Does God Always Heal?

While Jesus was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district. (Matthew 9:18-26 ESV)

What does this ruler and the woman who touched Jesus’ garment have in common with each other? They humbled themselves before the Lord and they believed Jesus for healing in what appeared to be hopeless situations. They bowed the knee to Jesus emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, believing him for the impossible, submitting to his will. And they did this in front of other people who may have thought them crazy or out of place.

But does Jesus always heal us of our infirmities when we ask him? I would have to say, “No,” to that question, based off Paul’s request to have a “thorn in the flesh” removed from himself, but God’s answer to him being, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness” (not made perfect in sin). For the Lord had a greater purpose in Paul being afflicted, and it was to keep him humble, to prevent him from becoming conceited because of God’s revelations that he was giving to him. And Paul submitted to Christ. He bowed the knee to God. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

But even there the Lord did answer him and did not ignore his request. The Lord just showed Paul that this “thorn in the flesh” served a better purpose in Paul’s life in ministry than would be served if the Lord delivered him from his ailment (we don’t know for sure what it was). So it isn’t always that Jesus is going to heal us, but we should believe him to heal us, but then pray Jesus’ prayer, “Nevertheless not my will but Thy will be done.”

But whether or not Jesus heals us physically of physical ailments, we must still bow the knee to him. We must still believe in his power to heal and to deliver. But we must submit to his will and purpose even if it doesn’t agree with our will and purpose. But please know that Jesus never refuses to deliver anyone from slavery to sin if the person seeking deliverance is willing to cooperate with the Lord in that process of deliverance. For we must die with him to sin and walk in obedience to his commands, in his power.

And then let me bring out here that Jesus doesn’t heal all of us in all the same ways. Look at his healings of people in the New Testament. They were not all duplications of each other. For the man blind from birth, Jesus put mud on his eyes, and he told him to go wash in a pool, and he would receive his sight. So this was not an instantaneous healing, but a process of healing. Others he immediately healed. So he doesn’t do it all the same, all the time.

But then there are different types of healings, too. Take for example Joni Eareckson Tada. (She is just 2.5 months older than me.) As a teenager she was paralyzed from the shoulders down in a diving accident. I know she prayed for healing, but God did not heal her physically. Why? I believe it was because God had greater things for her to do that would involve her remaining paralyzed the remainder of her life. 

Eventually God used Joni in many miraculous ways to minister, not only to others who lived in wheelchairs, but to all of us. She ended up learning to paint with a paintbrush in her mouth, and she ended up producing many cards with Christian messages that have ministered to thousands of people. And she taught herself to sing, and her songs also have ministered to many people and have encouraged them in their walks of faith in the Lord.

And she ended up starting a ministry for people with disabilities. And she has helped and encouraged so many people throughout the world, as she shares her own testimony of how God worked and is still working in her heart and life and in her walk of faith in him. And it is not easy. It is hard. But she perseveres in the strength of the Lord, I believe, to make a difference in other people’s lives and in sharing Jesus with the world.

These are some quotes from Joni: “For the last 50 years in my wheelchair, I’ve been daily dying to self and rising with Jesus, dying to self and rising with Jesus, dying to self and rising with Jesus.” “God’s goal is not to make us comfortable. He wants to teach us to hate our transgressions as he grows our love for him.” “I really would rather be in this wheelchair knowing Jesus as I do than be on my feet without him." (Source: Google search)

And I have to say a hearty “Amen” to that last quote, in particular. In fact, I was just talking with the Lord about this very subject right before I came and sat down at my computer to write down what he wanted to teach me from his word today. For life can be hard at times, but I would rather be where I am, even with the sufferings I face daily, than to have life easy and to not be walking in obedience to my Lord in daily fellowship with him. 

On My Knees  

By David Mullen / Michael Hunter Ochs / Nicole Mullen

There are days when I feel

The best of me is ready to begin

Then there days when I feel

I'm letting go and soaring on the wind

'Cause I've learned in laughter or in pain

How to survive

I can be in a crowd

Or by myself, in almost anywhere

When I feel there's a need

To talk with God, He is Emmanuel

When I close my eyes no darkness there

There's only light

I get on my knees, I get on my knees

There I am before the love that changes me

See I don't know how, but there's power

When I'm on my knees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyrYir-FPGE

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Does God Always Heal?

An Original Work / January 23, 2025

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love