Help! I am not Healed

As much as I am excited to see people receive their healing in the meetings, I am always very concerned for those who feel that nothing has happened to them. In most healing services, there always seem to be just as many, if not more, who are not healed as are healed. What should someone do if having had faith and some prayer ministry, the person still doesn't feel any better? Don't be discouraged. Many believers have faced this issue. I trust that these thoughts will be helpful to you in your journey to being made whole.

1. Remember that healing is sometimes a Process, not just an Instantaneous Event. Many of the testimonies of healing that we hear are very dramatic. In the context of evangelism, God performs instant miracles so that the lost will be convinced of the Gospel. But many receive divine healing from the Lord over a period of time. In the New Testament, Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:27); Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23); Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20); and Paul (Galatians 4:13-14) were each on the journey to healing like many of us. God does not always do instant miracles but He has promised to be our healer. James 5:14-16. Whether it takes minutes, months or even years, the important thing is that we get healed.

2. Healing may be a Question of Timing (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Perhaps God wants to do some work on our character, and to use the difficulty to help us (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). Perhaps our healing will bring God greater glory if it comes later, as with Lazarus (John 11:6). The lame man healed at the Gate (Acts 3:8) was probably seen by Jesus on numerous occasions, but he remained unhealed until the time was right. Many came to the Lord as a result. We should trust in the Lord's wisdom. I promise you, you haven't been forgotten.

3. We should Never Give Up! Jesus said, "Ask and it will given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). This amazing promise must be balanced with the Lord's other teaching on prayer which is that we need to be persistent (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8). Just as Naaman had to dip in the Jordan seven times (2 Kings 5:10), there is good reason to keep on asking for healing. Sometimes having faith involves coming back for prayer repeatedly even though we feel no different. Don't give up! Pray Until Something Happens!

4. Does Personal sin Block healing? There are some rare instances of this (John 5:14 and Revelation 2:22). God may want to challenge us in the area of forgiveness (Mark 11:25), or some other sin (James 5:16). But while it might be useful to ask these sorts of questions, we shouldn't take this to be the normal case by any means. Nobody's perfect and all healing comes from God's grace.

5. Do I have Enough Faith to be healed? While it is certainly essential to exercise our faith in healing, it only needs to be the size of a mustard seed (Luke 17:6) and we all have that! So when you have received prayer, expect to recover. This is often best demonstrated by attempting to do something you couldn't do before. We often find that the miracle happens at that moment!

6. What about taking my Medicine?
I believe that until you have been checked by your doctor, you should never stop taking any essential medicines. This is really important. Taking your medicine will not "unheal you" if God has healed you, so let the doctor be the one to take you off your medication. This is not doubt or unbelief and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's just sensible. Just as the sailors on Jonah's ship prayed and then took practical steps to help themselves (Jonah 1:5), so it is perfectly alright to pray and also to visit a doctor. Even the Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to take his medicine (1 Timothy 5:23). If God has healed you, the doctor will be able to confirm it.

7. Stay in the Word.
Our faith for healing should be rooted in the Word of God. While you are waiting for your healing, take time to study the numerous scriptures concerning healing. As you meditate on these things (Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2) the Word will work in you like a seed in the ground (Mark 4:26-28). Then, as you come for prayer, or as you pray at home, you can put your faith in God's promise and stand upon it.

8. Always Keep it Honest.
Although we are encouraged to have faith, if we don't feel better there is no shame in owning up to that! That doesn't change the truth about healing. Remember the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) and Abraham and Sarah (Romans 4:19-21). The "facts" were that the woman was ill and Sarah was barren, but the "truth" was that Jesus was a healer. Some may feel slightly better after prayer but know that they are certainly not fully cured. We should thank God even for a small change and seek further improvement through our own personal prayers or by coming for further ministry in church.

So What Shall I do Now?

* Be encouraged to come for prayer whenever you aren't well. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't visit the doctor - even Paul had a physician travelling with him (Colossians 4:14). But we want to commit all things to God and look to Him.
* Come expectant! The worse that can happen in a ministry time is that you can begin to get better. The best is that you can receive an instant miraculous cure!
* Allow the prayer minister to do the praying, rather than you. This is not the time for you to pray but to receive. It is impossible to drink and speak at the same time!
* Don't be concerned about falling. Some people fall over when they receive prayer and that can be a wonderful thing. But this is certainly not essential and didn't happen in Jesus' ministry!
* After prayer, begin to do something you haven't been able to do before. You might be amazed at what has happened!
* If you don't feel any better, there is no need to make anything up. But don't be discouraged. You have moved a step closer to being healed than you were before.
* If you truly feel healed, go back to your doctor and have him check you out.

Keeping your Healing

It is not uncommon for people who receive healing to sometimes face a battle to "keep the healing" later. Don't be astonished if after some weeks or months, or even the next morning, you sense some of the symptoms trying to creep back. While this may shake your faith, this isn't the time to be upset or disappointed but rather the time to fight! Rebuke the condition and refuse to return to an "ill mindset;" stay in prayer, the Word and among a community of faith-filled believers.

Scriptures for Meditation

"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases" Psalm 103:2-3

"People brought all their sick to Jesus and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed" Matthew 14:35-36

"Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well" James 5: 14-15