“Various diseases and pains, demon oppression, seizures, paralytics… Jesus healed them” (Matt.4:24). Paul pled for healing, and Jesus answered in the affirmative: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2Cor.12:9). “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (Prov.17:22). “Use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1Tim.5:23). “I will heal your apostasy; my love knows no bounds” (Hos.14:4)
Dear Jesus, this is a diverse tapestry of stories, maladies, cries for mercy, and gifts of healing. From tummy aches to apostasy, your sovereignty, love, and grace are the connecting realities.
Some of us have stress fractures in our bones, some carry stress no x-ray can reveal. Some of us have broken spirits, some need joint replacements. Some of us have cancer cells living inside us; some have the cancer of unbelief enslaving us. Whatever our condition, our greatest consolation is hearing you speak to us through Hosea, “My love knows no bounds.”
Jesus, until the Day of perfect health, we will seek to take care of these “tents” in which we live (2 Cor. 5:1-5). Less sugar and more worship, a “little wine” and consistent exercise, the good medicine of a “cheerful heart” and the prescribed meds of trustworthy doctors, elders who anoint and friends who pray—Jesus, however we can best honor you, that’s what we want more than we crave ten years of pain-free living.
Whether our healing is instant, progressive, off and on, or not till heaven—you have guaranteed it. We unabashedly ask for supernatural 100% instantaneous healing. But if you choose to give us “sufficient grace” instead (like Paul in 2 Cor. 12:7-12), we might whine at first, but we will be grateful forever. So Very Amen.
