Sight, riches, healing of the mind, Yea, all I need, in Thee I find. . . . "
Illnesses that result from the anxiety or depression caused by true guilt can be alleviated when true repentance and forgiveness occurs. God Heals Through the Confession of Sin
Many Christians live miserable, weakened, and often sickly lives because of disobedience and unconfessed sin. Such people can become completely well if they will deal with the sin. The psalmist spoke of God as the one "who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (Psalm 103:3–4). As with the healing that can follow initial conversion to Christ, this healing relates to illnesses caused by mental or emotional dysfunction.
God Heals Miraculously, in Keeping with His Sovereign Will
The Bible contains many examples of God actually healing people of organic diseases—those with no psychosomatic cause. There is present-day evidence of this as well. However, God does not heal all who call on Him or who are prayed for by others. "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34), but He heals some and not others with a divine selectivity which reflects His own eternal wisdom and will. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8).
This divine selectivity may be seen in the example of Paul, who prayed long for the removal of an affliction (2 Corinthians 12:8–10). God didn't heal Paul. He did, however, provide grace and strength in the situation. God is trying to teach us that "the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). The glorious will and ways of God came into focus in Paul's life when he learned that "when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).
None of this, however, should discourage or hinder us from praying in faith for the sick. God may answer our prayer of faith in ways that will amaze us. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is His command. You should be cautious, however, not to promise physical healing as a result of your prayer or the inquirer's prayer.
Helping Strategy
1. Reassure the inquirer of God's love and of His ability to meet all our