Faith is the anchor that holds us steady in the storm, a lifeline connecting us to God even when the waves of life threaten to pull us under. It has been the thread that has woven every part of my life. Over the years, I’ve prayed for countless things, some small and seemingly insignificant, others so monumental that only God could intervene. Even in the simple, everyday moments, like when I misplace something, instead of wearing myself out searching, I stop and pray, asking God to show me where it is. And more often than not, He leads me right to it. His answers, both big and small, have left me in awe and reminded me just how present and personal He truly is.
But if I’m being honest, there is one area that has tested my faith like no other – Healing. I don’t struggle to believe in healing when it’s a headache or a non-life-threatening illness. I’ve seen God move in those moments. I’ve witnessed His power in miraculous ways, not just in others’ lives but in my own. Yet, when it comes to life-threatening diseases, like cancer, or when I’ve pleaded for the life of someone at death’s door, my faith has been shaken and I find myself wrestling with unanswered prayers.
Recently, my aunt became gravely ill. For five weeks, I sat by her bedside, pouring out my heart to God. I prayed every scripture I could think of about healing:
“By His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
“Healing is the children’s bread” (Matthew 15:26).
“The Lord sustains him on his sickbed……” (Psalm 41:3)
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…” (Matthew 17:20).
I reminded God of His promises, His miracles, His power. I believed He could heal her. I knew He could. Yet, despite my prayers and unwavering hope, healing didn’t come. My aunt passed away, and with her passing, a part of my faith felt shattered. I questioned myself – Did I not believe enough? Was my faith too small?
In my grief, I reached out to a pastor who reminded me of a profound truth – healing and miracles are stepping stones to faith, not the foundation of it. Faith isn’t born from miracles; rather, miracles flow from faith. And the greatest miracle of all isn’t physical healing, it’s the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus.
This doesn’t mean that praying for healing is wrong or that God doesn’t heal. He absolutely does. But the mystery of God’s will reminds us that His plans are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Sometimes, healing doesn’t come in the way we hope or expect. Sometimes, the answer to our prayers is not the physical restoration of our loved ones but their eternal peace in His presence.
As I reflect on these past few weeks, I realize that my faith isn’t defined by the outcome of my prayers, but by my trust in God’s character. He is still good, even when I don’t understand His ways. He is still faithful, even when my heart is broken. Faith doesn’t mean we won’t question or wrestle with God. It means we trust Him enough to bring our doubts, our grief, and our pain to Him. It means we believe that even when we don’t see the healing we long for, God is still at work, bringing beauty from ashes and life from death.
My aunt’s passing was a painful reminder of the fragility of life. But it also reminded me of the hope we have in Christ. Her healing didn’t come in the way I prayed for, but I trust she is now in the presence of the One who wipes away every tear and makes all things new. God’s ultimate promise isn’t that we won’t face sickness or death but that through Him, death is not the end. Because of Jesus, we have the hope of eternal life, a life free from pain, sickness, and sorrow.
If you’re wrestling with questions about healing or struggling to understand unanswered prayers, know that you’re not alone. Bring your doubts to God. Pour out your heart to Him. And when the answers don’t come the way you expect, lean into His love and trust that He is still working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
Faith doesn’t always see the miracle, but it clings to the God of miracles. And that is enough.
