God's Resurrection PowerSample

Freedom from Physical Pain and Suffering

Sickness, pain, and deterioration afflict our bodies here on earth. Occasionally, this is self-inflicted—we don’t care for ourselves properly, or we abuse our bodies. Frequently, though, our physical ills arise because we live in a broken world in imperfect, mortal bodies. We don’t always know why, and God doesn’t promise us understanding.

Sometimes God provides miraculous healing—the type of healing that can only be explained by our heavenly Father removing the sickness or physical ailment from our lives. God works through people today, defying medical knowledge and understanding to bring healing.

We can pray and ask for healing, or others can pray on our behalf. Scripture tells us to pray for our needs, including freedom from sickness and physical pain! James 5:13 says, “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray.” Sometimes, God uses modern or holistic medicine practices to heal our bodies. Unfortunately, there are many times when we don’t see healing on this side of heaven.

As God has redeemed our souls through the blood of Jesus Christ—raising Him from the dead, He also redeems and restores our physical bodies. Believers are promised new bodies in heaven. While our earthly bodies experience physical pain, sicknesses, cancers, and brokenness, our eternal heavenly bodies will be completely new and perfect. We will be restored fully, mind, soul, and body! (See 2 Corinthians 5:1-9)

Learning to trust fully in God’s timing and plan for our redemption and restoration in light of our physical pain can be a difficult process. Yet we know that our God is a God of the impossible! He defeated sin and death and conquered the grave. He has promised us full and abundant lives through Jesus Christ (John 10:10). God’s ways are not our ways, and what abundance means to Him often does not align with how the world and our flesh define it.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul writes about a thorn in his flesh. However, we’re never told if it is a physical, mental, or spiritual “thorn.” We do know that Paul asked the Lord three times to remove it from him, and three times the Lord did not (2 Corinthians 12:8). God’s reasoning for leaving this thorn intact is never revealed; however, we do know that when we are weak and in pain, we often cry out to God. We cling to His strength and lean on His direction. Paul goes on to explain how the thorn has produced steadfast faith in Corinthians 12:9-10:

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Let’s take our suffering and physical pain and turn them into motivation to cling to the promises of Jesus Christ.

In Christ, we are promised to be made new (2 Corinthians 5:17); in Christ, we are promised abundant life (John 10:10); in Christ, we are promised unlimited access to God (John 14:15-17); in Christ, we are promised heaven—where there is no sickness, pain, depression, or other earthly sorrows (Revelation 21:4).

Heavenly Father, we trust that You are the great Physician, Healer, and Provider. Your ways are higher than ours. You have a plan and a purpose for our physical misfortunes here on earth. We trust that You are working things out in Your timing. Lord, we ask that You bring miraculous healing to our bodies now. In Your name, we ask that our physical sickness and pain be removed and our bodies restored. We trust You are still good even if this isn’t Your will. We know that we will be fully restored and healed one day. Give us the strength and endurance to trust in Your timing while we wait. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Declare this truth over yourself as you pray and meditate on God’s Word: While pain and suffering may afflict me on this side of heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I declare victory over physical limitations. Second Corinthians 4:16 says, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” Christ’s resurrection power flows through me! In Him, I am being restored, redeemed, and renewed each day.

I stand firm on the promises of God and trust that His plan is greater than mine. I am promised restoration in 1 Peter 5:10, and I speak this truth over my body today: “In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”