Chapter 5    Health Maintenance  

"And the power offered in faith will make

the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

If he has sinned, he will be forgiven" (James 5:15).  

It is important to establish a goal and accomplish that goal. It is also important to keep and maintain that accomplishment. Once a great building is constructed, the careful maintenance of that building is just as important. In much the same way, once a person is healed of his illness, he must maintain his health.  

How can we avoid hypertension and depression?  

In today's capitalistic society, it is easy for people to inflict emotional injury upon one another. Many people around us show symptoms of hypertension and stress. When emotional distress is left untreated, it will lead to a negative influence upon the body causing physical pain and illness.  

Those living in agricultural societies did not experience such stress-related hypertension, but they had their own set of problems. However, living much closer to nature, their stressful situations were incomparable by today's standard. They had enough leisure time to enjoy the beauty of nature. Their society changed very little from year to year and their mental and emotional distress was much less than that of today's modern man.  

As agricultural societies began to transform into capitalistic ones, farms made way for cities that grew by leaps and bounds. Today the information highway has taken the rate of change in our societies up to a new level. We now live in societies that have new hierarchical bounds, and work in societies that require us to do repetitious work befitting the specialization each of us acquire. Furthermore, each of us in our specialization are forced into a survival competition, which blunts our senses toward keeping a harmonious relationship with those around us, but sharpens our sense of competition and rivalry.  

These environmental changes have heaped mountains of stress upon those living in it, causing depression and hypertension. How can we overcome the stress that hits upon us from day to day, to lead peaceful and joy filled lives?

l Learn biblical laws for living

l Find a place of rest for both mind and body

l Seek counsel from a devout Christian

l Change the environment

l Think positively

l Pray

l Rest regularly

l Overcome stress and depression through the Holy Spirit    

Learn biblical laws for living  

When a person loses his way, he is apt to be anxious. By not knowing the meaning of life, where one came from, where one is headed, nor why one lives, such ignorance can easily send one into a cycle of depression. There are those who deceive themselves into believing that they can cheat life and live eternally in glory and wealth.  

Knowing the truth of God's Word and learning what is important in this world will allow us to always have joy and peace in our heart no matter what environment we live in.  

We have been made in the image of God. Although man succumbed to the deception of the devil and came under the curse, through faith in Jesus Christ man has been made righteous and has become a child of God. As we live in this world, we must spread the name of Jesus Christ, live in His righteousness, and look for the day when we will see Him face to face. Our lives came from God, and we must return to Him. We are living for His glory; we are His people. We have received eternal life through His grace, and have fe11owship with Him. We are protected by Him and lead by Him. We are indeed blessed creatures of God.  

Unlike worldly people, Christians do not share the same definition of success as unbelievers, nor are they easily depressed by their failure to become successful. Christians find the greatest joy and value in serving God and living for His name. This is the very secret of how Christians are able to find joy in every situation. To those who have inner joy and peace, stress cannot gain a foothold.  

Find a place of rest for both mind and body  

Stress generally affects those who are in difficulty and contusion. When a situation is not alleviated, the overload of stress can easily lead to chronic depression.  

When our church moved to the sandy field on Yoido Island and we began construction of a new church building, our church faced a financial crisis. We not only lacked enough funds to finish the construction; we lacked funds to even keep food in our mouths. While I was on a crusade out of town, 1 received a call that Pastor Ja-shil Choi, my mother-in-law, had fainted in the home of a person she was visiting. When I received the news, 1 worried about her health as well as her hospital fees.  

Pastor Ja-shil Choi regained consciousness in the hospital, and she realized the terrible financial straightjacket we were in. So she hid herself in a secluded prayer mountain. She rested on that mountain for a week and through prayer was able to get rid of her depression and completely regain her health.  

