After Healing
I talk a lot about healing. I mean, a lot. It’s no secret what God did in my life. When more than forty years of severe depression and anxiety miraculously disappear, it changes one’s life. However, in the last almost thirteen years, the thing I haven’t talked much about is what happens after the healing.
Many people think that healing is a >ZAP< and you forever have no more issues. Not true. I have said many times, staying healed is a choice. Yes, God heals. We even declare His promises repeatedly: 1) By His stripes, I am healed, 2) No weapon formed against me will prosper, 3) I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord!
So, what’s the problem?
What happens after the healing? How do you know you’re healed when you’re still in pain, suffering, or even if symptoms return? Were you even healed?
Yes! The answer is a resounding YES!
Well, Shelley, that doesn’t even make any sense. How can I be healed and still suffering?
The answer is very simple. 1) Healing often takes time, 2) More times than not, healing is a process, 3) Healing sometimes doesn’t look the way we think it should.
A few years ago, we were all plunged into a pandemic of epic proportions. Not long after, we began hearing disturbing news of people dying because of this sickness, and many more developing debilitating side effects.
In 2021, my husband, son, and I tested positive for it. We survived – obviously – but we suffered greatly. If you were privy to my Live FB videos, you know I was more than aggravated over it. My reason for the aggravation is because I firmly believe (then and now) that our illness was a physical manifestation of our spiritual attack. Plain and simple.
When you take a step back and look at healing, you must look at it as a whole.
God’s Word says we are already healed, 1 Peter 2:24. It also says that Jesus has forgiven all our sins and healed all our diseases (Psalms 103:3)… all of them. He didn’t leave out a single one. Therefore, if you believe that, and you should, then all these things we go through are really just aggravations, trials and tribulations (John 16:33), testing of our faith (James 1:3). But also, that same testing will show the genuineness of our faith (1 Peter 1:7).
We will go through ‘stuff’ in our lives. The Word even says so. We must also remember that Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33-34).
So, what’s my point?
In those aggravations, it’s often very easy for us to begin to question, to get down and discouraged. And like Job, we often have well-meaning friends show up (and sometimes not really friends at all) to begin questioning our healing – sometimes condemning us.
I thought you said you were healed?
Well, that didn’t last long!
I thought Christians were supposed to have perfect lives?
Some people will even try to speak your malady back into your life, or not even believe your healing in the first place! How do you handle that?
First, you and I must remember who we are and Whose we are! You and I are a child of the Most High God. We were chosen and planned for before time even began. God has been watching us even that long, as well. Nothing, and I mean NO THING, can stop His plans for you or for me… not satan, not our friends (frenemies), not our family, not even ourselves!
Therefore, our job is to put on all of God’s armor and stand (Ephesians 6:10-20)! Seriously, my friends, you do not have to answer to anyone for what you go through. But you do answer to God. What I’m saying is, don’t say anything! Just stay focused on Jesus. Cry out to Him with your complaints, concerns, and cares. He welcomes them. He even encourages us to come to Him:
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28, NLT
“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gently at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:29, NLT
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” – 1 Peter 5:7, NLT
We are going to have ups and downs. We are going to have moments of grand and sheer bliss. We are also going to have times when we want to go to bed and pull the covers over our head. Stay focused! Stay focused, especially when others want to question your walk, or your healing.
Remember: “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed,” John 8:36.
So… After the Healing… It’s a process. It’s a continual walk. it’s a choice.
You get up every day and you choose to stay healed. You do that as soon as you wake up, say, “Good morning, Lord! Thank You for a new day, new mercies, and thank You for healing me!”
This is something I try to do every morning before I get out of bed. I want to start my day on the right foot. I will also admit, some mornings, before I can ever get my eyes opened and think a coherent thought, the enemy is pouncing on me to distract me from talking to the Lord!
Remember earlier when I said that not even the enemy can stop God’s plans for you. You may have a detour or two (or more), but God always works it all around for good (Romans 8:28), in His timing. That didn’t surprise Him one bit, so don’t even think God is mad at you for that detour. He isn’t. I know this from personal experience.
Though I’ve been healed, my life isn’t perfect. I’ve been knocked down a few times in this healed walk. I have experienced various kinds of loss. I have been the subject of verbal abuse. I have had people walk out of my life. My heart has been broken and I have cried countless tears. And throughout these times, even my prayer time and Bible study time have suffered. There were times when I just sat in the quiet, sometimes feeling guilt and shame because I couldn’t articulate any prayers. Sometimes I would read prayers out loud, from books, and from my Bible, and other times I would just cry and tell God how sorry I am that I sound like I’m repeating the same words.
All of the above-mentioned things are afflictions. They are trials, tribulations, offenses, and sometimes all out-and-out attacks. The apostle Paul went through a lot of that, too. He also wrote about what it meant to him, in Philippians chapter one. He said (and I paraphrase some here), “But I want you to know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have resulted in advancing the gospel… I am appointed for the defense of the gospel… that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice… it is my earnest expectation and my hope that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but that with all boldness as always, so now also, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me, to continue living is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor to me…” (vv. 12a, 17b, 18b, 20-21, 22a – MEV).
What Paul is saying here is that regardless of what happens to him, the persecution, imprisonment, physical abuse, whatever, it hasn’t prevented him from preaching about Jesus, but rather it all has advanced the gospel. It advanced the Kingdom! The same is true today. Whatever I’ve gone through, or am going through, it’s advancing the gospel. To continue living is to continue telling others about Jesus and all He has done for me. Therefore, suffering will happen. Suffering happens.
You know what happens in those moments?
God has met me right where I was. Sometimes, it was through the sermon my pastor preached. Other times it was through the songs we sang during worship, or the spontaneous words of my worship pastor. Sometimes it was a passing word from a friend. Still other times, at church, God would send someone over to where I sit, and they would tell me, “God sees you, and He hasn’t forgot about you.” Those are the moments when God fills the broken cracks of my heart with gold. Friend, He will do the same for you. Just bring every concern and care you have and give it to Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). He loves you!
You really can tell the Lord everything (Psalm 142). In fact, He loves for you to wake up and talk to Him, because He loves you! Regardless of what comes your way, remember that.
He always loves you.
Be blessed!
