Why Doesn't God Always Heal?

Last night while reading a novel (Christian fictional romance, my usual read); I finally made sense of a question that has been bothering me for many years in regards to healing. (Who knows that God can even use a piece of fiction to speak to us if he wants to?!)

I have no problem believing that God can and does heal; I have seen this happen personally many times. I have seen miracles happen.

However there are other times when healing does not happen, despite the prayers of many.

One young man in particular comes to mind. He was in a cancer battle and there were literally hundreds of people praying for him. The church I was with at the time had dedicated prayer services for this young man and I joined the fight to pray for him. I remember how hard I fought in prayer.

However he passed away....

Up until last night I have not been at peace with this and I have asked God to help me many times to understand why Gods heals some but not others.

Then last night while in my story, I read the story of a woman who was struggling with the same questions I have struggled with. Her sister, sensing her struggle said to her

"Stay strong, don't let yourself doubt".

These words caused me to close my book and reflect. I knew God was speaking to me :- "Stay strong Jenny, don't let yourself doubt"....

Then I saw in my imagination two people going into battle against each other. They were all armoured up and had swords. One would live and one would die.

The Lord revealed a few different truths to me as I continued to reflect on these two people going into battle.

1. Even though they both knew that one of them would die, both of them went into battle believing they would win.

2. If one of them doubted he would win, then he would certainly lose the battle.

4. Winning the battle wasn't necessarily about living or dying, but about believing they would win.

5. Dying doesn't necessarily mean losing.

It really was an amazing time in the presence of the Lord. After all these years I finally understood that my role in prayer is to believe in Him, not in the outcome of the battle!

The point is that prayer IS A BATTLE and even if the outcome is not what I thought it should have been, that doesn't mean the battle was lost. BUT if I go into battle with doubt in my mind then I will certainly lose that battle.

I then went and did a bit of bible study - hear are some scriptures that further confirm to me that this was Him speaking to me.

1. Mark 9:23 All things are possible to him who BELIEVES.

2. James 1:6-8 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

3. John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

4. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God is God and there will always be outcomes I cannot understand because I am not God!

I can see that the outcome really isn't the issue, the important thing for me is to armour up and get in the battle. Whether I see the results of my prayers or not I can trust in his word. James 5:16 is Gods clear word for me today and hopefully for you too.

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Be blessed! Jenspen