Who doesn’t need healing from something? Lord, heal me from this illness, from this job, from this relationship, from this situation… The Apostle Paul uses these words: infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses… The point is that everybody needs healing. As believers, we call on the Lord to heal us because we know that ultimately, our good ideas, our strategies, our own power, only go so far. And it’s never as far as where God can take us. We need healing sometimes, and God is the only one who can do it right.
PAUL’S PRAYER FOR HEALING
Paul, one of my Bible heroes, wanted healing. He wanted it really bad. And yet, even though Paul was doing God’s will and work, God’s response was not what Paul had asked for. Consider this passage:
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations I received from The Lord, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly, I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
HOW GOD RESPONDS
It occurred to me while a friend and I were praying for a family in the midst of a great health struggle that God often heals in two different ways: “from” the storm, and “in” the storm. It all depends if the storm, the illness, the situation, whatever it may be, needs to be removed, or is there to grow us instead.
HOW TO HANDLE OUR STORM
Me, personally, I want the storm gone! But that’s because there’s an immediate relief from the struggle. We like immediate. But just like iron is refined by fire, sometimes God uses the heat of the problem to mold us, to make us more like Him. One way to pray is simply, “Lord, heal me from the storm, or in the storm.” If the storm remains, and as tough as it may be, God is using it for His Glory and Our Benefit.
All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, to those called according to His purpose.
