Healing, and the goodness of God

I have often prayed for sick friends, some of whom have suffered long illnesses. Last night I was with a dear friend who felt that the Lord wanted her to embrace her illness, even though she was slowly dying from it. To her, the trial would bring her closer to Jesus and cleanse her from her many complaints and any unkind attitudes that came upon her. Though she would have loved to be healed, she was talking herself out of her faith for healing by telling me all that God was teaching her through her trial. As I drove home I asked the Lord how a person, such as my friend, could maintain faith in Him for healing during a long illness. We never seem to run out of things to be cleansed of, but as time goes on we lose faith for Him to end our trials. It just didn’t fit the picture of being more than a conqueror, nor of one working in God’s kingdom. Tonight He brought His answer to my question. Though we know that God doesn’t always bring healing, the lesson gives insight into how important it is to Him to be allowed to be good to us. Here is the lesson;

“It is not more important for Man to learn from his trials then it is for Me to do good. As men get closer to Me they feel their unworthiness. Though I walk with a man daily, cleansing and nurturing him, it is a temptation for him to make his walk with Me about cleansing. He looks at trials as if he deserves them and steels his mind against relief. The never-ending trial is this man’s flagellation, and he finds at the end of his life that he is no cleaner than before the trial began. Why is this, that a life of suffering wouldn’t work My nature in a man? Because suffering isn’t all that I am. It is knowing Me and My nature that causes a man to be formed into My image (Phil 3:10). A man may know Me in suffering, but he should also know Me in healing and blessing.

If a man would get to know Me he would want to know what is important to Me. My goodness is important to Me. All creation declares My goodness (Ps 33:5 KJV), yet some men have no faith for Me to be that very nature they need. Man needs to see goodness in his life. If the trials were the most important thing, I would not create an escape from them (1 Cor 10:13). But My ear is ever listening to My children. I do not seek after those who endure the longest trials, but those who seek to know Me in good and bad, sickness and in health, until death brings them to their heavenly home.” Amen.