If you or a loved one have been struggling with a health condition, you may have found yourself asking, “Why, God?” We know God is able to do anything, so if he wanted us healthy he would take sickness away, right? While these are big questions to explore and unpack, today’s post hopes to help you begin to answer a foundational question yourself, Does God want you healthy and well?
To unpack today’s question, there are 3 key areas in which to look and explore. We can begin to answer if God wants us healthy and well by looking at who God is, what He has done, and what He has said.
Who God is
The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8 & 16). It’s not simply an attribute He has, like God is loving, but it’s part of His very make-up. I can’t say I fully comprehend this, but I can look to His actions and confirm He is indeed love. He left His heavenly throne to become a man and die a brutal death to save you and me when we were still His enemies (Romans 5:10; Col. 1:21-22). If put in the same position, would you leave the comforts of a good life to die for your enemy? Sure, we might do it for someone we love, but an enemy?
So since God is love, the next question to consider is, would love want to cause harm to another? Think of the people you love most in your life. Would you ever plot to intentionally be the cause of their sickness, hurt, pain, or suffering? My guess and hope is no. In fact, people who intentionally plan to bring on hurt, pain and suffering to others are described as mean and evil–the very opposite of love. Love is filled with compassion, the desire to help, the wanting to ease pain and suffering, to bring joy. Knowing this, does it seem to line up that God, who is love and died to save you, would give or keep you in sickness and poor health? I, personally, cannot reconcile these two, but let’s also take a look at His actions.
His Actions
Jesus was man, but he was also 100% God (John 1:1-14), and went about doing the will of the Father (John 5:19). So if we really want to know God’s stance on a matter, a good place to start is to look at the life of Jesus and his ministry.
I remember when I decided to read the gospel through the lens of Jesus and healing. Whenever there was a sick or ill person, I looked specifically to see what Jesus did. How did he respond? What did he say? What did he do? It was an eye opener! Suddenly, these weren’t cool stories about a miracle from time past, but a window into the will of my heavenly father when it comes to my own health and well-being.
Did you know there was only one instance in the gospel where Jesus couldn’t produce miracles? It was in his hometown (Mark 6:4-13). Read carefully, though. The Bible doesn’t state that he would not, indicating he didn’t want to, but that he could not, meaning he didn’t have the ability to. That in and of itself may be a shocker for many. He is Jesus, he can do whatever he wants, right? If you read further, it was because of the people’s lack of faith in Jesus that he was unable to do miracles. He did heal a few sick people, but otherwise, their unbelief in Him left him powerless to produce a miracle. In all other instances, when people came with a believing heart and asked for healing, Jesus provided.
Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:15-20 that we will be able to judge (assess) true and false prophets from their fruit. Can we use that same assessment for Jesus? If he went around healing every sick person that believed and asked him, can we not conclude that he wants us healthy and well?
The Word
The Bible tells us that God is not a man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19). In other words, God can’t lie. So when He promises or tells us something, you best believe He means it. Did you know that when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He redeems you from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13-14)? What is the curse? Check out Deuteronomy 28. That long list of curses for disobedience you are redeemed from in Christ. Did you notice that sickness, an anxious mind, disasters, and plagues are part of the curse? You won’t find them in the blessing. God’s blessing is meant to be free from disease and sickness. Christ took them on for you when He died on the cross.
In the beginning of Matthew chapter 8, we read about Jesus healing those in need. Matthew 8:16-17 tells us that Jesus drove out spirits and healed all the sick and that, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.'” (NIV) If Jesus took up our infirmities and bore our diseases on the cross, do you think He wants anyone walking with them now?
Jesus is our redeemer. I believe the benefits of His redemptive power are not only for the afterlife, but that He came so we may have life and have it to the full here on earth. (John 10:10) I believe He came so that His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven for all those who choose to believe in Him.
So what do you think? Does God want you healthy and well? I hope today’s reading began to answer that question for you. I also hope it spurred new questions of your own. Continue to seek God and answers to those questions. For He promises to give to those who ask. (Matthew 7:7-8)
Looking for More? Check out Affirmations for Health and Well-being.