Transforming Truth

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” – 1 John 5:14 (ESV)

As a child, my experience with prayers for healing involved traveling preachers who called the sick up to the front of the church for the laying on of hands, anointing oil, or a prayer cloth. Although I grew to understand that divine healing wasn’t a guaranteed outcome of these practices, I struggled with uncertainty and doubt when my own desperate prayers for physical healing were unanswered.

In 2012, a sudden panic attack spiraled into a grueling year of chronic, debilitating anxiety that crushed me both physically and emotionally. Even though I knew that God wouldn’t expect me to white-knuckle my way through this battle with my own strength, I felt responsible, as though my faith should have been “strong enough” to keep anxiety from spiraling into physical symptoms.

Not My Will

I prayed that my nervous system would align with the scriptural truths that would keep anxiety at bay. Driven by a fear that turning to medication meant my faith was too weak or that I was giving up on divine healing, I pleaded with the Lord for physical relief. Why wouldn’t it be in His will to “take it away” so I could be a walking testimony of His healing power?

Friend, if you’re struggling with a physical or mental setback that you think you should be “strong enough” to overcome, I understand your distress. Maybe you’ve also been told that if your faith was stronger and you didn’t “give up” on God, your prayers for healing might be answered.

Let me encourage you with this truth: God hears—and answers—your prayers (Psalm 18:6, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 66:19). Scripture does instruct us to pray for healing (James 5:14), and even Jesus pleaded with the Father to “remove this cup” when He faced death on the cross (Luke 22:42).

Your Will Be Done

However, God’s answer to our prayers may not be the one we are specifically praying for. Just as Jesus concluded His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane with “not my will, but yours, be done,” we’re also taught to pray “according to His will.”

Even though Jesus’ ministry was full of miraculous healings, Scripture makes it clear that physical healing isn’t always a part of God’s plans. When God’s response isn’t to remove your source of suffering, as the Apostle Paul described in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, you can still trust in His goodness and plan to work through your hardships to fulfill His purposes (Romans 8:28).

Such complete surrender may not happen overnight. I struggled for many months to let go of my expectations for God’s response to my prayers. However, you can be assured that God is with you in the wrestling. He’s hearing your prayers, and He promises His peace, presence, and strength (Philippians 4:6-7) to guard your heart and mind as He works all things for your good and His glory.  

 

Prayer Response:

Heavenly Father,

I am so grateful to know that You hear my prayers and will always respond with Your presence and peace. Your Word tells us that You are Jehovah Rapha, the LORD who heals. However, I understand that this doesn’t mean You will always heal our physical bodies on this side of heaven. Help me anchor my heart in the truth that, if Your answer isn’t to remove this “thorn,” as the Apostle Paul prayed, I can trust that Your grace is sufficient and that Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Please guard my heart and mind with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. I surrender my expectations regarding Your response to my prayers and choose to trust in Your goodness, knowing that Your ways are higher than mine. Not my will, but Your will be done, Father. Help me to feel Your comfort and rely on Your strength and provision for today.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

  Questions for Reflection:

• Have unanswered prayers for healing or relief from suffering caused you to question the strength of your faith?
• How does Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane affect the way you view your unanswered prayers?
• What expectations or specific outcomes are you struggling to surrender to God right now?

 

Related Posts:

• Grateful for His Goodness When Life Feels Out of Control
• How to Rely on God’s Power When Affliction Persists
• When God’s Will Doesn’t Include Healing

 

Join the Conversation:

Are you struggling with a physical or mental setback that you think you should be “strong enough” to overcome? Share your reflections in the comments below. I’d love to pray for you!

*This devotional was published on Crossmap.com as part of the Daybreak Devotions series.