Craig Clouston

Healed or Cured?

My grace is sufficient for you.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Braden’s back pain had turned into a constant fire. The burning had become so intense that he couldn’t sit at his computer or stand for more than five minutes at a time before needing to lie on an icepack to suppress the pain. With the knowledge that God could heal him if He chose to, yet receiving no appreciable healing in response to his constant prayers had him questioning his faith. Didn’t he believe enough? His pastor had told him that healing isn’t based on someone’s spiritual performance. “Am I not living right? What's wrong with me?”

Running into a friend who’d been injured several years ago, Braden asked, “How do you do it, Quentin ? How do you remain optimistic and light-hearted in the midst of your pain? Aren’t you angry because God hasn’t healed you?”

“No, Braden, I’m not.” Quentin said. “Jesus never promised to take away all my pain. Isaiah 53:5 says that by his stripes, some translations say wounds, I am healed. I’ve learned that healing doesn’t necessarily mean God restoring me to perfect physical health, although He certainly could if He chose to. His healing promise means He’ll provide the grace necessary for me to walk in righteousness in spite of my physical suffering. What you’re talking about is being cured. Even Paul dealt with suffering of a physical nature. Yet his spirit-man was in perfect health.”

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Since mankind’s fall in Eden we’ve been under attack spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Following Jesus comes with only one guarantee: we are fire-proof! The gates of Hell shall not prevail against us! Matthew 16:18 KJV

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, set apart for the Gospel, was subjected to beatings, imprisonment, even the thorn in his side. He suffered until the day he died. So what makes us think we merit an idyllic life?

The Christian life is full of peril. Living for Christ can be more uncomfortable than dying for Him. But if we focus on Jesus, and our final reward, we’ll find healing that overshadows any cure we fail to receive.

Prayer

“This pain is unpleasant and I don’t like it, Lord. Teach me to walk humbly in grace, and to focus on You instead of my problems. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”