I have friends whove received partial healing but still struggle with painful aspects of their diseases. Other friends have been healed of an addiction but still struggle with feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing. And I wonder, Why doesnt God heal them completelyonce and for all?
In Mark 8:2226, we read the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. Jesus first took the man away from the village. Then He spit on the mans eyes and put his hands on him. The man said he now saw people who looked like trees walking around. Then Jesus touched the mans eyes again, and this time he saw everything clearly.
In His ministry, Jesuss words and actions often amazed and baffled the crowd and His followers (Matthew 7:28; Luke 8:10; 11:14) and even drove many of them away (John 6:6066). No doubt this two-part miracle also caused confusion. Why not immediately heal this man?
We dont know why. But Jesus knew what the manand the disciples who viewed his healingneeded in that moment. And He knows what we need today to draw us closer in our relationship with Him. Though we wont always understand, we can trust that God is working in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. And He will give us the strength, courage, and clarity we need to persevere in following Him.
INSIGHT
Although God is able to heal all diseases and injuries, its not always His will to do so. God empowered the apostle Paul to heal many (Acts 14:810; 19:12), yet he wrote to Timothy about Trophimus whom he left sick in Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20). Likewise, Paul advised Timothy to take medicinal wine for his stomach problem and frequent ailments (1 Timothy 5:23). In this case, medicine was recommended instead of divine healing. Second Corinthians makes reference to Pauls thorn in the flesh (12:7), which many scholars believe was some type of physical ailment. Interestingly God didnt remove it even after Pauls repeated prayers for deliverance. The Lords response was, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (v. 9).
God has His own purposes for granting full healing, partial healing, or withholding healing altogether. In what situation do you need to trust in the sufficient grace of God?