Why doesn’t God heal me? (Jeremiah 11-13; 2 Corinthians 12)

When my mum was dying with cancer in her 40’s some people promised that if we had enough faith God would heal her. I’ve experienced people suggesting similar things about my son. How do you respond? Maybe you’re longing that the Lord would heal you and wondering is it that you lack faith?

2 Corinthians 12 is so helpful. If anyone had enough faith to be healed, surely it was the apostle Paul. Here was a man who truly believed. A man who had been to prison for his beliefs, and yet when he pleaded for healing, he was given a different answer.

We don’t know exactly what the thorn in the flesh was, but we do know Paul had eyesight problems and other bodily ailments (Galatians 3:13). We also know that whatever he faced was painful enough for him to plead three times for the Lord to take it away. But what is the answer the Lord gives him? Does he say, “ah Paul, you just need a bit more faith!” No! He’s not cruel, nor does he make him hunt for some unconfessed sin. Instead He says these wonderful words:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paul tells us earlier in the letter that the trials that he faced were to make him rely on God more (1:9). In the previous chapter, he lists all of his sufferings and says if he’s going to boast about anything, it will be his suffering, because then people will see his power comes from God.

If you have a child with extra needs, you don’t love them anymore than the rest of your children, but you love them with a special kind of love. Paul says, it’s a bit like that when we have extra needs, something we’re struggling with, something we long to be healed from, we will experience a special kind of love from the Lord, His sufficient grace. Jesus gave Paul the strength to keep going. What a wonderful thing to experience God’s sufficient grace.

What’s more, Jesus says “my power is made perfect in weakness.” When we are strong and healthy, we are far more likely to get on with life without relying on God. To think we can do it in our own strength, but when we are weak, we know we need Jesus.

Just over 10 years ago we were waiting the test results to discover if our son had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, I wrote down a list of the possible advantages of him having it, here’s the list:

1. Easier to fix our eyes on Jesus and the hope that he brings
2. Easier to have an eternal perspective every day
3. Helpful to show that our hope is in Christ even when we are suffering
4. Helpful to undermine the health, wealth and prosperity gospel
5. There may be someone else with Muscular Dystrophy or similar disability that God wants us to reach
6. Allows us to relate better to those who suffer
7. Helps us to show what really matters is knowing Christ
8. Helps us to show the value of individuals with disability
9. Helps us to fight against abortion by showing that a life with a disability is worth living, especially as there is an
   eternity
10. Helps us to know God better, and appreciate more what the Father did in giving his Son to suffer for our sake so
    that we might be sons of God.

I remember sharing that list in a prayer letter and my sister-in-law who also suffered with Duchennne, replied with an 11th: “Freedom from delusions of independence.”

Of course we’d rather not go through the pain, but the blessings that come from knowing the Lord’s sufficient grace certainly help.

The Lord can and does heal in a variety of ways, but it’s best to allow Him to be God, and trust that He knows what is best for each of us. May His grace be sufficient for you.