Afterwards, whenever she needed to get away and pray in seclusion, she made her way to Osanri, Prayer Mountain. Others who also had hypertension or chronic depression began accompanying her to Osanri. As they rested in that secluded place and had fellowsh1p with God, they were able to regain their health and become free from depression and stress.  

From such a humble start, the Osanri Prayer Mountain has grown to an international scale with many from all over the world coming to rest and have fe11owship with God. If any person finds himself mired in stress and depression, he should find a place where he can rest his mind and spirit and have personal fe11owship with God.  

Pray  

It is written in Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Actua1ly, when a person suffers from chronic depression, it is nearly impossible for him to call out to anything, even God. However, it is imperative that he musters a1l his emotional strength and call out to God. Shortly before Christ was nailed to the cross He sold, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Matthew 26:38). That night Christ prayed and called out to God through sweat and blood.  

It is written in Hebrews 5:7 that Christ lamented with tears. Even Christ, when his mind was tormented, prayed with tears. When we are under stress and mental torment, we must also pray with tears. When we call out with all of our strength, we can get rid of our depression and find strength.  

Seek counsel from a devout Christian  

When suffering from chronic depression, it is advisable to seek out another who can guide and lead in the right direction. It is of utmost importance to seek the right person; choosing the wrong person can worsen the situation.  

A married couple edging toward a break-up would not seek help from an unmarried person who cannot fully understand the dynamics that exist between a husband and wife. Such a person may even lead the couple to divorce, as he cannot fully comprehend the magnitude of the situation.  

A counselor who has been married for a long time, however, has a wealth of experience that would most likely be applicable and pertinent for the solution the couple seeks. Guidance from such a counselor would be invaluable in bringing harmony between a husband and wife ready to contemplate giving up their marriage.  

For any who suffer from depression or problems which become a source of unbearable stress, it is advisable to seek counseling which can change negativity into positive thinking and then the person can find emotional as well as mental peace.  

Change the environment  

I've read somewhere that there are certain methods people use to try to alleviate their stress: drinking (19%), bear it with clenched teeth (15%), talk to friends (13%), sleep (6%), and exercise (6%) . The two most popular methods, drinking and bearing it, are the two worst ways to deal with stress.  

The best way to alleviate stress is to change the environment. The environment the atmosphere of depression must be done away with. Taking a trip with a good friend is a good idea. God also sent Elijah on a trip for forty days. Taking a trip introduces new things and new changes that can refresh our mind and body. Taking a walk through the mountain and breathing fresh air can do wonders for the mind.  

According to the census bureau in 1995, 49 percent of men over 40 do not exercise and 68% of girls and women over 16 do not exercise. It is no wonder that many suffer from stress. Exercise is an effective way to alleviate stress.  

Think positively  

Man has a natural tendency to think negatively: "I can't, impossible, I hate it, it'll kill me, etc. After the fall of man, his natural tendency became negative. Living in this world with such negativity will only lead man to a life of failure. It is written in Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." To become a positive person, we must guard our heart against natural negativity. We must try to be constructive rather than destructive, to love rather than hate.  

In American history, President Wilson attempted to pass a bill to form an international confederation. However, failing to persuade Congress, President Wilson's depression led him to his deathbed. In his bid to find solace, President Wilson called a famous philosopher, Napoleon Hill, to his deathbed. The philosopher looked down at President Wilson and said, "Don't trouble yourself. Whether the bill to establish an international confederation passes the Congress or not is of no consequence to you or anyone ten years from now. Close your eyes in peace."  

It is sad but true. When we look at our lives and how they are affected by time, we see that the things that trouble our lives are of no consequence in the vastness of eternity. Thirty years from now, the things which we cry over today will no longer have any meaning. Only those of us who lived through the Korean War know the tremendous hardship it imposed on us. However, what happened to all that suffering? It is but a memory. It is nonexistent. Other than old archive footage, all trace of the hardship of war has disappeared. None of our children can experience nor fully comprehend that hardship. We must think positively. As Christians, it is important for us to think positively and have hope. God uses such people to do His work.  

