Healing

Mark 1 : 29 - 39

They brought to Jesus all who were sick...

The controversial question arose in the Grief Support Group: How do you understand God's healing? Each of those who had lost loved ones to illness, shared that they grappled with this question at some stage. They had to ask themselves how hard they were going to seek God's 'healing' (through prayer) for their loved ones. And they had to contend with both the conservative friends who merely prayed for strength and mercy and those who were bold enough to 'claim' God's complete healing for the person. There were hurtful situations. There were claims of healing that did not come about. These were in fact very poor testimony for other family members who are not Christians.

Yes, Jesus had compassion on many and healed them. It would be good to believe that we can 'claim' healing on that basis and the Isaiah passage that reads, "By your stripes we are healed". But it is definitely not so straightforward. Scripture is not a simple promise book but must be read prayerfully, reflectively and in dialogue with God. I wonder how many who make positive claims know what they are saying...is it from God or from themselves?

As I read these healing passages, they show me most of all the mercy and compassion of Jesus, rather than a specific situation that I want the Lord to repeat. So I will not be discouraged if I or my loved ones are not healed, in the physical sense. I will pray for healing, as I still do for my kidney condition. But somehow, it does not matter to me any more 'how' God wants to heal. I have made my petition, and I have to trust that he knows and will answer in a loving way. I cling to who he is: gracious and compassion, rich in love.....rather than expect a specific answer. After all, as one group member mentioned yesterday, even taking a loved one, who is suffering terribly, 'home' is also a form of 'healing'. Yes, much wisdom comes from these friends whose loss is also a gain.