Posts filed under ‘General Healing’
Does God Really Want To Heal Me?
If you have ever endured any kind of pain or suffering, you have probably at one time or another entertained the question, “Where are you God when I hurt?” We often feel alone when we experience any kind of affliction or challenge, and during these times it is easy to consider “jumping ship” in our relationship with God. Fleeting thoughts pass through our minds as we think, “Why did you let this happen?” or “If You are not going to help me then why should I believe in You?” Discouragement and confusion try to assault our minds continually until we are able to resolve this issue in our heart concerning what we really believe about God, His character, and His healing nature. Studying and meditating on scripture is always helpful, particularly when we become disillusioned or confused. Scripture holds the keys to our questions. So let’s examine together some scriptures as we begin to search to resolve questions we may have within our own hearts.
God is a loving Father who tells us over and over that He has great love and mercy toward His children. He is The Healer and He wants to see us walk in health. In 3 John 1:2 we are encouraged to prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. The multitudes followed Jesus everywhere, and Matthew 12:15 tells us that Jesus “healed them all.” We find throughout scripture encouragement that God is the same, “yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He never changes! He is still the Healer as stated in Exodus 15:26: “I, the Lord, am your Healer.” God lovingly reminds us that He is our health and our strength. His name, Jehovah-Rapha, forever proclaims that He is the Lord of our health.
The Cross is our promise as Believers that the stripes that Christ bore and the pain that He suffered were for our health and healing. The crown of thorns pressed into his head and the blood that poured down His forehead represents the pain of our mind and emotions that Christ bore for us so we can be free. Scripture states in Isaiah 53:5: “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the chastening of our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging (stripes) we are healed.”
Questions Concerning Healing
“But why is everyone not healed?” This is certainly the question of the ages. Situations where we or loved ones have not been healed has brought not only pain but on occasion condemnation and pointing fingers. It has also brought thoughts of being rejected by God:
“He does not love me.”
“He wants to punish me.”
“He has left me.”
“He is angry with me.”
“He doesn’t keep His word.”
“I am not good enough to be healed.”
“What did I do wrong?”
“I don’t have enough faith.”
“I haven’t worked hard enough for Him.”
“I haven’t made Him happy.”
“He doesn’t like me.”
The list is endless. It is no wonder we doubt our Father’s love, feel rejected and walk away from His presence when we entertain these beliefs. In the permanence of my own pain, I walked away from God thinking He was not there anymore and that He didn’t care. It was so difficult for me to believe and trust that He really meant, that “He would never leave me or forsake me” (Deuteronomy 31:6). I felt so alone. “Did He really love me? Did He really care?”
God does not discipline us through sickness or disease. Healing is the bread of God’s children. God shares with us that He is touched by the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). God is not happy that we are in pain. We are reminded in Isaiah 53, that He bore our grief and sorrow and that Christ took our iniquity and with His stripes we are healed. God is good and He desires life for us because He loves us. Just as salvation is for everyone, healing is also available for everyone. If God wanted us to suffer and be sick, then why would James state in chapter 5:13 – 15: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”
When we examine David’s life, we see the prophetic image of a man who made poor choices that brought heartache and pain to many; but in that pain, he became knowledgeable of the mercy and love of God as told in Psalm 103. He sang of the blessings and mercy of God who pardons all of our iniquities or sin, and who heals all of our diseases. David had a relationship with a loving God who redeemed his life from the pit and crowned him with His loving kindness and compassion. We must always remember – God never changes. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. The love and grace He extended to David, is the same love and grace he extends to us today. God desires for us to know and experience His great love and faithfulness just like David.
It appears that we sometimes forget that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us according to Romans 8:11: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” How amazing! The very same Spirit of God, Holy Spirit, resides within all who acknowledge Him. As we meditate upon this scripture may we all receive a greater understanding of this truth, as we allow it to become a living word in our lives.
