It’s a difficult question that many Christians struggle with: Why doesn’t God heal everyone? We see stories in the Bible of Jesus miraculously healing people of all kinds of diseases and disabilities. Yet, in our own lives and communities, faithful believers still suffer from terminal illnesses, chronic pain, and physical limitations. If God has the power to heal, why does He choose not to heal everyone?
While there may not be one simple answer, here are several biblical perspectives to consider when wrestling with this challenging topic:
1. Healing is not always God’s will
As hard as it is to accept, physical healing is not guaranteed in this life. God is sovereign and His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). We cannot presume to fully understand His purposes and plans. The Apostle Paul pleaded fervently for God to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” yet God replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Rather than physical healing, God had spiritual growth in mind for Paul.
While God can and does heal, our supreme hope is the complete healing and restoration of our bodies that will come in eternity, free from the pain and suffering of this fallen world (Revelation 21:4). God may have reasons unknown to us for allowing affliction to remain for a season.
2. Lack of healing does not indicate lack of faith
It’s important not to assume that sickness or disability is due to a lack of faith. The Bible presents many examples of faithful believers who were not healed: Elisha died from an illness (2 Kings 13:14), Timothy had stomach ailments (1 Timothy 5:23), and the Apostle Paul had his unidentified “thorn” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
When addressing the man born blind in John 9, Jesus corrected the belief that his blindness was due to sin. Instead, Jesus explained that the man’s affliction provided an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed. Our illnesses and disabilities have purposes too, even when healing does not come.
3. Heaven is our ultimate hope, not physical healing
As much as we seek miraculous cures in this life, our eternal destiny is far more important. That is not to minimize the pain and tragedy of suffering, but to put it in eternal perspective. As Paul wrote, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). The trials we face on earth cannot compare to the joys of heaven.
While pleading for God to remove his thorn in the flesh, Paul also wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Our ultimate hope is heaven, not physical comfort on earth. The healing we need most has already been accomplished through Christ’s atoning death and resurrection.
4. Miraculous gifts of healing were unique to the early church
The New Testament records many examples of miraculous healing, most notably during Jesus’ earthly ministry and in the early apostolic period of the church. However, these healing gifts appeared to fade over time. Paul could no longer heal Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27) or leave Trophimus sick (2 Timothy 4:20). The age of miracles seemed to pass with the last of the original apostles.
The healing gift, like tongues and prophecy, served a specific purpose for authenticating the gospel message in the early church. While God still hears and answers prayer for healing according to His will, we should not demand or assume miracles.
5. God uses sickness and suffering for purposes
Though not directly caused by sin as in the case of the man born blind, our sicknesses can serve valuable spiritual purposes. Afflictions draw us closer to God, teach us to value life and health, build compassion for others, and equip us to comfort those who suffer.
Writing about his own torment, Job said, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). James instructs, “Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-4). Suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3-4).
For believers, sickness and disabilities have purposes for spiritual growth, refinement, and molding us into Christ’s image. Healing may come, or it may not. But God promises to use all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
6. Christians should help the sick through prayer and acts of service
When people are ill or disabled, God calls us to pray for their healing according to His will. James says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:13-15). We should petition God on behalf of the sick, asking also for improved medical treatments.
We also have a duty to aid the suffering through practical service. As Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Make meals, provide respite care, offer transportation, or help with medical expenses. Show Christ’s love through compassionate assistance.
7. Suffering draws us closer to Christ
For those enduring sickness and disability, be assured that God cares deeply and promises to sustain you. Though He may not remove the affliction, He provides comfort, strength, and grace sufficient for each day. Let us follow Paul’s example: “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Rather than bitterness or disillusionment, our hope is to become more Christ-like even in suffering. As Romans 8:17 promises, “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Suffering can produce greater intimacy with Jesus when we lean wholly on Him.
8. Our suffering will end in glory
For those who know Christ, sickness and disabilities are only temporary. Our pain will give way to glory, and affliction to joy. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
The day is coming when God will wipe away every tear, remove all pain and suffering, and make all things new (Revelation 21:4-5). In resurrected bodies, we will never again experience sickness, pain, grief, or disability. What a glorious hope for those who suffer!
9. God’s grace is sufficient in our weakness
When pleading for his thorn in the flesh to be removed, God said to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). We can take comfort that though illness remains, God’s grace abounds even more.
God sometimes chooses to display His strength through weak vessels. As Paul wrote, “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). The Lord is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). His grace shines brightly in our moments of desperation and dependence.
Rather than demanding deliverance, we can embrace this sufficient grace. As Paul modeled, we can learn to delight in disabilities and hardships for Christ’s sake, for when we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).
10. Our light afflictions are producing an eternal glory
In closing, we view suffering from an eternal perspective. Momentary trials on earth produce incomparable, eternal glory in heaven. As Paul wrote:
We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
May this eternal hope sustain and encourage all who suffer. Our sickness may not end on earth, but one day we will be healed. God promises to redeem our pain for eternal good.
