When it comes to delayed or denied healing, many people struggle with I John 5:15. Joni Eareckson Tada was one of those people. If you don’t know Joni’s story, she was paralyzed in a tragic accident in her teens, leaving her a quadriplegic for life. But Joni’s faith did not falter. She diligently prayed and strongly believed God would heal her.
It has been well over 50 years since Joni’s accident, and Joni is still a paraplegic. But Joni recognizes that despite how some people interpret I John 5:15, God never promised to give us everything we ask for.
The apostle Paul also struggled with a denied healing. Three times, he begged God to heal him of an undescribed torment. God’s answer was simply, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
If you are struggling with a healing that has not happened, take heart. Though it may often feel like a weight, your illness may be your greatest strength. As Paul said, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses…For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
Joni Eareckson Tada was quoted in 2013, saying, “God may remove your suffering, and that will be great cause for praise. But if not, he will use it, he will use anything and everything that stands in the way of his fellowship with you. So let God mold you and make you, transform you from glory to glory. That’s the deeper healing.”
What are some examples of how delayed or denied healing has made you or someone you know stronger?
Pray this prayer for yourself or someone you love: God, I ask for healing where possible, and where it is not, I ask for my weakness to become my strength so that my illness draws me closer to you and lets your love shine through me.