“Keep asking God for what you want but then listen and thank Him for providing exactly what you need. Love you.” – Braden

---

Several months ago, a family friend suddenly experienced a seizure in the middle of an active and otherwise typical day. Soon after being admitted to the hospital, she was diagnosed with advanced and inoperable brain cancer. Prayers from the community poured out and following a relatively brief sequence of treatments our friend was deemed cancer-free. An awesome answer to prayer!

Sadly though, another friend was recently going about a completely normal day while spending time with his family. He began to complain of a severe headache and within a brief few hours he was gone, leaving a young family devastated and alone. When these events happen, our response is often the same. First come the waves of initial shock and disbelief. Then, soon to follow are the inevitable questions.

Why would such terrible things happen to such amazing and faith-filled people? How could someone so healthy and strong be taken in an instant? Both friends were living what many would consider to be the “perfect” lives. Successful careers, beautiful families, strong faith, very good health, and promising futures. How could they have such starkly different stories?

I could share many more personal experiences like these. Some prayers answered as hoped, but others seemingly ignored. Thankfully, I’ve witnessed my older brother, Randy’s healing from terminal cancer but sadly experienced the loss of our son, Braden to depression. Both were covered with the same quantity and sincerity of prayers, yet the outcomes were tragically different. We’re currently dealing with ongoing chronic health issues with our daughter who has lived a brief but faith-filled life, striving to recover emotionally from the loss of her only sibling. It’s not that anyone “earns” having their prayers answered, but if anyone was deserving she would certainly be on the list.

Admittedly, too often I rush to squeeze in a morning prayer time, listing mostly my own desires. I tend to scrimp on investing the time to slow down and listen. This week I took a few days off work for Spring Break which has allowed time to reflect and have conversations with God. I’ve arrived at a little more clarity as to why sometimes bad things happen to good people. By no stretch do I count myself as a good person but the question remains. Perhaps what I’ve heard this week in my prayer time may serve to help a reader or two who have their own questions about healing.

---

We humans were designed with imperfect bodies and a limited lifespan so sickness and death are inevitable. In this fallen world, God’s word says we’re ALL broken and in need of healing. Though some of us are really good at masking it, the weak spots are there and over time, they will inevitably begin to show. This broken condition has a name. It’s called being human. We are ALL born with it.

Even with their brilliance and extensive research, doctors are often at a loss as to what is happening with this human condition. Their efforts to heal are futile when the problem isn’t resolved with a pill or procedure. The Bible tells us God is The Great Physician but He doesn’t always heal our physical or mental illnesses even though we beg for it. In every Biblical story where healing occurred, not once was medicine a factor. True healing only occurred when God personally connected with the individual’s spiritual condition rather than the human condition through His son, Jesus.

When Jesus touched the broken, several of them threw away their crutches and others’ eyes were allowed to see again. Still there were a few who remained physically unhealed. In each case however, when the person fully trusted and accepted what Jesus offered, a new and abundant life instantly began. In each case (even when the person remained “disabled”) the way Jesus healed people served to reflect upon Him rather than upon them. Every story about Jesus healing brought glory to God no matter what the broken person’s circumstances. Now, that’s true healing!

Whenever I’ve witnessed physical healing of others around me, my faith has been confirmed. However, when I’ve observed lives which have completely been transformed, my faith is strengthened far more. It may be wise to re-think our questions about healing. Maybe by allowing our own brokenness to be used for God’s purposes, others might be drawn closer to finding the real healing they need. Rather than asking of God what we want from Him, we should instead be asking God what He wants from us?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we ask for YOUR will to be done rather than our own. May we serve to reflect You in this broken world. Please provide true healing for all of us who are broken. In Jesus’ name, Amen

---

”He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