First of all, I need to say that we believe in a God who has the power to heal! This is undeniable, witnessed throughout scripture, and evident in many testimonies around us. This should always increase our faith and encourage us to persist in prayer, believing He is Jehovah Rapha – the God who heals! Miraculous healings happen, showing His love and power. However, not everyone receives physical healing, leading to the question: Why doesn’t God heal everyone?
It’s natural to wonder why some of our prayers for healing go unanswered. This question has puzzled believers for centuries, and the answer is that we actually don’t know. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus and see things through His perspective, we can find comfort and hope, trusting that He takes good care of us and His glory will be shown through our lives, whether we receive healing or not.
Here are some important truths:
God is More Concerned About Our Souls
Our bodies are temporary, but our souls are eternal. God’s primary concern is our spiritual well-being and relationship with Him. Matthew 10:28 (NIV) says: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Our hope for the eternal home and spiritual health are where true joy and peace reside. God prioritizes our salvation and spiritual growth over temporary physical healing.
God Wants Us to Grow in Faith
Trials and suffering often lead to spiritual growth. While we focus on what happens to us, God is more concerned about what happens in us.
Through struggles, we learn to rely on God and develop stronger faith. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.”
Paul, who pleaded with God to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” received the response, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). God’s grace and strength are often best revealed in our weaknesses.
His Plans are Higher
Sometimes we don’t receive the healing we pray for, and it can be crushing. We may wonder why not us or someone we love. Why the other person and not me?
We need to understand that there is so much more happening in the bigger picture than what we can see. Isaiah 55:8 (NIV) reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
We may never receive the healing we’re praying for, but we need to understand that, if we endure the suffering like He did (1 Peter 2:21-25), not only our souls will be refined, but also, we’re going to be able to impact many lives with our testimony – our lives for His glory!
The question of why God doesn’t heal everyone is complex and deeply personal. While we may not understand all His reasons, we can trust that God’s plans are far greater than ours. He is concerned with our souls, spiritual growth, and the lives touched by our testimony.
Now, it doesn’t mean we are alone in our struggles. Isaiah 43:2 promises, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.”
In our storms, we can find hope and peace knowing that God is with us, working in ways that surpass our understanding. His love for us is deep, and His plans are ultimately for our good.
It’s easy to worship Him when everything is comfortable and good, but God is calling us to step into a deeper place of faith, trusting in His perfect will and timing, and giving Him all the glory, no matter the circumstances. He loves us, and He is worthy of our trust.