Is God still healing people?

Yes, He does … and it has to begin with me!

During last Sunday worship service, the preacher Pastor John Koe, after a series of praying for those who were sick, closed with this remark: “Healing is simple. And it is free. There is no pain and you get a new (he mentioned a body part of someone who he prayed for and got healed, so he claimed).” Making such remark can sound victorious and full of faith. What about those who are not healed after praying. I wondered how they were feeling at that moment. I know of a cell mate who is not healthy and need surgery soon. Was she praying for healing?

In a previous Sunday, Pastor John Koe also mentioned that what if you prayed for someone and he is not healed. He simply answered: “Next!” Then he elaborated, “keep on praying until someone gets healed, if this person does not get healed, move on to the next.” Is this the right way to do in a healing ministry, I mused? Is that what the Bible teaches about praying for the sick?

Christians are divided on the issue of whether God still bestows spiritual gifts, one of which is the gift of healing (1 Cor 12:9). What is this spiritual gift of healing?  Simply put; if you have prayed for someone and that person (Christians or non-Christian) got healed by God through your prayer, then you may have the gift of healing, even though some or most of your prayers may not result in divine healing. The way it is healed can also varies – progressive healing which is faster than normal medical healing or immediate healing. Some may argue against this view and claim that those with the gift of healing will have 100% success with immediate healing like Jesus did. Since we don’t see that happen, then the gift of healing has ceased. For me, that is too extreme, as we are not divine and it is God’s prerogative to heal. He is the healer; we are His agent by praying, not the healer. So, whatever ways God choose to heal or to delay healing, I rejoice. Hence, healing prayer is also part of my walk with God.

And so my journey with Him begins … with me!

Recently, God has been very gracious to me. Many of my prayers are answered affirmatively. So I decided to pray for healing for myself. Now, what should I pray?

Last year, during the June BPCEC church camp, I injured my index toe of my left foot and suffered a black toe. It has never been healed till today. Then, during the December Standard Chartered Marathon, I injured another 2 toes on my right foot, and ended up with 3 black toes. And so, I always wear socks to cover up my toes whenever I go for cell meetings. Can God changed something visible like black toes back to normal? Well, the best way to find out is to pray. And so, in February, I prayed that God will heal my injured toes. And then, I just forget about it. Even when I go for cell meetings, I no longer wear socks to cover my feet.

Then, a few days ago, as I was showering and washing my hair, I saw that the toes on my right foot have fully recovered. The index toe on the left foot which was black the longest for more than 9 month is still black. My first thought was: “The first shall be last and the last shall be first” – how amazing it is! Praise the Lord! I would expect that the toe that was injured 6 month earlier would be healed 6 month in advance than the other two toes.

OK. Some may doubt that this is God’s healing. But to me, something black can become normal in last than 3 weeks and visible to the eyes is amazing. But, why did God choose to heal only 2 toes and not all 3, and to reverse the order of healing – the last to heal first? I got no answer, and so now I am praying for that injured toe, … and wait for His healing.

Agape