Why hasn't God healed me?
Last night, we were reading about and discussing the miracles Jesus performed during his time on earth. How He brought people back from the dead and healed those long-afflicted by either mind, body, or spirit. Which, of course, led to discussions about modern-day healing and miracles. I believe these happen and have heard numerous accounts of miracles happening around the world, yet have never seen or experienced one personally.
I have long believed this is because those less able to care for themselves due to poverty or oppression have to rely on God’s deliverance. He is their only hope and so they cry out in great earnestness and expectation. And because they need Him to intervene and expect Him to intervene, He does, on a much larger scale than we see here. And because there is literally nothing else to which they could attribute their change in circumstances, they readily attribute miracles to God and give Him the glory.
We, however, are ready and willing to attribute healing and miracles to something we can explain away. In America and other affluent countries, we can typically meet our own needs. We don’t rely on God for our next meal, He is not our sole source of healthcare, our lives are not in constant danger, and we do not find ourselves in situations where only He can intervene. And so we offer up half-hearted prayers. When asked what we need, our response is often, “Just prayer.” Like, “We’ve already done the things that could truly change our situation and so now all that’s left is prayer.” For God to add his superpower on top of our own.
So, what if we don’t see miracles because God knows we won’t ultimately give Him the glory for them? He knows we will credit a doctor, a treatment, a coincidence, a lucky break, a friend’s generosity, etc. And so for those of us in cultures of skepticism, He calls us to walk through our pain, to not offer us physical deliverance, a miracle, because the testimony of walking through suffering is what gives God greater glory in our culture. He knows the miracle would be written off, but no one can explain away miraculous strength He gives someone to get through hard things.
After having walked through the past three months with my dad’s cancer diagnosis, rapid decline and death, while I myself have outlived the average life expectancy for my own terminal cancer yet haven’t experienced complete healing, I know God’s ways are mysterious. Who lives and who dies is mysterious. But maybe God withholds physical healing for some of us, not because our faith is too small or because He is unloving, but because we can bring Him greater glory by walking through the suffering. Someone who can have joy despite circumstances is a miracle. Maybe even a miracle that speaks louder and astonishes more than physical healing ever could.
I have long believed this is because those less able to care for themselves due to poverty or oppression have to rely on God’s deliverance. He is their only hope and so they cry out in great earnestness and expectation. And because they need Him to intervene and expect Him to intervene, He does, on a much larger scale than we see here. And because there is literally nothing else to which they could attribute their change in circumstances, they readily attribute miracles to God and give Him the glory.
We, however, are ready and willing to attribute healing and miracles to something we can explain away. In America and other affluent countries, we can typically meet our own needs. We don’t rely on God for our next meal, He is not our sole source of healthcare, our lives are not in constant danger, and we do not find ourselves in situations where only He can intervene. And so we offer up half-hearted prayers. When asked what we need, our response is often, “Just prayer.” Like, “We’ve already done the things that could truly change our situation and so now all that’s left is prayer.” For God to add his superpower on top of our own.
So, what if we don’t see miracles because God knows we won’t ultimately give Him the glory for them? He knows we will credit a doctor, a treatment, a coincidence, a lucky break, a friend’s generosity, etc. And so for those of us in cultures of skepticism, He calls us to walk through our pain, to not offer us physical deliverance, a miracle, because the testimony of walking through suffering is what gives God greater glory in our culture. He knows the miracle would be written off, but no one can explain away miraculous strength He gives someone to get through hard things.
After having walked through the past three months with my dad’s cancer diagnosis, rapid decline and death, while I myself have outlived the average life expectancy for my own terminal cancer yet haven’t experienced complete healing, I know God’s ways are mysterious. Who lives and who dies is mysterious. But maybe God withholds physical healing for some of us, not because our faith is too small or because He is unloving, but because we can bring Him greater glory by walking through the suffering. Someone who can have joy despite circumstances is a miracle. Maybe even a miracle that speaks louder and astonishes more than physical healing ever could.
This is an amazing insight. It reminds me of the impact of the life of Joni Eareckson Tada. And of you, to those who are privileged to know you.
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