Chronic Illness

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

I'm not sure how anyone on this board feels, but I don't believe the "It's God's will to heal 100% of the time" view.

The tabernacles of flesh in which we dwell are corrupted by a law of sin. We are all prone to sickness, weakness, injury, leading up to death. Much of our health is dependent upon us to do right by our mortal frame.

But see, that's what they are: mortal, i.e. able to die. Somethings are worth suffering, including health problems, even if they are chronic, if such suffering makes us more Christ-like.

Suffering for Godly reasons is noble and is, in my view, the height of glory, this side of Glory. Remember the blind man, who had suffered with an uncurable, disabling health condition all his life. It was for the glory of God, so that when Jesus healed Him, it would be noised abroad, investigated by the Pharisees, and help lead Christ to His eventual arrest and crucifixion, where the name of God was glorified.

We have to get rid of the idea that any form of physical suffering must be a lack of faith, sin-based issue. In fact, we have Scripture that indicates suffering in the flesh might be a demonstration of the highest levels of faith, all the way up to proving that someone has ceased from sin (1 Peter 4:1).

So, if you are suffering, pray and push through. Let the affliction mold and make you more like Jesus.

And if God heals you, praise the Lord. If He does not, be faithful, even unto death, and know that there is a crown of righteousness stored up for you where no suffering exists.

And in the meantime, let's stop condemning the sick, the injured, and any other un-healed saints of God, as though the problem was with them. The only people God ever healed or heals are sinners!

I tend to agree with you on this. It is a very difficult thing to just say that God intends for all his saints to be completely healthy, without a single illness or problem of any sort.

If you look at the lives of Paul and Timothy, we know that Paul suffered from some sort of issue, whether physical or spiritual, will always be a debate, as he never said exactly what it was, but he did suffer, and the Lord spoke to him and said "My grace is sufficient for thee" which would seem to imply it wasn't leaving, but that his grace would get him through.

And then, you see Paul writing to Timothy, and telling him to drink a little wine for his stomach ailments. So we understand through this, that sometimes God heals, sometimes he allows things, and sometimes he delivers... but it is his prerogative, and it is not for us to judge one another as though someone has done wrong, and they haven't received a complete healing...

There was another thread on here sometime back, where a poster, Evang. Benicasa seemed to think that if you weren't completely healed and delivered, it was because you didn't have enough faith. That kind of attitude has hindered many, many saints through the years, I believe.