Since God is always with us, even when we travel through deep dark valleys, God will deliver us from them. We must believe this, think it, and confess it with our mouth. When we do so, we can shed our depression and live bright lives.  

Give your problems to Christ  

Stress also attacks when people's judgment is not fully operative. No one can live a trouble-free life. Personal, family, and work-related problems are always around us to trouble us when we least expect them. Many are troubled by sleepless nights due to problems and some feel frustration and seeming explosive pressure.  

When faced with life's problems, many try to get a good hold on the problem, much like a wrestler ready for a wrestling match. However, there are certain problems for which there is not even a close match. At such times many despair and surrender to their despair, destroying things around them. When self-destruction is underway, they find their physical body deteriorating and succumb to various illnesses, even leading to death.  

Christians, however, are not fazed by problems for which there is no match. Whatever the problem may be, Christians have a solution. Christ said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). To those who have accepted Christ as Savior and depend upon God, problems are no more than training to make a person stronger. Through all night prayer or fasting prayer, by going to Christ and giving Him our burdens, we can attain peace and comfort. And as God has promised, He will take our problems and find solutions for them. For Christians who have learned to hand over their burdens to Christ, stress will not affect them; their problems bring them opportunities to take their fe11owship with God to a higher level.  

Rest regularly  

When a machine runs ceaselessly, it is bound to break down sooner or later. Man is not an exception to this rule. If a man works 365 days a year, he is bound to tire out and become ill. God commanded man to work six days and rest on the seventh. As such, man must work hard for six days and take a good rest on the seventh.  

To answer the question about what to eat and what to wear, if a person works 365 days a year without rest, he will end up not eating very well nor dressing very well. It would truly be an ironic tragedy if a man worked so hard to live a better life, which resulted in his death from overwork.  

The great prophet Elijah could not overcome his mental distress and torture from Jezebel, so he asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:1-9). God gave him rest instead. God caused Elijah to fall into a deep sleep, waking him to feed him. With this repeated measure, Elijah returned to health and God made Elijah walk to Mount Horeb to hear God's message.  

Through sufficient rest, the tired can return to physical health; they can also recover mentally and emotionally. Rest provides refreshment both mentally and physically so that once again we can serve God.  

Overcome stress and depression through the Holy Spirit  

No matter how much external pressure may pound upon a person, if he has internal strength, such external pressure can be withstood. However, lacking such internal strength will easily destroy a person.  

When we accept Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within us (John 14:17). "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). The great one who comes and dwells in us is the Holy Spirit. With such occupancy, there is no external pressure great enough to lead us to destruction. All such pressure can be overcome with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit.  

If we cannot overcome a situation by ourselves, the Holy Spirit pleads for us (Romans 8:26). Those who acknowledge, accept and trust the Holy Spirit can overcome all stress and depression that arises from external forces.  

What must we do to maintain our mental health?  

Confess our sin  

When a man sins, his guilty conscience causes him to be ashamed before God, forcing him to hide in fear and anxiety. Such a man cannot have joy and happiness. The conscience in all men that acts as a guard continues to convict men when they sin. Having sinned, a man cannot stand forthright even in his own conscience but must pay a price for his sin  

A man who sins lives in fear that his sin will beget social punishment, leading him to live a life of deception and cover-up. In such a state, even inconsequential events send his mind reeling in fear and anxiety.  

To enjoy mental stability and comfort, a man must first address his sin. The Bible tells us man is born in sin (Psalm 51:5). Furthermore, during his lifetime a man commits countless numbers of sins both consciously and unconsciously. When facing tribulation, many unconsciously think, "I must have done something bad." The Bible tells us, "There is no peace for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22). Without first addressing his sin, a man cannot find peace.  

