The Healing Possible Through His Word

Prayer-Soldier

The Healing Possible Through His Word

Scripture:

The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling. As a servant longs for the shade, as the hireling looks for the end of his work; so I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights. If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall I rise? And again, I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness.

My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any hope. Remember that my life is but wind, and my eye shall not return to see good things.
(Job 7:1-4, 6-7)

For if I preach the gospel, it is no glory to me: for a necessity lies upon me. For woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation is committed to me. What is my reward then? That preaching the gospel, I may deliver the gospel without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For whereas I was free as to all, I made myself the servant of all, that I might gain the more.

To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I might save all. And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may be made partaker thereof.
(1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23)

And immediately going out of the synagogue they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. And the mother of the wife of Simon lay in a fit of a fever: and forthwith they tell him of her. And coming to her, he lifted her up, taking her by the hand; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And when it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all that were ill and that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were troubled with diverse diseases. And he cast out many devils: and he suffered them not to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early, going out, he went into a desert place: and there he prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said to him: All seek for you. And he said to them: Let us go into the neighboring towns and cities, that I may preach there also; for to this purpose am I come. And he was preaching in their synagogues and in all Galilee and casting out devils.
(Mark 1:29-39)

Reflection:

We are sometimes left to wonder as to what we have done and to where are we going. On our journey, ills and trials seem to infect our day. All of our maladies are not physical, for we also suffer illness of the spirit. As so many things appear to be beyond our control, we are tempted to wonder where we are to find hope? We wonder, what will lift us up from our suffering? We wonder, what trial awaits us as we prepare for our day?

As we descend into suffering, we seek healing, but we must be wary of the charlatans among those who offer help. We must also recognize that as our spirit fails, often so does our body. Stress suppresses our systems of healing, making us vulnerable to disease. It is not that stress itself is bad, but as we allow it to become chronic, it wears us down and saps us of hope.

From whence does stress come? It may come from the threat of the moment, which spurs the fight or flight mechanisms of our physical nature. It may also come from our relationships, our financial concerns, our physical needs, or it may be self-induced by how we perceive the world. As conflict swells around us, we are sometimes left to wonder, where might we seek refuge?

If we look to the Word of our creator, the secret of hope is there to be found. Through His scripture, we see the history of generations past. If we carefully observe, the days of happiness were to be discovered as the people turned to God and shared the blessings of His love. As civility, compassion, and charity are shared from heart to heart, the ills of the world are suppressed. If we look back, it is the times of selfishness, the times where the people turn to worldly desires which infect the day.

Those who turn away from their Creator do not wish to be accountable to Him, but they should pause and ask of themselves, to what do they allow themselves to be seduced? How are we so often tempted to turn away from His commandments; a call to do no harm, a call to love? How is it we find solace in the opposites of that to which God encourages us? How do we find comfort in evil and hate over kindness and love?

And so it was, the Word made flesh walked among the people to bring to them forgiveness and healing. He had the power to heal the body, but He came with a much greater power; the ability to heal the soul. The people gathered to Jesus so He might cast out the ills of the body, but they were so much more blessed when He cast out the demons which endeavor to ruin the soul.

We are tempted to believe that such healing is no longer possible within our day, but Jesus told us, if we believe in Him, we can do the works He has done and even greater ones than these. (John 14:12) It is natural that we should desire to heal the afflictions of the body, but such efforts are merely temporary. The work which is greater is the ability to heal the ills of the spirit. If we are to do so, then, we give no place for evil to reside.

Blessed are those who share His Word, for they encourage the healing of the world. Let us, then, seek to listen to His commandments, the commandments of love. Let us allow His Word to heal our soul.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do our troubles seem to overwhelm us?

In what ways do we suffer more from the ills of the spirit over the ills of the body?

To whom may we turn for the health of our soul, not just for this day, but for eternity?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier