While our church had the 10 days of Prayer from January 8 to 18, my wife and I learned that our youngest son, who is 19 months old, was sick. When we took him to the emergency room, we were told that his platelet count was seriously low. I honestly was afraid and felt the need for prayer desperately. I shared this with the church members in the prayer meeting, and they prayed for my son. Moreover, Pastor Henry and the prayer ministry leaders arranged two weeks of special prayers for him and another boy with a health issue. As a pastor, I am usually in the position of praying for sick people, but this time I felt the desperate need of prayers for my sick child from my church family, and I was so encouraged by their prayers and comforting words for him. I do not know how to express my gratitude to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. It seems he needs more time to be healed. Please continue to pray for his full recovery.
This experience of mine has brought my attention to prayer for the sick. Based on Ellen G. White’s Ministry of Healing, Ch. 16, “Prayer for the Sick,” I am writing this week’s Pastor’s Corner. This topic is too broad to deal with in this short posting, so please understand that I only can talk about a few things.
When we stay healthy, it is easy for us to forget the Lord’s continuing mercies and offer no praise to God for His blessings. But when illness comes to us or our families and friends, we remember God and feel the need for divine help. “And never does our merciful God turn from the soul that in sincerity seeks Him for help. He is our refuge in sickness as in health” (MH 225). Our God is the LORD who heals us (Exodus 15:26), and Jesus is the Great Physician. Therefore, it is our privilege to pray to that LORD who heals us in the name of Jesus, the Great Physician, for our and other people’s healing. Especially, “Christ’s servants are the channel of His working, and through them, He desires to exercise His healing power. It is our work to present the sick and suffering to God in the arms of our faith. We should teach them to believe in the Great Healer. The Saviour would have us encourage the sick, the hopeless, the afflicted, to take hold upon His strength” (MH 226).
When we pray for our illness and for others who are struggling with different kinds of health issues, the first thing we need to do is to repent. If we have cherished sin in our hearts, the Lord will not listen to our prayers (Psalm 66:18). Accordingly, we must confess all our sins and ask for His forgiveness, relying completely on His mercy and grace. And then, we should turn away from our sinful ways and harmful habits that might have caused illnesses, and we should exhort those who are sick to do the same, but we would do that with tenderness and love.
Also, we need to recognize that in our weakness, “we do not know what we ought to pray for” (Rom 8:26). “We do not know whether the blessing we desire will be best or not.” Therefore, as Mrs. White suggests, our prayer must be like this: “Lord, thou knowest every secret of the soul. Thou art acquainted with these persons. Jesus, their Advocate, gave His life for them. His love for them is greater than ours can possibly be. If, therefore, it is for Thy glory and the good of the afflicted ones, we ask, in the name of Jesus, that they may be restored to health. If it be not Thy will that they may be restored, we ask that Thy grace may comfort and Thy presence sustain them in their sufferings” (MH 229). Christ is our model for prayer. His prayer was “yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). This is the same whether it is a prayer for illness or any other prayers. What we need to do is to trust in the LORD, who loves us and does the best things for us according to His good will.
It is not wrong that we use available medical treatment as we pray for healing. Sister White states: “Those who seek healing by prayer should not neglect to make use of the remedial agencies within their reach. It is not a denial of faith to use such remedies as God has provided to alleviate pain and to aid nature in her work of restoration. It is no denial of faith to co-operate with God, and to place themselves in the condition most favorable to recovery. God has put it in our power to obtain a knowledge of the laws of life. This knowledge has been placed within our reach for use. We should employ every facility for the restoration of health, taking every advantage possible, working in harmony with natural laws” (MH 231).
After we pray for the sick, we must leave the outcome entirely to God. Sister White also says: “When we have prayed for the recovery of the sick, whatever the outcome of the case, let us not lose faith in God. If we are called upon to meet bereavement, let us accept the bitter cup, remembering that a Father’s hand holds it to our lips. But should health be restored, it should not be forgotten that the recipient of healing mercy is placed under renewed obligation to the Creator” (MH 233). All we need to do is continue to pray fervently and persistently for the sick, leaving the outcome to God and praying for His will to be done. We must remember that God ultimately wants to grant us is eternal life in the new heavens and earth, not a temporary life on this earth. Even though we die or lose our loved ones in illness, God will give us and them what He is truly willing to grant. Things we do not understand now will make sense then.
When I was pastoring a newly planted church in South Korea, there was a high school student who was the son of one of the deaconesses of the church. When I met him for the first time, he had just lost his father. His father had died shortly after undergoing surgery for a heart condition. Sadly, when he had lost his father, he had lost his faith as well. He asked me a question: “If God truly exists, why did I pray so hard for my father’s restoration, and he didn’t answer my prayers?” He could not understand why at that moment, but God had been working in his heart. Later, he restored his faith and went to Sahmyook University, the Adventist university in Korea, where he majored in theology. This week, I heard he was hired by the West Central Korean Conference, my former conference in Korea, as a full-time pastor as of March 1 this year. I was so glad, so I texted him saying congratulations. He messaged me back: “Thank you, pastor, for helping me regain my faith.” I should tell you I did nothing, but God did all. It is all His grace. I still do not understand why God allowed his father to pass, but what I know is that God is loving and gracious, and He is always with us. I believe that he surely knows this truth and is willing to share it with others.
My dear church family, let us continue to pray for one another, especially for those who are sick. Let us put our complete trust in God and believe in His love and goodness. Thank you again to those who prayed for my child’s healing, and I will pray for you as well. I end this post with one of the most well-known Bible verses regarding prayer for the sick. May the Lord keep and bless you in this cold season!
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 5:13-16