My mother says God or Jesus will heal my brother of cerebral palsy. Isn't this unrealistic?

Question

She said with certainty that God will heal him. I pray for his healing everyday too, but I'm a deist and I believe in rational things. But she says he WILL be healed as if God actually told her. It's up to God whether or not He heals, I won't doubt it. I'm uncertain, not doubtful.

How many people who has cerebral palsy gets healed? I know life can be made easier for people with cerebral palsy but ... my mom expects full healing. Did God give her that idea? Why be so positive if there is a chance of disappointment, unless she is totally positive and God himself told her. What if she ends up disappointed? Will she stop believing? The church leaders keep telling her to stay faithful. Are they just trying to keep her playing the game?

What if she blames ME for lack of faith, and that's why he doesn't get healed?

This is totally ridiculous, isn't it?

No religious propaganda, please. Only facts are allowed here. My knowing of a Creator is based on the fact of existence.

Answer 1

Cerebral palsy is incurable. Another perspective might say that God gave your brother the disease in the first place. It is unrealistic to pray for total healing, and it's better to be working to make your brother's life easier, than to simply trust in God to do everything for you. "God helps those who helps themselves" as they say. Your mother may be disappointed and lose faith, but more likely she will come up with some rationale why there was no miracle healing. You just have to do the best you can with your brother, and let your mother find her own path. I would be inclined to say that she is being irrationally swayed by the church leaders.

Answer 2

First things first. How about we ask everybody who is wiling to pray for healing. God is certainly capable of anything. But is it part of his plan? That what is important, God's plan. We have to trust God. He may have already decided that your brother will not be healed. If you trust God to take care of him without healing him, would that be a sign of weak faith? Of course not.
There is an example of someone in the bible who had great faith and was righteous. He prayed that he would not have to suffer a horrible death. He finished his prayer by saying" yet not my will but your will be done". the man was Jesus. None of us could possibly have greater faith or be more deserving. Yet God's answer was "NO". It was not because God did not love his son. It was because God already had a plan. He has one for your brother as well. Trust him.
I was led to Christ by an autistic child. It may be that you will be led by your brother. Keep your eyes and your heart and your mind open. Watch for blessings. They may not be obvious things like a healing. It may be a new understanding. Or a new person in your lives. They will be there. The only question is; Will you see them? Do not be too hard on your mother, or her church. Help her find out for herself what the bible says. Be gentle.

Answer 3

In the Bible, healings were done only when it was for God's glory and to help the church be established.

There is no reason to view a healing as a miracle though if she knows Jesus a healing could be viewed as just something that Jesus can do for you rather matter of fact possible.

http://www.mechanicsburgnewchurch.org

Answer 4

Yes, God doesn't heal on demand. Sorry. He just doesn't. Your mother is speaking simply out of grief and desperation, and maybe a little guilt, perhaps she feels somewhat to blame, seeing him as "her son." Give her room to rant and love her for her concern for your brother, allow her the delusions that comfort her unless you feel they are causing her harm in the long run. Good luck!!!

No God didn't give her that idea, however, some people get irrational ideas when they're desperate for hope, such as your mother. She loves your brother very much and can't see past his health. The Church leaders have no emotional involvment in this so they can spout anything they want and it makes them no difference.

Answer 5

This isn't a punishment on you, your brother, or your mother. Think of it as a way for God to get your attention. It sounds like your Mom has a great faith and it's not a matter of receiving a miracle or not. It's a matter of taking what God gives you to work with and creating a life from that which gives glory to God. The people in her church aren't probably trying to dupe her. They are probably trying to bolster her spirits and give her hope.

Answer 6

Here on earth, some miraculous healings have taken place and continue to take place, and it is true that prayer changes things.

So, i would never rule out that your brother could be healed, just not by any of the so called faith healers that take your money and broadcast it on tv.

Most likely, your brother will be healed at his death. There is nothing wrong with this kind of healing. It is a promise given to us that GOD will answer our prayer for healing, sometimes the answer to to relieve him of his physical pain here on earth and take him home to heaven.

SO, your mother is right, GOD will heal your brother, just most likely not in the way that you think you want him healed.

Answer 7

Let's throw another story on the table.

One pastor and his wife were praying for their son to be healed. They both prayed with their congregation constantly for their son. At five, the boy passed away. The pastor went into solitude and asked God why He didn't heal His son. God replied,
"Your son is with Me in heaven. There is no sickness, nothing affects him now. He is healed and do not let faith grow weary, for someday you will join him."
We don't know God's plan entirely but we need to learn He knows best.
Look up Joni Erickson Tada (I believe that is her name). She was a great skier who was paralyzed from the waist down. After all these years, she continues to do God's will while she is still in a wheelchair. She KNOWS when she reaches heaven, she will be able to walk for eternity. Her heavenly rewards is better than her earthly ones. That's why she keeps going.
Believing God can heal is one issue - knowing God can heal is another. I know God can heal, sometimes it's not in His will.
And only He knows why.

Answer 8

Unrealistic - no, faith filled. as for why so positive, what happens if he doesn't - that is up to your mom. this may be a stage she must go through on the way to acceptance. She may never accept.
Do not take on her beliefs. if God chooses to heal, He will heal. it will not be based on your level of faith or hers.
Look instead to how your brother can be a source of God and an instrument of God in his illness or how you can by ministering to him and loving him and accepting him.
Allow your mother her beliefs and don't argue the possiblities.

Answer 9

Okay, God can do anything, and if he wants to heal him, he will, and for her to believe that is okay.

But dont perpetuate it for her. And the church shouldnt either. Maybe God wont heal him because there is a purpose for his illness, and noone knows what it is yet. Someone should tell her, Gods will may not be to heal him, and if she wants to believe he will be healed, great, but she should accept the possibility it wont happen.

For believers, the key to recieving healing is that you must believe with no doubt, maybe thats why she is trying so hard. Maybe she thinks as long as she has doubt, it wont happen.

Good Luck, I wish you all the best.

Answer 10

All you can do is sincerely pray! If he is not healed, it is not because of a lack of faith on anyone's part. It is simply God's will. But never giveup hope and faith no matter what. Your mom should not blame you, but remeber she is losing a child. That has to be unbelievably hard, and she may try to pass the blame on anyone, even herself or God. Just be there to support her.