There is only one way to completely address and rid oneself of the problem of sin. It is through accepting Jesus Christ who was sent by God to this world, to take all the sins of the world upon Him on the cross. Through Christ, all sin has forever been cleared, allowing man to stand righteous before God. Once a man realizes this truth, he can be freed from his guilty conscience, and he can enjoy true freedom and peace.  

All who have unwavering faith in Jesus have already had their sins forgiven. This pardon is not something that is influenced by emotion. Only faith can bring this pardon. As such, when the devil comes to whisper doubts in our ears about our pardon, we must confidently proclaim God's promise of pardon and quash the devil's attempt to tempt us. With the acceptance of Christ and the Word of God, we can shed our guilty conscience. Along with our freedom from a guilty conscience comes the fruit of the Holy Spirit, giving us access to love, joy and peace which allows us to taste a life of abundance and fulfillment.  

Learn to be content  

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11,12, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Even when faced with various hardships in spreading the gospel, the apostle Paul was able to find peace and comfort.  

Many people compare their situation with that of their neighbor. They observe which cars their neighbors are driving, where they go on vacation, and they try to set a goal for themselves based on what they see. However, when they are not able to accomplish as much as their neighbors, they easily fall into despair and grumble about their difficulties. Such attitudes and views toward life will prevent a person from ever enjoying life.  

Just as there are ups and downs when we travel any road, there are always ups and downs in our lives. At times we may be forced to suffer hunger and cold. At other times we may enjoy a life of great abundance. Those who have accepted Christ know God is always with them. They acknowledge Christ when they enjoy a life of unspeakable abundance materially. Their external success or failure does not hold sway over them; they always remember Christ and glorify Him in both good times and bad. When we learn to be content like the apostle Paul, we can maintain our mental health no matter what our individual situation may be.  

Get rid of jealousy, hatred, and anger  

There is an old saying in Korea, "When our relatives are prosperous, it is a source of our anguish." When someone we know succeeds and becomes prosperous, our jealousy and hatred become detrimental to us. If we could fuel joy for others' accomplishments, however, this would result in our own peace and joy, too.  

We must abandon our inner desire to live better than others. Rather, we must devote ourselves to how we can live more righteous and pleasing lives for the glory of God. When a person harbors jealousy and hatred for those who have become more successful than he, his emotions will cause him to lose sleep at night and even lose his appetite. Such can only lead to the loss of physical health as well. However, when we live righteous lives in God and pray for the well being and success of others, God not only grants us health, but He also uses us in a great way.  

Jealousy and conflict are earthly, unspiritual and of the devil (James 3:13-16). When we find jealousy and hatred in our hearts, we must extract them by their roots. Jesus Christ told us to love even our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Christ did not say these words to our enemies but to us. As long as we harbor such emotions, we cannot live creative and productive lives nor can we enjoy peace. We must only allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit to grow within our hearts and minds. Only then can we enjoy peace and abundance.  

Don't worry or be anxious  

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22). When we lose the cheer in our hearts replaced by worry and anxiety, it is only mentally difficult to bear, but it has a detrimental effect on our physical well being. What's worse, our worrying about certain things can be quite useless. Christ said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11 :28). When we give our worries to Christ, He will surely take responsibility far them.  

For some Christians, the very fact that God can alleviate our worries is enough to provide comfort. No matter what problems we face, they are incomparably trivial where God is concerned. The apostle Paul said, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"(Philippians 4:6,7).  

Always be filled with the Holy Spirit  

The Holy Spirit is always near us, to help and to counsel us. When we trust the Holy Spirit, He indeed helps and comforts us. As He comforts and shields our injured mind and heart, we can rest in the protective arms of the Holy Spirit and be healed.  

The competition of survival, the hectic pace of modern life, and the need to work, all press heavily upon the shoulders of modern man, destroying his peace and tranquility of mind and spirit. However, when we acknowledge and trust the Holy Spirit, He lifts our burdens and provides us with wisdom to find solutions for them. Also, when we pray in tongues as the Spirit enables us, the Spirit knows our thoughts and intercedes for us and gives us peace.  

