Times of sickness are unavoidable in this fallen world.
Some illnesses are fairly minor. Viruses and infections, colds and flu, chicken pox and pink eye.
Others are much more serious, threatening our well-being and in the worst cases, our very lives.
I’m writing this post with great care, because I’ve been there, and in many ways I’m still there, walking with loved ones through various illnesses.
My husband had a brush with cancer. I have loved ones with chronic illnesses like Lyme’s and lupus and others with mystery illnesses that are yet undiagnosed.
But I’ve never been in your shoes.
So I don’t want to offer you empty clichés. I don’t want to take your pain lightly. I don’t want to write as though I completely understand what you’re going through, because I don’t. I’ve walked the path of pain, but I haven’t walked your path.
I’m convinced that the very best thing I can do for you is to commit you to the One who knows all things, and to remind you of His complete and utter goodness.
Even if it doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. And even if it doesn’t look the way we want it to. And especially when it doesn’t look the way we think it should.
Today I want to encourage you, my fellow believer, to pray for healing, even as I remind you with great gentleness that the healing of your soul has already been accomplished, and the complete healing of your body will only ever come in heaven.
I urge you to ask for your sickness to be removed even as I whisper assurances in your ear that times of trial bring growth and refinement and strength and the sweetness of His presence like you’ve never experienced it before.
To that end, it’s my earnest desire that praying the Scriptures below would be an encouragement to your heart as you press on.
Prayers for Strength in Times of Sickness
Give the LORD praise for being the God of all flesh, and the One who asks, “Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) Agree with Him that the answer is a resounding NO! Nothing is too difficult for Him, and even the things that are humanly impossible are possible with Him (Mark 10:27).
Thank God for knowing you intimately, for seeing you in your mother’s womb and for knowing every facet of your body and your life (Psalm 139:13-16). Praise Him that no aspect of your body or your health is a secret to Him, and that nothing takes Him by surprise.
Claim God’s promise that because the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal body through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11).
Acknowledge to God that decay is part of this sin-inflicted world. Ask God to help you not lose heart as your body is decaying, because your spirit is being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). Thank God for this continual restoration of your spirit.
Revel in these precious promises from your God: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). Claim each promise for your very own.
Remind God of His promised grace that is sufficient, and of His power that is made perfect in weakness. Ask that He would enable you to embrace your weaknesses, knowing that they open the door for the power of God to rest upon you (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Praise your Savior for His invitation that all who labor and are heavy laden should come to Him. Claim His promised rest (Matthew 11:28).
Ask God to grant you spiritual eyes that see the blessing that accompanies suffering. Pray that He would help you rejoice in your sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put you to shame, because God’s love has been poured into your heart through the Holy Spirit who has been given to you (Romans 5:3-5).
Pray that God would give you power when you are faint, and strength when you are weak. Remind God of His promise that those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:29-31). Ask Him to help you wait on Him.
Rejoice that one day, the Lord will will wipe away every tear from your eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:3-4). Ask that God would keep this hope fresh in your heart.
Take some time in stillness before the Lord, casting all your anxieties on Him, resting in the truth that He cares for you (I Peter 5:7).
Thank your Savior for being wounded for your transgressions and crushed for your iniquities; ponder the wonder of your peace with God being secured through the punishment He endured, and that your healing was made possible by His stripes (Isaiah 53:5). Share with Him all your pain; He understands.
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the LORD, the God of all flesh, and nothing is too difficult for You. Sometimes You show Your goodness through healing, and other times You show Your goodness by strengthening us to endure suffering. I pray that You would increase our faith and open our eyes to see Your purpose for our lives. In closing, my heart echoes the psalmist’s:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever
Amen.