There were seasons when it seemed I had a hook in my mouth and no matter which way I turned it hurt. During these times I found it difficult to embrace that God was a God of love. My perceptions of men and people in authority throughout my life left me with a sense that I had to earn their love, and if I was good enough or worked hard enough they would accept me. I often felt “used.” Other times, I thought I had committed some unpardonable sin and that God was punishing me through my pain, sickness and loss.
When I gave my life to God, I unknowingly transferred my belief systems to Him. I began to work for His approval and perform in various positions in the church to hopefully someday, be good enough that He would finally bless me. With this mindset, within a few years I began to experience spiritual burnout. I developed performance anxiety because I didn’t believe that God was answering my prayers for healing; and if He wasn’t answering them, it had to be because I was not behaving well enough to make Him happy.
Looking back, it is now clear how unbiblical my beliefs were about God my Father. What I believed was not the truth. It was my perception of events and experiences in my life. My responses and reactions to events formed my beliefs about myself and about the world. Many of my beliefs were based on fear and pride. They were formed from the world’s structures in what I observed, what I read and what I was taught. The world will try to tell us who we need to be, what we need to look like, and how we need to respond, but the real truth is in the scriptures. It has taken time to meditate and study on these precious teachings, but they have helped me to understand the character of God, His ways and who I really am. Scripture tells us that people perish for lack of knowledge. It is not God’s desire for any to perish, but for all to experience His life. I would encourage you to meditate on the verses at the end of each chapter and ask Holy Spirit to renew your mind with God’s truth and His desire for your life.
“Father, I want to thank You for Your precious unconditional love. Thank you for Your word that teaches me about You. Please forgive me for thinking that you did not love me or want to heal me. I want to know You and understand Your ways. I surrender myself to You and ask You to renew my mind and heal the unhealthy ways I perceive life.”
Negative Beliefs:
I don’t have enough faith for God to heal me.
I must do something good for God to love me.
I have sinned and God could never love me.
I must be special for God to love and heal me.
I did something wrong and God is punishing me.
God doesn’t care about me.
I am alone in this world.
I must make it on my own.
Scripture Truths:
God’s provision is always perfect. He is never caught unaware. He is never surprised.
Healing is intimate and personal.
God does want my body and soul to prosper and be in health.
It is not necessary to prove my existence or validate my importance. I am loved and accepted by God.
I can miss truth when I am defensive or in denial.
It is important when faced with conflict to find what I am really striving for – that will lead me to truth.
What I focus on, I make room for.
The keys to life are found in God’s word.
Scriptural Meditations: “It is written…”
I am acceptable to God and I am forgiven
John 1:12 I am an adopted child of God.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified (made innocent or free) and have peace (nothing between us) with God
through Christ.
Romans 8:1 I am free from condemnation in Christ.
Romans 8:28-29 I know that all things work together for good for those that love God. I am called according to His
His purpose. He conforms me into His image.
Romans 8:35 I am never separated from God’s love for me.
Romans 8:37 I am a conqueror through Christ’s love.
1Corinthians 3:16 I am a temple of God and His Spirit dwells in me.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am of Christ’s body.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am joined to the Lord and one in Spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:19 My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:20 I have been bought with a price and I am God’s.
2 Corinthians 6:1 I work together with God.
2 Corinthians 1:21 I am secure and anointed in God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 I am a new creature in Christ; old things have passed away and all things are new.
Colossians 1:14 I have been redeemed and my sins are forgiven.
Colossians 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 2:10 I am complete in God.
Colossians 1:13 I have been delivered from darkness and transferred to His kingdom.
Ephesians 1:5 I am God’s adopted child.
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated in heavenly places with Christ.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God’s workmanship and I am created in Christ for His benefit and purpose.
Ephesians 2:18 I have access to God through the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will perfect and finish the work He has begun in me has begun in me.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Hebrews 4:16 I am confident that I may receive grace and mercy from God in my time of need.
1 John 4:13 I abide in God and He abides in me.
Isaiah 43:18 I will not call to mind the former things or remember the things of old.
Taken from Chapter 3. “If I’m Healed by His Stripes, Then Why Do I Still Hurt?”
