Spring Arbor University Crusader

Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Faith

I don't understand why faith isn't enough sometimes. Why can't we just have faith for God to make us well instead of taking medications all of the time? Why isn't our faith getting us out of problems? Are medicines and helpful provisions like an answer to our faith and prayers or are they an excuse to not have complete faith in God's miracles?

Great questions! Though books have been written that cover the spectrum of theologies about these issues, I will simply give my perspective. I believe faith is never deficient as defined by the Word of God (Rom 10:17). The danger is when we allow faith to be defined by our experience, then processed by the limits of our understanding.

Should we ask if faith is to manage all our experiences even as you refer to faith superceding the need for medicine? 1 Tim 5:23 says, "Use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and frequent ailments."

The early church suffered horrible unimaginable torture, all the disciples of Jesus experienced the same persecution. Was their faith not "enough" to protect them? Or do we need to recognize that faith defines our experience, even unto death, rather than faith being defined by experience.

Why not, by faith, have the Lord fill our cavities, straighten our teeth, clean our complexion, literally keep us from all discomfort, physically and emotionally, and assure us of a perfectly long and healthy life until we die peacefully in our sleep.

What do we do with the prophetic words of Jesus to Saul in Acts 9:16, "for I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake," or the prophetic words to Paul in Acts 20:23, "the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city that bonds and afflictions await me." Or the word of the Lord to Isaiah (48:10), "I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." Or Peter's encouragement to the persecuted church, (1 Peter 4:19) "let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."

You have heard that "by His stripes you are healed" (Isaiah 53:5 & 1 Peter 2:24), yes! But the healing referred to in both passages is referring to Salvation. In 1 Peter that we might "die to sin and live to righteousness" and Isaiah, "He was pierced for our transgressions."

Do I believe that the Lord heals? Absolutely! Have I seen healing? Yes! Do I believe that healing should be an expectation of faith? No. Do I ask for healing? Yes, and for wisdom, for each of the fruits of the Spirit and for wherever is needed for his will to be done in and through my life.
If my suffering is used by the Lord to accomplish his will, then I want to be found faithful, regardless of my experience, and to only seek for His will to be done and not mine.

If you would like to be blessed by the incredible life of the Australian evangelist, Nick Vujicic who was born without arms or legs and who does not let his "experience" define his faith but has a faith that completely defines his experience, go to www.lifewithoutlimbs.org (CAUTION: you may never recover from what you see and read).

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