Does God Always Heal the Sick When we ask Him to do So?

During Jesus' earthly ministry He never refused anyone who asked for healing. Therefore we may assume that it is God's perfect will to heal everyone. Jesus knew whether a sickness was caused by evil spirits, unconfessed sin, organic dysfunction or if it was a psychosomatic disorder. Of it was a disease, He would speak to it; if it was caused by a demon, He would cast out the demon; if it was caused by sin, He would forgive the sinner.

God's promises in the Bible are accompanied by a provision -- and this provision must be met before the blessing comes. In healing, the provision is FAITH. On the other hand, one may be full of faith that he will be healed yet he isn't. For instance, the apostle Paul entreated God three times to take away to take away his "thorn n the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are not man's ways. We can only pray that He will bring down his redemptive purpose for the sick.

Others are sick because they constantly disregard the laws for good health. They are not likely to recover until they stop living wrongly. For instance, a former chain smoker told how his night coughs have stopped; he now breathes easier, and his food tastes better.

There are people who enjoyed being sick -- their sickness is used as an excuse not to face up to life. They are not healed because they don't want to be. Others harbor unconfessed sin. They seem holy and righteous on the surface, but are filled with resentment inside. There are still others who are sick because of demonic activity. Prayer for healing will not work for them because the demon has to be addressed and cast out, usually by someone else.

And in certain cases healing does not take place because the individual's spirit and mind are not in a condition where he or she can be receptive to what God offers. Others are so overcome by shock, grief, desolation, or pain that it is impossible for them to focus on the healing from God.

The Bible (see Revelation 21:4) promises that in the age to come, God will do away with every tear from our eyes. All healing will, at last, be complete and permanent.