Suffering, pain, illness, disease and death. These are all words that make us very uncomfortable. No one wants to deal with these things, but unfortunately, this side of heaven, they are a reality. Our earthly bodies are fading. I didn’t really understand this till I turned 40. When we are young, we feel invincible. We believe we will live forever. After a certain age, our bodies remind us of the truth. Our bodies don’t last forever. We can do our best to take care of ourselves , but sometimes despite all our best efforts illness comes anyway. For those suffering with cancer or chronic illness, it can be scary and lonely.

We had two very dear friends. This couple meant the world to my husband and I. They loved on us and invested in our lives for years. Shortly after we moved back to the US, this couple were both diagnosed with Cancer. The husband was diagnosed first and while he was battling his illness, his dear wife fell ill and was diagnosed with Cancer as well. Hers was much farther along than his and within a matter of months, she passed. He passed almost a year after her. When Pat was diagnosed, her family held a prayer time for her. They asked ministers and friends and family to come lay hands on her and pray for miraculous healing. My husband and I went and participated in this time of prayer. God did not heal her here on earth. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the kind of Faith that her husband Jim had. He prayed fervently for healing in his own life. He believed with every fiber for his being that if the Lord wanted to, he could completely heal him. God did not heal him here on earth.

I’ve seen this over and over again in the lives of many of my friends. They have either been ill or had someone they love fall ill. They have prayed for healing and believed the Lord for a miracle. Sometimes the Lord healed and sometimes he said, no.

In my own life, I have been battling mental illness. I suffer from depression and anxiety. Both of these things, while not life threatening, have taken a toll on my health and my well being over years. It is a constant fight and sometimes, to be honest, I get very tired of fighting and want to just give up. I have prayed for healing in my own life, but for now, the Lord has chosen to not take my illness away.

It can be hard in our human minds to comprehend and reconcile a good God and suffering. If God loves us and wants the best for us, why does he allow us to suffer and die? Why does he say no to earthly healing sometimes? What are we supposed to do when he says, No or not right now?

I had a bible professor tell me once that there are three reasons in scripture why the Lord allows sickness. The three that he gave are punishment for sin, to glorify Himself and to take someone home to be with Him. This professor didn’t believe, based on these three reasons, that it was biblical to pray for healing. Sorry professor, I disagree.

James 5:14 says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”

James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God , which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Here is a list of 32 other verses that deal with healing in the Bible:

Isaiah 41:10

Psalm 30:2

Matthew 11:28

Jeremiah 30:17

Proverbs 4:20-22

Proverbs 17:22

Philippians 4:19

Isaiah 38:16-17

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Isaiah 40:29, 31

1 Peter 2:24

Psalm 119:50

Psalm 147:3

3 John 1:2

Revelation 21:4

Isaiah 33:2

John 14:27

Psalm 73:26

Malachi 4:2

Matthew 9:35

Luke 6:19

Psalm 23:1-4

Proverbs 3:5-8

Romans 5:3-4

Jeremiah 17:14

Psalm 6:2

Exodus 23:25

Psalm 34:17-18

2 Corinthians 12:9

Matthew 8:1-3

Proverbs 16:24

Psalm 103:2-4

Scripture is clear that we are to pray for those who are sick and ask God for healing. What it doesn’t say is how God will answer that prayer. One could look at the situation with our friends Jim and Pat and say, well, God didn’t answer their prayer. That is not true. God did answer their prayer. He healed them completely by taking them home.

Sometimes we can become so focused on our earthly circumstances that we fail to see God’s purpose in allowing certain things in our life. In my own situation, I have a choice. I can become frustrated with my circumstances or I can ask God to show me what it is he wants to accomplish in my life through my illness. For now, God has chosen not to heal me, so that means that he has a reason. Perhaps, he is trying to teach me something, perhaps he wants to show me that He is enough for me. Perhaps he wants to be glorified through my illness. Whatever the reason, my focus should remain on Him and not on my illness.

The day that we went to pray for our friend Pat was a humbling day. After the prayer time I approached Pat to tell her that I love her. I was surprised by the woman I saw. She was joyful and at peace. She hugged me and told me how proud she was of me. She was saying good-bye. How could she be so peaceful and joyful? Her focus was not on her illness, but on her Savior. She knew that even if the Lord chose not to heal her here on earth, he was still a good God.

God is good no matter our circumstances. Even if God says not right now, He is good. Even if he choses to heal through death, He is good. Even if we don’t understand, He is good. My prayer is that God would give me the strength to continue to say, God is good. I pray that no matter the battle you are facing that you would be able to say, no matter what, God is good! Turn to your Savior, ask for healing and trust Him to do what is best for you knowing that He is good.