Whose Arms Uphold You?

3John 1:2 - Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Here we go again! Another discussion and more delving into the meaning of physical healing. After spending time in discussion with a few friends on this subject, I wondered why I was back on this subject, almost as if I was being thrown back into pondering this for some reason.

Where most of Christ followers believe that the most important healing is of our souls, which is salvation, there are always those who hold out for "but, God also wants our bodies to be healed." 

Where most of us believe that God can heal anyone physically if He desires to, He doesn't always do it. Why? We just don't know because God is who He is and we are not and we won't know all the mysteries of God in this lifetime. It doesn't mean we don't pray for it and it doesn't mean that if He doesn't heal us we don't have enough faith. It's God's will whether we be healed or not. If God gave us all wisdom, we wouldn't need Him anymore would we? Not knowing everything causes two things to happen: we either put all our trust and faith in Him or we believe that if He's not going to do this or that, then why bother to have faith in Him at all. 

Our faith in He, who cannot be seen, is the most important thing. Maybe some need to see to believe and a physical healing would be evidence. I don't know....

So the discussion(s) were about healing. How do we feel if God does not heal? Do we complain, do we get angry with God, do we lose our faith in Him? Or do we live our lives with the illness or distress, whatever it is, and trust Him through it all? Do we continue to put one foot in front of the other and follow the path He has laid out before us, not wavering in our faith?

I had to check some commentaries on the subject. Believe me, my opinions on this came before all these words!

David Guzik writes: "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers": John uses a common phrase in his sending of best wishes and blessings to Gaius. Some have wrongly taken this as a guarantee of perpetual wealth and perfect health for the Christian.

Then he adds these two points: 

• Of course, we should always remember that God wants our best, and plans only good for us, and often present material prosperity and physical health are part of that good He has for us - and this prosperity and health are absolutely promised as the ultimate destiny of all believers.
• Yet, for the present time, God may, according to His all-wise plan, use a lack of material prosperity and physical health to promote greater prosperity and health in the scale of eternity.

Huh, lack brings more...what a concept. Isn't that what we are told to do? Give up our lives to gain Christ? Lose our lives that we might live? Humble ourselves and sacrifice...let Him fill us. 

If we were allowed to be physically healed, would we continue to rely on God? How secure would our salvation be? What is the motive for our healing? Would we, as Guzik says, look to the blessing of total healing as "a way to indulge a carnal desire for ease, comfort…?" Our afflictions keep us closer to the Lord that He might give us the strength we need. He is all we need.

We all know how good we feel when we are without pain and discomfort. As we age our bodies change. It's all part of the sin of death we are born into. But our spiritual health overrides all that if we have chosen Christ and His wonderful and glorious gift of salvation, the ultimate healing plan.

Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary states "above all things" does not imply that John wishes Gaius' bodily health above that of his soul, but as the first object to be desired next after spiritual health. 

Coffman Commentary: The prosperity of the soul is paramount.

Matthew Henry Commentaries  - Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. Grace and health are rich companions. Grace will employ health. A rich soul may be lodged in a weak body; and grace must then be exercised in submitting to such a dispensation. But we may wish and pray that those who have prosperous souls, may have healthful bodies; that their grace may shine where there is still more room for activity. 

There is no reason not to pray for healing. But we must be willing to tack on "if it be Your will." Jesus prayed this three times and God's will overruled and Jesus was crucified. We can still be used of God, maybe even more, in our illness, our weakness. We learn from these valleys of life. 

Some additional scriptures show us that part of our life on earth is in our suffering, that we are to glory in our infirmities, that God's grace is sufficient for us in our weakness. We know also that one of the major expounders on healing was not healed himself…that was the Apostle Paul. He asked three times, like Jesus, to be healed and he was not. But he continued his ministry under God's strength knowing he would come through. We need to surrender to God's will for our lives. If not being healed is part of this, well, what will we do?

Philippians 1:29 - For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake...

2Corinthians 12:9 - And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

It's all about what the Lord will do when we give ourselves totally over to Him. Through Christ, in our weakness we are made strong (2Corinthians 12:10). When we are weak and give ourselves over to Christ, we have gained Christ (Matthew 16:25) and can do all things through Him. Our weakness may be our suffering but if we have given it over to Christ, we will be blessed (James 1:12).

I will always stand strong on the idea that our spiritual condition is of the utmost priority. If God chooses to heal us physically, great. If not, we continue to walk under God's power in our lives. Total submission to Him. If we think to ourselves that we cannot do His work because we have this ailment, it's an excuse. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We lean on His arm. We allow Him to work through us in our adversity. It's not about us...and all about God.

Deuteronomy 33:27 - The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...