquerors through zhim who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.​

#_ftn1 #_ftnref1The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Good News Publishers.

and also Hebrews 12

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?​

f “ My son, gdo not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,​

nor be weary when reproved by him.​

6 For hthe Lord disciplines the one he loves,​

and chastises every son whom he receives.”​

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. iGod is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, jin which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to kthe Father of spirits land live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, mthat we may share his holiness. 11 nFor the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields othe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.​

12 Therefore plift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and qmake straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint rbut rather be healed.​

#_ftn1 #_ftnref1The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Good News Publishers.

I think you've got the right attitude in praying for grace to remain faithful, I too pray that God will strengthen you with his spirit, so that you will remain faithful, and continue to look forward in hope to the day when our physical bodies will be redeemed and all suffering will cease.

Martin