In Regard to Healing

R.C. Sproul said …

"I don’t know how many times I’ve seen on the walls of pastors’ studies or in Christian homes the little sign … Expect a Miracle."

If a miracle is something we can expect, like we expect the mail every morning, it ceases to be miraculous … it’s no longer extraordinary, and it no longer does the job that miracles were designed to do, which is … to call attention in an astonishing way to the intervention of God.

On the other hand, the New Testament tells us to bring our prayers before the Throne of God, and particularly for those … who are sick. So I expect God to be merciful because He promises to be merciful, and I expect God to be present in times of trouble because He promises to be present in every time of trouble. I expect God to take our prayers seriously when we pray on behalf of the sick.

But … I do not expect that God is going to heal everybody we pray for because I don’t know that God has ever promised to do that. I have no right to expect something from God that He has not categorically promised in every situation.

In the New Testament we see that Jesus, as far as we know, had a perfect healing record. When Jesus asked the Father to heal somebody, they were healed.

The apostles healing record however wasn't that consistent. There were times when they prayed for the healing of people and those people were healed; but there were also times when they prayed for people who were not healed.

In many healing situations when dealing with others, speaking practically now; what we should do is bring our requests before God in faith, and then … let God be God.

The Bible tells us that in the world we have tribulation, there is pain and suffering; we are going to suffer … sorry … there is sickness, disease and death. I can't find where God has promised us healing every time, in every situation. But I can find where God has promised to go with us … "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me."

Again I find myself thinking of Christ as my shepherd; and as such my total care which includes healing, is in His hands. "I shall not want"… more … than my shepherd gives me.

So … I pray, trust God and go on.