When our relationship with God is restored and we learn to be content and get rid of hatred and jealousy, then we can enjoy mental and emotional tranquility through the Holy Spirit. Even as the surface of the ocean is bombarded with winds and storms, ten meters below the surface it is as tranquil as can be. Even as we are bombarded with external forces, our righteous relationship with God and our trust in the Holy Spirit will bring peace to our hearts. Our righteous relationship with Him leads to healthy living.  

How can we maintain our health after divine healing?  

Maintain a close relationship with Christ  

Divine healing flows from God. Just as grapes receive their nutrition as long as they remain on the vine, it is the same with Christians. With faith in Christ, as long as we are attached to Him we can receive all that we need. Divine healing is a blessing that we receive when we remain in Christ.  

Even after God has healed us of an illness, it is important for us to remain in Christ. What must we do to remain in Him? We must be righteous in our relationship with Him. We must always trust Christ and live according to His teaching and commands, imitating His life.  

When a drainpipe is clogged or rusty, water cannot flow easily through the pipe. However, cleaning out the pipe will solve the problem of drainage. In much the same way, the more righteous our relationship with Christ, the More we are blessed by Him.  

To maintain a close, righteous relationship with Christ, we must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our Lord made us and died to save us. He desires to fill us in abundance with good things. With reverence and in gratitude, we must attend the worship service to glorify Him. It is our duty as citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, our right as Christians.  

We must also make time in our daily lives to read the Bible. Those who were moved by God to record His Word wrote the books of the Bible. The Bible is our spiritual manna. We must learn more about the God whom we serve and learn how we can please Him. When we learn about God and learn how to please Him, our relationship with God becomes deeper.  

We must also take time to pray. Prayer is our spiritual respiration. As we express our inner thoughts and mind to God and hear His message for us, we can experience the true joy of living. Even though our lives are hurried and short of time, we must set aside time for prayer: silent prayer, spoken prayer, and prayer in tongues.  

Through such prayer, we can maintain a close relationship with God.  

We must also take time to praise God who healed and blessed us. Since It is written in Psalm 22:3, "Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel," when we praise our God, we can experience His presence. In Revelation there is a description of a scene of all believers praising and worshipping God in His Kingdom. Whether on earth or in heaven, it is our duty to praise and Worship God.  

Live a holy life  

The God we serve is a Holy God. It is written in Isaiah 6:3, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." On the other hand, the devil and his servants are vile, unholy, and unclean.  

Illness has an intimate relationship with demons, sin, and an unclean environment. When we accept the Holy Spirit and pursue holy lives with the Spirit's guidance, there is no place for disease to dwell in us. However, when a man who has been healed fails to abandon his sin and continues to stand in the ways of the wicked, he cannot avoid the suffering which comes from disease. Christ, after He had healed a man who had been suffering for 38 years, said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you" (John 5: 14).  

Learn to give  

In this world, both the rich and the poor live in cohabitation. The Bible tells us it is God who created all people, both rich and poor (Proverbs 22:2). God stresses that those who believe in Him should take care of those who are poor. In Deuteronomy 24, God prohibits discrimination and abuse of poor laborers, so they should be paid their just wages for the work they did that day. Also, during harvest, God commanded that some fruit and crops be left on the tree or in the fields for the widows, orphans and travelers.  

I am a father of three sons. Although all three sons are precious to me, my heart goes out more to the son who has a hard time adjusting to this world than to the ones who adjust well. God also is more concerned about His children who are worse off than others who are more able. God has promised in Deuteronomy 24:19 that when we show greater mercy and concern for those who are faring less well than we are and give assistance to them, God will also bless us.  

