. . . and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. (James 5:15)
When have you faced illness? What was hard about it? Sickness is something we all face at some point, but it can range from the common cold to a terminal diagnosis. In each case of sickness, we find ourselves out of control. Illness is not something we choose but something that happens to us. At each level, it is a reminder that our bodies are broken and are impacted by the brokenness around us. When we are sick or know someone who is, we ask for prayer because it is an area we realize a lack of control and the need for God’s help. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. This is what we need when we realize we are not in control—belief that God can do what we cannot and He can fix what is broken. When God meets a need, He isn’t limited to resolution at a temporary level, He can be the source of complete healing and a permanent solution. God not only meets our physical needs but also spiritual needs.
Where we crave solutions for the problems we see, God is ready to address the surface and also the healing we need most—forgiveness of sin and freedom from shame.
- What are some ways illness has made you feel out of control? What have you done to try to find a solution?
- How does it encourage you that God is ready to restore physically and spiritually? What is special about that?
- Pray for someone you know who is ill and struggling.
