One of names of God translates as "the One who healeth thee." That name is also spelled out fully as One who heals us and takes away all our diseases. In times of darkness (which would include sickness in ourselves and others) we are instructed in Isiaha not to attempt to light little fires ourselves (in attempting to personally drive back darkness!) but to trust in name of Lord. In doing so, don't fall for snare of "Gee, I'm still sick. I must not have enough faith" or "I must have some unconfessed sin that limits God's ability to work his will." The issue is not power of your faith but power of One in whom you trust, One who had only to speak to create universe, one in whom we live and walk and have our being.

Acknowledging in advance that ultimate restoration will be when we are transformed, made whole in an instant, our prayers for one who is ill should ask God to work His perfect will in life of that individual, to make that restoration to wholeness happen here and now if such be His will.

Know with assurance that when God chooses to interpose His will in this world -- that which men call a miracle -- we are being granted only a peek at glory to come. God's will for us has never changed. The first revelation of that will was in Genesis: "Let us make man in our image." As lamb slain from before foundation of cosmos, Messiah was born into human flesh so that He might be kinned with us and so that we might see in Him express image of Father. In Romans 8:28 there's a promise for those who are called according to his purpose. The next verse tells purpose: that we be "conformed to image of his Son...." God has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers so that we might mature and through unity of faith arrive at "the measure of stature of fulness of Christ."

WHY DOESN'T GOD HEAL US? By Mariane Holbrook

I stood in doorway of Mother's nursing home room and wept quietly. She couldn't see me. She sat in chair beside her bed with her head on her knees, a few small pillows wedged behind her back and a pink shawl pulled across her frail and bony shoulders. She was moaning softly, "Dear God, help me. Please, God, help me."

Tears ran in rivulets down my face as I asked God again, "Why? Why is this dear saint of God suffering so? She's 96 years old. She's suffered with unrelenting pain all her life. And if that wasn't enough, why did she have to break her leg walking down hall and lie in agony for many weeks in a cast with leg never properly healing? Please help me understand problem of pain. Please."

One very early morning before sunrise, God in His mercy took Mother Home to be with Him. Her two daughters who lived near nursing center watched as she was placed in a body bag and carried out. From their exhaustion in overseeing her care for several years, they cried in their grief but thankful that her long battle with unending pain was finally over.

That was nine years ago. I am just now beginning to understand problem of pain because I live with it. I wish I had understood it while Mother was still living. I could have empathized more and ministered to her better. Before, I was an observer of pain. Now I am a participant, however reluctantly.

I have watched televangelists declare healing to precious believers who are brought en masse to their meetings. I have seen crutches being tossed carelessly aside, wheel chairs pushed against walls as invalids were encouraged to walk or run across platform to applause and shouting of thousands in audience. I pray many were healed instantly but what of those who were not? Did they return home in abject, total disappointment with God, still not understanding reason for their pain? Did they continue to declare healing when none was forthcoming? Worst of all, did they begin to lose their faith in One who had saved them?

As evangelical Christians, we are taught early that there is healing in atonement. "By his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3) And "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. (Matthew 8:17) We reason, "If we can trust Christ for our salvation, can we not also trust Him for our healing? God never turns away one soul who confesses his sin and asks for forgiveness through atoning blood of Jesus. Why does He seem to be capricious and selective in choosing those who will be healed from their sickness and those who will not?"

Theologians have battled this discussion for centuries and have yet to come up with compelling reasons for pain that fully satisfy those who are hurting.

But for me, it has been reduced to one simple explanation: healing is temporal but grace is eternal. Given a choice, I will take grace every time.

Grace has been defined as "the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God" or "God’s love and favor to undeserving."

The same God who has saved me from my sins, who has promised me eternal life, can be trusted to know what I need to do to be more like His Son, Jesus. He decides how much of boiling cauldron I need to endure, not only for my benefit but for those watching my life. In His divine wisdom, He determines who is selected to share in "the fellowship of His suffering." (Philippians 3:10)