God has said when we free those who are suppressed, give food to those who are hungry, give clothes to those who are without, and look after our needy neighbors, our own healing will be facilitated (Isaiah 58:6-8). However, if we do not obey God, or if we turn away from those who need our help or abuse and suppress them, we ourselves will become targets of illness (Deuteronomy 28:22). God will afflict us with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which we cannot be cured (Deuteronomy 28:27).  

Taking the example of our good and merciful God, we must live lives of sacrifice for others and help our neighbor. When we do so, God will keep us healthy and bless us in all things.  

Take good care of our body  

In order to maintain our health, we must not only keep a righteous relationship with God, but we must us also take good care of our body. We must se1f-examine our body and have a regular medical check-up to treat those things which can be easily treated medically.  

It is very important for all of us to consume adequate amounts of nutrition consisting of a well-rounded diet, and also engage in moderate amounts of exercise for our body. These things make us susceptible to disease: smelling, drinking, using illicit drugs that corrupt our body, having an irregular diet or lack of sleep.  

After having first examined our spiritual health and maintaining a righteous relationship with God, we must then take good care of our body through adequate sleep, diet and exercise.  

Why are there some that do not receive divine healing?  

Jesus Christ desires to heal all of us. However, not all people who are ill receive God's divine healing. Why are there some that God does not heal? God is perfect. The problem does not lie with God. The problem lies with those whom God does not heal. Let us examine some of the reasons. 

It may be due to the sin of unrepentance  

Divine healing is grace from God. Just as salvation cannot be achieved through good deeds but is given to us by Christ, divine healing must come as grace from God. When a sick man continues to indulge in sin, he cannot come to Christ in faith. If we cherish sin in our hearts, the Lord will not listen to our prayers (Psalm 66: 18). Our sins block the blessings which are headed our direction (Jeremiah 5:25). When we are still mired in sin, we must first repent of our sins and be forgiven before we can be healed.  

Not all that attend church are saved. There are many that attend church for reasons other than worship. They attend for personal motives, fellowship with others, and for the sole purpose of being healed. Since God is merciful, He does at times heal those who are unbelievers for the purpose of moving their hearts to accept Christ so that they can receive the even greater blessing of salvation and eternal life.  

It may be Gods time for that person to die  

At times, God answers no to our sincere prayers for healing because it is not His will for that person to be healed. Having sinned against God, David knew Bathsheba who gave birth to a son as a result. However, the son became gravely ill. To cure him, David prayed and pleaded with God to save his life. David fasted and prayed all night. However, within seven days, the newborn baby died. God did not cure the newborn son, for God had willed that the infant die.  

In the case of King Hezekiah, God told the king through the prophet Isaiah that the king was nearing death. However, when King Hezekiah shed tears in prayer and repentance, God cured him of his illness. Whether a person is healed or not first depends upon the will of God, and also on the repentance of the one who is ill, As such, when we are afflicted with seemingly life threatening illness, we must first repent of our sins and ask God to heal us.  

It may be lack of faith or lack of persistence in prayer.  

Just as important as the faith of the one seeking divine healing, the faith of the one providing the intercessory prayer is also important. "And these signs will accompany those who believe… they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" (Mark 16:17,18). When an intercessor prays for the healing of another, he himself must have faith.  

When we pray for divine healing, we must fervently continue our prayer until God answers. However, when we give up and quit praying, we cannot be healed. God may answer within a short period, or He may answer after what seem ages to us, due to the devil getting in the way.  

Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come (Daniel 10:12-14).  

While God desires that all of us be healed, the devil desires to see us suffer and tries to mar our relationship with God. As such, we must remain steadfast as we pray in faith for healing until we are made healthy.  

It may be that God has a special plan for them  

God praised Job, "There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8). Satan then said that the reason lay in Job being blessed so greatly. If Job were to lose all his wealth and blessing from God, he would also blaspheme God. Satan was given permission by God to take all of Job's wealth. However, when Job remained faithful to God, Satan then said if Job were to lose his health and be afflicted with disease, he would surely blaspheme God. Satan was given the permission to afflict Job.  

