Is God allowing my illnesses to make me stronger? What do you think?

Question

I have struggled with chronic lyme disease for years and over the last few months have been hit with other common illnesses one after another, and even a corneal abrasion, which screwed up my already dysfunctional sleep schedule. I've been missing a lot of school and now am having trouble doing all the homework and catching up.

My mother believes this is an attack against me, perhaps as a result of some sin I've committed, and that I should seek immediate prayer. However, my opinions, as a result of studying the Bible, are quite different from the Churches she attends (mostly Pentecostal), so I do not feel comfortable having these people praying over me. Also, I've concluded, if God wanted me to be healed, he would have done it years ago. God allowed Satan to afflict Job, who had done nothing wrong and also sent a thorn (a messenger of Satan), to buffet Paul. Perhaps he is doing the same with me to strengthen me (it has and is) or for a reason I can't understand. What do you think?

Answer 1

Sometimes illnesses are there to slow us down, give us a chance to think and discover things about ourselves that we wouldn't be able to discover about ourselves if we (our mind) did not slow down. Look at a prayer not as a mean to absolve yourself from sins but as a way to get in touch with your own heart, mind, body and spirit. Think of yourself and how you feel when you are by yourself in your own presence. Your body will not heal if you don’t come in peace with your heart, mind, body and spirit, so listen to them. You were taught that God is in all of us, weren’t you? So try to hear Him from within you. He is in your body and in your mind and in your heart and in your spirit (your emotions) Think of yourself quietly alone. That is not a sin, isn’t it? He is giving you time to learn about yourself, that is where your strength is coming from. It is alright not to feel well for awhile, give it some time, it will go away.

Answer 2

I think your Mother is wrong!! God said we would have persecutions and disease is definitely persecution. Don't let anyone pray over you that makes you feel bad. That might be your own spirit warning you it's not right!! I'm so sorry you have those problems. A new Doctor sounds in order too!! Bless your Heart. It is not because you did anything. It's the condition in this world, that's all. We are all subject to diseases. Be Well in Mind and Spirit. And find another Doctor. Good Luck.

Answer 3

You are right in what you are saying there and God does not try people in such a cruel way, what you are going through is not God's work you have a medical condition, and although it is harsh, God is not giving you that affliction for making you strong or for any reason of any of your wrong doing your mother is wrong as you say Job did go through terrible afflictions that Satan put him through and his friends who came to comfort him were saying that he must have sinned and God was punishing him but they were false comforters and thorns to Job. you can of course pray to God for help and definitely for strength to cope until the time comes when all our ailments will be removed, and all people will be healed of all sicknesses perfectly and for sure just like in Jesus day Jesus healed all people those with Faith as well as those without faith You are also right not to let those people pray over you you can pray for yourself talk to God yourself you can communicate speak to him in your mind he will hear you and he does want you healed and can do so it's just not right now that the time fort healing is, but it is soon coming when you and me both can be healed for real not temporarily and therefore we need not mourn or sorrow anymore(Revelation21:3,4)

Answer 4

I admire your attitude! And if you are not comfortable with your mothers' church associates becoming involved, by all means you should not allow it.

I know a little of chronic conditions, I have a couple that drive me insane at times. I have accepted that my injury caused maladies as a fact of life and just go on with life as best I can. I too have thought of Job and all that is implied.

Some very well meaning church folks have gone so far as to blame my parents, you know, the sins of the father shall be visited on future generations and stuff like that. I don't really get into all that, and I am sorry that I have no real answers. I just wanted to share with you that you have company, in mind and body.

I will keep you in prayer, and if you need someone to chat with, drop me an e-mail and I will forward an IM thingy.

Answer 5

No sickness comes from God it is always the devils work but as in jobs case God uses it to bring you closer to Him and reveal Himself to you which will eventually strengthen your faith as you experience God for yourself on a personal level. In the book of Isiah it says by his stripes we are healed (the lashes jesus received before he was crucified)thats a promise which you could hold God to.(jesus died so u will be healed)
Firstly God always has three answers Yes, No and Wait. it is also said that God's delays aren't denials and His denials aren't disasters. Basically every thing he does theres a valid reason behind it though we may not see it right now or maybe in future. But be assured someday when you see Him face to face u will understand every thing. till then have faith in Him. Beacause only He can help you.
On that topic He has two main ways of getting things done. Through His People and through doctors. so u should see a doctor if things are getting worse its ok to do that. But u should also look to Him at ALL times because He is the divine healer. my dad had epileptic seizures for 18 years and doctors said theres nothing that can be done about his situation. We never gave up and in the last three years before he was healed things got worse than ever. We held on to God and God healed him totally. He is seizure free for the past 4 years. All thanks to God.
U should know that before a divine breakthrough the devil will attack you the hardest just like in job's case(though job went through all that God restored everything and more in the end remember?). All u should do is not ask too many questions, and not listen to all the negative things people say but trust and believe 100% in God like Job did. just like in my fathers case some day God will pull you through till then trust Him. And don't look around you and think you are abandoned by God when you see worse sinners being healed but just trust Him His time is not our time He doesn't always work our way .A Man asked God how much God loved him? God spread his arms as wide as he could and died. thats how much He loves you He. But he also rose from death which gives us victory over all the plans the satan has made against us. All you have to do is keep praying and trusting God .

