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Understanding Why God Heals

God heals because He is a healer

I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer. EXODUS 15:26 ESV

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. PSALMS 147:3 ESV

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, pand with his wounds we are healed. ISAIAH 53:4-5 ESV

Healing has a purpose

When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” MATTHEW 8:5-17 ESV

Believe God can heal

Go; let it be done for you as you have believed. MATTHEW 8:13 ESV

Pray that God will heal

A centurion came forward to him, appealing to him… MATTHEW 8:5 ESV

Accept God’s answer to my prayer

“Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority…” MATTHEW 8:8-9a ESV

Accepting God’s answer is about living under his authority.
Demanding a different answer is about wanting to be in authority.

Every prayer is answered:

Jesus specifically healed a non-Jewish Centurion and Peter’s Mother-in-law because:

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” LUKE 7:3-5 ESV

…she rose and began to serve him. MATTHEW 8:15 ESV

When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. MATTHEW 8:10 ESV

Jesus says yes to healing for three reasons:

For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” MATTHEW 17:20 ESV

Your faith will not move mountains unless it can first move you.

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” MARK 9:24 ESV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Spend time setting aside the burdens of the day—perhaps by slowing your breath—inviting God into this time. Begin by asking God to help you be more real with yourself and with him during this time. When you ponder the Roman centurion, what elements of his faith challenge or inspire you? What would your life look like to have a level of faith like that? Ask God to reveal what ultimate confidence in Jesus might look like, especially in the context of your prayers that God doesn’t answer in the way that you might want or hope. Now imagine someone who has been healed by God not telling others about their healing. In what ways have you perhaps hidden the healing God has done in your life? Ask God to reveal new ways where you can tell others of the good things he has done for you (remember that God never shames us, so reject any feelings of shame; rather, accept his challenge as specific things come to mind). Thank him for the healing he has done in your life. How could sharing your story with others inspire you to pray again for additional healing? Journal your thoughts below, sharing them with the group if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time by doing the Personal Reflection Guide (found on the front page of the notes). Use this time to dig deeper into your own journey of faith and trust in Jesus. (Tip: playing some soft background music is helpful here!)
  3. REAL WITH SELF: What would happen in your marriage, finances, family or career if you started believing that God can heal?
  5. REAL WITH SELF: How have you responded in the past when Jesus did not heal you the way you requested? What did you learn from this situation?
  7. REAL WITH GOD: Do you believe that your suffering matters to God? What scripture, truth or experiences shape that belief?
  9. REAL WITH OTHERS: When God has done something amazing in your life, have you been faithful to tell that story to others? How has that (or how could that) affect their own faith journey?
  11. TAKE ACTION: Spend time praying together as a group. Allow yourself to be vulnerable, presenting your real requests for healing. As you do, be real with God about any lack of faith you might have, and ask him to grow your faith in the process. (Leader’s Note: Allow plenty of space for people to share, and as someone shares, pray as a group for them right then and there. Do this with each person who shares a need.)