Why are we so unwilling to pray for healing? Sure, we’ll pray for healing from things like cancer or other big things like that. But what about when we have a cold? What about from migraines? What is it about healing that makes us so uneasy as Christians?
In our Cobb county-suburbia bubble, thinking of asking the Lord for healing is the last thing on a lot of our minds. We have doctors and pharmacies on every corner that can heal us and tell us what’s wrong with our bodies, and those seem to work pretty well. When they don’t, we just accept sickness as a part of life. But as believers, we have access to INFINITE HEALING POWER from the ultimate Healer. And we don’t seem willing to tap into it.
We hear stories of God performing healing miracles at “charismatic” churches and we smile and nod, but we doubt the validity of such stories. “God can’t perform miracles like that,” we think. “The theology at that church is flawed, so I don’t believe that God did that.” Sure, Jesus healed the sick in the Bible, but He just doesn’t do that anymore.
Who are we to say that God CAN’T perform healing miracles in our lives today?
We sing of His power. We teach about His greatness. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty of our lives, do we REALLY believe that He can come through with us?
In my experience, my answer has usually been no.
Three years ago, I got diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Celiac Disease. My whole life had been plagued with random bouts of digestive issues and pains that got worse and worse until my junior year of college. After countless emergency room visits, doctors, and specialists, it was finally decided that I had Celiac, and shortly after, my mom got diagnosed too. The doctors told us if we changed our lifestyle and ate only gluten-free foods, we’d be fine. After a lot of trial and error, my mom and I adjusted to this change and have been gluten-free ever since. I’m accustomed to bringing my own meals to parties, having to choose where my group of friends eats when we go out, and reading labels like it’s my job.
If I do happen to eat it on accident, I’m immediately greeted with awful stomach pains, fatigue, and a lot of poop (transparency am I right). It’s awful. And honestly, it’s annoying, lonely, stressful, expensive, and one of my biggest fears about the World Race.
One of the main questions people ask me when talking about the Race is, “So what are you going to do about food? How are you going to eat gluten-free overseas?” And I don’t really know what to tell them. I just expect it to be hard, I expect to get sick a lot, and I expect to be a burden.
It’s never occurred to me until now to pray for healing.
Last week, one of my squadmates Kristen showed me THIS ARTICLE in which God healed a girl of Celiac Disease while on the World Race. I was immediately in tears. The Lord used that article to show me that I was living like I didn’t believe He could heal me. I could complain all day about Celiac Disease, but I had never actually talked to my Father about my disease.
I so SO desire to be healed but I have so much doubt that it will actually happen. Whenever I hear stories about God performing healing miracles I always think, “Wow, that’s cool,” but there’s always a hint of skepticism attached to that thought.
I am one of those Christians who doubts the legitimacy of healing miracles.
If God can heal, why hasn’t he healed me? Does he REALLY heal in the ways that I read about online or in Scripture? And even if He does heal me, how can I be sure that my issues won’t come back after a while? My doubts become a definite statement in my mind: God can’t heal me.
But who am I to doubt the healing power of my Abba? Yes, He can heal me. He absolutely can.
Throughout Scripture, the Lord tells us we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2), that He satisfies our desires with good things (Psalm 103:5), and that He is a Father that delights in giving good things to His children (Matthew 7:11). He makes it known in countless places that He is Healer and He IS awesome in power. His children need only ask.
So, y’all, I’m asking. I am going to try and intentionally be on my face asking the Lord to heal me from Celiac Disease. If not on the Race, then before (I’d love some Chickfila before I go!) Will you JOIN ME? The Lord heals our prayers and he delights in healing His children in miraculous ways.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Abba, please. Please heal your daughter. Jesus healed thousands and thousands of people during His time on the earth. Lord, please let it be so that I may be one of them. I would give anything just to touch the hem of your robes in order to be healed. You have the power. You can do anything you want. Please, Daddy. Take this yoke away from me so I can best serve you on the World Race and at home. You satisfy my desires with good things, Lord. Be glorified in the healing of my body.
