Isaiah 38:16
AMP – “O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; Restore me to health and let me live!
NRSVUE – O Lord, by these things people live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh, restore me to health and make me live!
VOICE – But I so wanted to live! So I prayed, “Lord, by these things, people live and my spirit is grounded in the same. So heal me, let me live!”
God’s Restorative Healing
In the context of Isaiah 38, we seeing King Hezekiah reflecting on his recovery journey from a terminal illness. The things he is described the men live off of like refer to God’s commands and interventions. This is the bigger understanding and belief that spiritual sustenance is as important as physical sustenance. Hezekiah finds life in God’s promises and actions, showing the importance of what it means to have a relationship with God. We find our spiritual renewal and life in God’s word and presence.
We can learn about Hezekiah’s illness and his recovery in 2 Kings 20:1-11, where we see God extend his life by 15 years. This is a healing miracle, which shows that God can intervene in our affairs and restore our healing. Hezekiah’s recovery was major, not just for him personally, but also for the nation of Judah. Hezekiah’s leadership was very helpful during the time of Assyrian threat.
REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: God’s ability to intervene in human affairs and restore health shows how He is an almighty Healer. How have you experienced God’s healing interventions in your life?
Healing All Around Us
Our prayers for healing in any form do not fall on deaf ears. God hears them all. However, what do we do when we don’t see the healing we hoped for. How do we understand God in moments when healing doesn’t happen? Rev. Lauren Van Ham mentions this in a Q&A (link at the end): “…prayers for healing create space for outcomes that we not be able to see initially.” I think this is something that doesn’t talked about in our teaching of God’s healing ability.
We may not see the healing that we hope for, and that’s a valid reality we may see. However, the more we pray about it to God, the more, I believe, we find ourselves moving towards the realities of healing and not healing. We grow towards restoration, and acceptance all at the same time. We see a place that says: “This may work,” and a place that says, “This won’t work.” The ability to recognize both paths can lead us to a place of acceptance and gratitude. These prayers don’t mean we sit back and wait, though. If we want healing or restoration of any kind, we must be willing to put in the work to see it through. It could be anything from trying a new diet, seeing a psychologist, attending accountability groups, and more. God’s got miraculous healing and restorative capabilities. I don’t want to diminish that God isn’t our ultimate healer.
I think we can also taking God’s healing powers beyond the physical and mental. While important, we can find spiritual healing – recovering from hurts of trusted church leaders and pastors that occurred in vulnerable states. We can find environmental healing – creating spaces on the earth that allows for growth, flourishing, and wildlife to co-exist with humanity. We can find societal healing – creating areas where resources can be shared with those in need. Healing can happen through all parts and walks of life, and the source and foundation of it all happens through God. Don’t let the evil and stress of the world tell you that healing isn’t happening – because it is. We’re seeing paths to resistance against this administration. We’re seeing paths that push back against these mega-corporations and their manipulative tactics against the working class. We’re seeing paths that push back against the systemic injustices that have been running our societies for decades. Don’t give up on these prayers. Don’t give up on seeing God’s restorative powers come into this world. Trust and believe that God will see us through these moments, and will use us to provide the healing we need for ourselves and others.
REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How can you be God’s hands and feet in this world to provide some healing?
Progressive Christianity Article: https://progressivechristianity.org/resource/god-prayer-and-healing/
Next slice of manna: Christ’s Suffering Leads to Our Healing || Manna for the Mind #403
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