Answer 6

A good doctor would be nice, Lyme disease can be cured with a few weeks of antibiotics taken by mouth. Antibiotics commonly used for oral treatment include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. Patients with certain neurological or cardiac forms of illness may require intravenous treatment with drugs such as ceftriaxone or penicillin. Patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of the infection usually recover rapidly and completely. A few patients, particularly those diagnosed with later stages of disease, may have persistent or recurrent symptoms. These patients may benefit from a second 4-week course of therapy. After you try all this then a good payer over you won't hurt.

Answer 7

"What does the Bible tell us that God has done about evil? It tells us that he sent to his son Jesus to die for our sins and to deliver us from pain and suffering. Ultimately, God is allowing evil in the world for a purpose, otherwise, he would not let it exist. Therefore, we must trust Him that He knows what He is doing."

The above answer is the best one here so far. I truly believe what this writer wrote. I don't believe God punishes us but he does test us and tests our faith in Him. We are to rejoice in suffering because it makes us stronger and builds our faith in Him. I do believe in intercessory prayer but it has to be done in the right spirit and through the work of God in our hearts, not on our willpower. I could pray over you for days "willing" you to come out of your illness but that would do absolutely nothing. Only God heals---maybe not instantly but sometimes through testing and a little suffering. It's scary to think of what wimps we would be if everything came to us on a silver platter and we never had to go through any adversity. There would be no reason to live.

Answer 8

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with your health. It is at times like these where one's training and knowledge of God are exposed. Many churches are off base on this issue. This is between you and God. Seek Him for your answer and healing and do not rely on people. Rest this with Him and decide in your heart that you will use this adversity in your life to help others. You can be sure you have truly rested it when you take the focus off of your problems and begin to pray for others.God does not want you to suffer but He does want your heart. Use this situation to get closer to Him. Knowing Him as I do, nothing is ever wasted...our response to adversity is the key. Trust God...rest this with Him...do not revisit it as a problem but acknowledge it as God is in the process of your complete and total healing and restoration...thankfulness. I believe you understand what I am saying. Unfortunately it is only through trials, challenges and adversity where we find God. He is made evident as He sees us through these things that are too big for any man to accomplish. I am grateful for the trials in my life - health, financial, relational - because now I know my Heavenly Father and through that I have found what He has created within me. I pray the same for you. Do not loose hope...it does not take long for God to change things.

Answer 9

Biblically speaking, pain and suffering are the results of sin in the world. Adam, who represented all humanity as well as creation, rebelled against God and brought suffering into the world. This sin is more than simple rebellion and breaking of God's law. It is an offense against a holy God. Sin is permeating throughout all of God's creation bringing imbalance, famine, earthquakes, disease, etc. This is not have God created things but it is God who is allowing them to continue for his divine plan. Ultimately, we can't know all the reasons why God allows suffering, we just know that He does.

What does the Bible tell us that God has done about evil? It tells us that he sent to his son Jesus to die for our sins and to deliver us from pain and suffering. Ultimately, God is allowing evil in the world for a purpose, otherwise, he would not let it exist. Therefore, we must trust Him that He knows what He is doing.

Answer 10

we live in the flesh.so,we are subjected to many infections,illnesses just like any other human; irrespective of our beleif system.
It's not coz of your sins or anything like that.
If you feel God is testing you and by this your faith stengthens.So,be it.
God would never want us ,His children to suffer.
Read Eccl.3:1"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven".Let your time ;come when you'll receive healing.
But; you also ,have to work for it.Take care of yourself,eat healthy,follow your doctors advice.
With faith anything is possible.Pray to God for healing and you shall receive it
.Mt.17:20 "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed,ye shall say unto this mountain,Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
I have receieved healing from Jesus Christ for my stomach-ache of unknow origin.I suffered for 2 years,No doctor was able to help me and now,I live through Prayers today.I praise Jesus for that.
Your mother is praying for you,prayers are good.they are the only means of communication b/w us and God.Its not the question of you being comfortable by the prayer or worship method,but its the question of faith.Read James 5:13"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.
james5:14 "Is any sick among you ? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him,anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
and prayer of faith shall save the sick,and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins,they shall be forgiven him."
Its not that you have committed any sins,its the language used to make us understand the whole concept of mind, body,and soul.
Remember Jesus prayed to the Father on the Cross.
Pray with Faith without doubt,Let your mother and the church pray for you,sit among them with full faith on Jesus,and don't feel uncomfortable but think ,it would be a combined effort and the prayers as many would reach God more quikly.
Have Faith.I'm praying for you.
God Bless.

Answer 11

I per sonly think You are on the right track your self, It is a good thing that you think this way,. However Gods understanding is not our understanding. And how you will be profected is Gods Plan.

There for, I will want to believe what you do already,. I stand with you not your mother on this one.

Larry