Thoughts on healing

meeting

Regular monthly meetings are no long being scheduled. At least not for the summer. Members will be notified by text and/or email of any activites needing our attention.

by: Carolyn Lehrke

03/08/2023

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Thinking about healing…
[This is not meant to be a theological discussion, an attempt to cover the topic or engender argument.  What follows are just personal thoughts.]



We pray for healing for ourselves and our loved ones because


• Sickness is inconvenient; it keeps us from going and doing what we want and Limits our pleasure.
• Sickness is expensive with or without insurance and many literally cannot afford the best treatment, or any treatment beyond the ER.
• Sickness is painful and If not actually painful then it keeps us feeling “bad”; life is ‘blah’ when we feel bad and we hate blah.
• We ‘deserve’ healing as it is our right as children of God and we are promised healing (Really? Always?  Could it be we need to re-examine our theology?).
• The last time we prayed for healing God obviously did not hear us so we need to ask again (OK, Paul did ask 3 times before he got on with the business of life.)
• We are desperate: I don’t like this, I don’t want this, I don’t deserve this and a yesterday healing would have been none too soon.

To prove healing is ours we can (and often do) quote every scripture that has anything at all to do with healing… whether it is a promise or an account… without much regard to the original text or context.  Does God heal?  Absolutely! Does God heal people in our day and age?  Without a doubt!  And yes, we should continue to quote and believe! That said, I am reminded of the following:

Sometime sickness / disease occurs 
• As a consequence of poor choices (we treat our bodies as though they were imperishable) 
• Because of “poor protoplasm” (genetic)
• Through accidents; mistakes; inattention 
• Because of war and ensuing trauma including biological and chemical warfare
• From “Acts of God”  -- such as result from natural disasters
• Because of the natural processes in the natural world (bacteria, viruses, etc.)
• As a result of man’s inhumanity to man

When it comes to physical healing (especially our own) we turn to scripture for understanding and consolation
• Sometimes healing is instantaneous and complete
• Sometimes God, for our sake, desires our participation that someone else will be healed (the paralytic) 
• Sometimes healing is denied  -  Paul and his thorn in the flesh
• Sometimes sickness is but for a season  --  Job comes to mind
• Sometimes sickness and subsequent healing is simply that God might be glorified (I venture to say that most of us have little idea what that might mean.)

Interesting how often we ask (and sometimes beg) for physical healing… but spend much less prayer or compassion and action on
• The homeless
• The widows and orphans
• The incarcerated
• The physically and sexually abused
• Human trafficking
• Others who are in need of healing (physical, mental/emotional, spiritual)
• Those persecuted for their faith
• The wounded who became so as a consequence of military service (whether we agree with the politics or not)
• Personal surrender to the will and intent of God

Did I say interesting?  More like sad, very sad.  May God forgive us, enlighten us and lead us to reconciliation with his grand plan and purpose – which may or may not include our personal physical healing. 

We can trust God with the past, we can trust him with the present and we can trust him with the future.  That said, we have only this moment.   Let us endeavor (whatever our physical condition) to be thankfully present to the moment, to the Spirit, to others.  In so doing we become healers through whom the Divine healer may work.
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Thinking about healing…
[This is not meant to be a theological discussion, an attempt to cover the topic or engender argument.  What follows are just personal thoughts.]



We pray for healing for ourselves and our loved ones because


• Sickness is inconvenient; it keeps us from going and doing what we want and Limits our pleasure.
• Sickness is expensive with or without insurance and many literally cannot afford the best treatment, or any treatment beyond the ER.
• Sickness is painful and If not actually painful then it keeps us feeling “bad”; life is ‘blah’ when we feel bad and we hate blah.
• We ‘deserve’ healing as it is our right as children of God and we are promised healing (Really? Always?  Could it be we need to re-examine our theology?).
• The last time we prayed for healing God obviously did not hear us so we need to ask again (OK, Paul did ask 3 times before he got on with the business of life.)
• We are desperate: I don’t like this, I don’t want this, I don’t deserve this and a yesterday healing would have been none too soon.

To prove healing is ours we can (and often do) quote every scripture that has anything at all to do with healing… whether it is a promise or an account… without much regard to the original text or context.  Does God heal?  Absolutely! Does God heal people in our day and age?  Without a doubt!  And yes, we should continue to quote and believe! That said, I am reminded of the following:

Sometime sickness / disease occurs 
• As a consequence of poor choices (we treat our bodies as though they were imperishable) 
• Because of “poor protoplasm” (genetic)
• Through accidents; mistakes; inattention 
• Because of war and ensuing trauma including biological and chemical warfare
• From “Acts of God”  -- such as result from natural disasters
• Because of the natural processes in the natural world (bacteria, viruses, etc.)
• As a result of man’s inhumanity to man

When it comes to physical healing (especially our own) we turn to scripture for understanding and consolation
• Sometimes healing is instantaneous and complete
• Sometimes God, for our sake, desires our participation that someone else will be healed (the paralytic) 
• Sometimes healing is denied  -  Paul and his thorn in the flesh
• Sometimes sickness is but for a season  --  Job comes to mind
• Sometimes sickness and subsequent healing is simply that God might be glorified (I venture to say that most of us have little idea what that might mean.)

Interesting how often we ask (and sometimes beg) for physical healing… but spend much less prayer or compassion and action on
• The homeless
• The widows and orphans
• The incarcerated
• The physically and sexually abused
• Human trafficking
• Others who are in need of healing (physical, mental/emotional, spiritual)
• Those persecuted for their faith
• The wounded who became so as a consequence of military service (whether we agree with the politics or not)
• Personal surrender to the will and intent of God

Did I say interesting?  More like sad, very sad.  May God forgive us, enlighten us and lead us to reconciliation with his grand plan and purpose – which may or may not include our personal physical healing. 

We can trust God with the past, we can trust him with the present and we can trust him with the future.  That said, we have only this moment.   Let us endeavor (whatever our physical condition) to be thankfully present to the moment, to the Spirit, to others.  In so doing we become healers through whom the Divine healer may work.
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