Where Is God In The Midst Of Sickness?
Have you ever had a moment where you wondered where God was in the midst of your sickness or why the miracle you have been hoping for has not yet become become a reality? Maybe you have had to battle a disease your whole life or know a loved one suffering from a sickness... There is someone you may know that is still looking for a miracle, and the thought has crossed your mind - where is God in all of this? I sure have... on multiple occasions.
I used to wonder why my healing did not come. I was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) and since I was a baby, I have gone through various surgeries. I’m dependent on a ‘pacemaker’ that helps my heart beat. While I may look totally fine on the outside, some days can be a struggle with my health and a journey of being watchful of my limitations.
There are consequences to being born with such a condition. Almost every aspect of my growing up has had the consequences of missing out in school. I’ve had to be absent because of heart surgeries and be so aware of the do’s and don'ts that can affect my heart.
After heart surgery at age 9
A few months after heart surgery at age 18
Have I and others prayed multiple times for my heart to be healed? Yes, of course!
Do I believe that God can do a creative miracle? Yes, of course!
Does that mean there is no miracle because I still live with this disease? No, because God is still at work.
Here’s what I have come to realize. My idea of a miracle is different to God’s. My idea of a miracle is that God heals my heart completely and I don’t have to be dependent on a pacemaker anymore. This may be true but in believing this, I limited the miracle to just my perception. Just because a miracle doesn’t happen the way you want it or picture it to happen, doesn’t mean a miracle is not taking place. God’s miraculous power is always at work, not necessarily in the way we may picture it because God’s ways are always higher than our ways.
“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
You must be thinking as you are reading this, “yea sure, the little miracles and being grateful is great but wouldn’t you just want to be healed completely and not have this disease anymore?” 100% Yes, and I believe God will do it!
But what I’m trying to say is God’s healing and miraculous power is already at work.
The miracle is being alive today when the doctors told my parents I will not live past my first birthday. The miracle is that my brain functions well although the doctors predicted it would not. The miracle is that I was able to graduate from university with a degree. The miracle for me is a daily one, when I wake up and realize that it is not by my strength. God gives me the strength!
It may not look like what I imagined but the fact that I can wake up everyday, despite this condition, and go to work and lead a ‘normal’ life... that is a miracle. Sometimes it's hard to medically explain how I’m able to do what I can do but that’s God.
Sometimes we take the little miracle for granted because we are so fixated on a big ‘wow’ miracle moment that we fail to see that God is always at work. Maybe for me, it's in the area of healing but the miracle may look different for you.
I’m not saying that God is not going to heal me the way I have imagined but don’t let the devil fool you into thinking that God is not at work on your behalf. That’s what I’ve learned.
I’ve learned to look for the miracle in the small things. I’ve learned to trust and rely on God in the process. The beautiful thing is that because of what is happening, I am always being made more aware of Him in my daily life.
So, where is God in the midst of sickness? He is right here, holding my hand and guiding me every step of the way. He promised to never leave me nor forsake me and He is true to His Word. God is at work, I've seen that in my life, and we just need to trust and rely on God!
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Written by Grace Jerald
Grace Jerald currently lives in Kuala Lumpur and is part of the Kingdomcity team.