Many believers wrestle with a profound question when facing illness and suffering: if prayer is powerful, Why Doesn’t God heal everyone? This question becomes even more poignant when considering passages like James 5:14-16, which speaks of the “prayer of faith” and its potential to heal the sick. To truly understand this, we need to unpack what the Bible means by the “prayer of faith” and address some common misunderstandings surrounding divine healing.
James Cymbala, in his book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, aptly stated, “The great battle of our spiritual lives is ‘Will you believe?’ It is not, ‘Will you try harder?’ or ‘Can you make yourself worthy?’ It is squarely a matter of believing that God will do what only he can do.” This principle is essential when we examine James’s words on prayer and healing:
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:13–16 ESV)
Often, the phrase “prayer of faith” is interpreted in ways that set up unrealistic expectations and can lead to disappointment. One common misconception is that the prayer of faith is a declaration of unwavering certainty, demanding healing from God. This perspective suggests that if healing doesn’t occur, it’s due to a deficiency in the believer’s faith. This can be incredibly damaging, adding guilt and self-doubt to the burden of illness.
Another mistaken view is that the prayer of faith involves a commanding approach, where believers “rebuke” sickness and “command” healing in Jesus’ name. While there are instances in the New Testament where Jesus and the apostles addressed illness directly, James’s instruction here is specifically about prayer – communication with God. Focusing solely on commanding sickness can sometimes overshadow the crucial element of seeking God’s will in prayer.
It’s vital to recognize that the prayer of faith, as described by James, is not a foolproof formula guaranteeing physical healing in every situation. Verse 15, stating “the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick,” is sometimes misconstrued as a divine promise of guaranteed healing if prayed “correctly.” However, both Scripture and life experience reveal a more nuanced reality.
Consider the Apostle Paul, a man of immense faith and power. In his letter to Timothy, Paul mentioned leaving Trophimus, a trusted companion, in Miletus due to illness (2 Timothy 4:20). Furthermore, Paul advised Timothy to use natural remedies for his own health issues (1 Timothy 5:23), rather than solely relying on prayer for immediate healing. Paul didn’t question Trophimus’s faith or suggest he simply needed to pray harder; instead, he acknowledged the reality of sickness even among devoted believers.
Perhaps most tellingly, Paul himself pleaded with God repeatedly to remove a “thorn in the flesh,” a physical affliction that caused him great suffering (2 Corinthians 12:8). Despite his fervent prayers, God did not grant him physical healing. This example demonstrates that even the most powerful prayers of faith may not always result in the specific outcome of physical healing.
Tim Keller offered a profound perspective on this:
If God came to you tonight and said, “I want you to know that from now on, anything you ask for sincerely, with good motives, in complete faith, I will give it to you without condition”—if God actually said that to you, if you have any brains in your head at all, you would stop praying immediately and never pray again. And your friends, if they had brains in their head, would come to you and say, “Please never pray for me again.” Why? How many times have you sincerely sought after something you felt sure was good for you, only to find out later it was quite destructive?
This insightful quote highlights the limitations of our human perspective. We often desire things we believe are good for us, yet God, in His infinite wisdom, may have a different, greater purpose in mind. Looking back, many can identify times when unanswered prayers were, in fact, blessings in disguise.
So, why doesn’t God heal everyone if prayer is powerful? It’s not because prayer is ineffective or because God is unwilling. Instead, understanding the prayer of faith requires acknowledging God’s sovereignty and His broader perspective. James’s emphasis on prayer of faith isn’t about guaranteeing physical healing, but about highlighting that God often does heal in response to prayer. Those who lack faith are unlikely to seek God in prayer at all, while believers are encouraged to ask, trusting in His goodness and power.
Furthermore, examining the language of James 5:15-16 reveals a deeper dimension. James uses the Greek word sozei, typically translated as “saved,” in connection with the sick person, while using “healed” in relation to sin. This subtle distinction suggests a connection between physical sickness and spiritual well-being. While we often prioritize physical healing, James points to the ultimate healing – salvation from sin.
Ultimately, the root of sickness in the world stems from the curse of sin, not necessarily individual sins, but the broader consequence of sin entering creation. Therefore, while physical healing is a gracious gift from God, spiritual healing and salvation are of far greater and eternal significance. If God uses sickness to draw us closer to Himself, leading to spiritual healing, that is a profound and complete form of healing.
In conclusion, the prayer of faith is not a demand for a specific outcome, but a humble and bold request to a loving and powerful God. It’s a prayer for healing, whether physical or spiritual, in this life or the life to come. As Jen Wilkin wisely stated, “The prayer of faith is a faith not in a particular outcome, but in the God of all outcomes.” We pray in faith, trusting in God’s character and ability, even while holding space for unanswered questions and accepting His sovereign will. Understanding why doesn’t God heal everyone leads us not to doubt prayer, but to deepen our faith in the God who ultimately desires our wholeness, both body and soul.