Job was such a great man of righteousness, yet he was afflicted with disease in the worst way. It was the providence of God. Satan, who always views all things negatively, began to doubt the faith of Job. God allowed Satan to test Job's faith. Through this, God showed Satan that he was wrong and at the same time gave a great opportunity to Job who realized the omnipotence and omniscience of God.  

The apostle Paul who witnessed to many people in foreign lands received much grace and revelation from God. To keep him from being too proud, God gave him a thorn in his body. Paul asked God to remove the thorn from his body on three separate occasions, but God answered, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"(2 Corinthians 12:9). Although Paul did not mention just what that thorn was, many interpret that Paul suffered some unmentioned illness. At times, God does allow in His will even faithful Christians to be afflicted with illness. When we see our Christian friends being afflicted with illness, we should not be too quick to judge them. Nor should we be too downtrodden when we are not made well from our own illnesses.  

It is not easy to explain all the reasons why God does not heal some people. Although we witness clearly that God does indeed heal the sick today, there are some that are fully deserving of healing, yet others are not. In such cases, a careful examination and meditation is necessary, asking Christ for the reason and opening one's heart and ears to Christ's answer. When Christ prescribes the way, we must obey Him.  

Case nine  

This is a testimony of a woman who was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Her family was not financially able to afford surgery for her, so she did not have surgery. As a result, her cancer progressed to an incurable stage, and she was forced to undergo radiation therapy. The treatment caused her skin to turn dark and crack, causing unspeakable pain whenever she tried to file down or get up. She lost her eyesight and her condition deteriorated. There seemed nothing for her to do other than wait for her impending death.  

She had lost both of her parents while she was in middle school. She had married into an unhappy marriage, a period in which her husband had been incarcerated three times, and she had endured unmentionable hardship from her in- laws. With such a hardship-filled life, she was convinced that it was her destiny to be miserable. As she lay in bed waiting for her last breath, members of a Yoido Full Gospel Church cell group heard of her misery and went to visit her. Since she had felt such loneliness during her illness, she clung to the group as she cried uncontrollably. The cell members took her into their hearts and prayed for her. The cell leader witnessed to her about Christ and asked her to accept Christ as her Savior.  

When she accepted Christ into her heart, a miracle occurred. At that very moment, her bleeding stopped! Since she had been bleeding for so long, she was not physically strong. So the cell leader urged her to go to Prayer Mountain with her where God could heal her completely. The woman went with the cell leader to Prayer Mountain and prayed and lasted for ten days. Christ took great pity on her, and she received the gift of tongues and received a firm conviction of being healed.  

Returning from the mountain, she went to the hospital to be informed by the doctor that she was free of cancer. She felt as if his words came in a dream. It was a miracle! Such miracles happen even today; they can happen at this very moment!  

Case ten  

There was a pastor who was afflicted with hepatitis when he was a missionary in the Congo. This illness forced him to return home to live out his life in misery and despair.  

As he lay on his bed reading the Bible, a bright light of joy washed through his heart as the verse in 1 Peter 2:24 came to him,  

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."  

Tears came to his eyes. He could not contain his emotion at the fact that Christ died for us so that we may live. Then the voice of the Holy Spirit was telling him Christ was wounded so we could be healed; this brought uncontrollable tears to his eyes.  

"My son, I took upon myself your illness and suffering, and endured the pain given Me by the Roman soldiers in Pilate's courtyard. I have redeemed you from your illness. Do you firmly believe this?"  

As the voice of the Holy Spirit pounded into his heart, he was convinced of his healing. He called out to his wife confidently, "Listen to me. The Bible tells us Christ was wounded so that we may be healed. The Holy Spirit spoke to me through this verse. I am not sick any longer. God has healed me. I am no longer sick. I don't need to lie in bed. I should get up and go about my business."  

He got up from his bed and began to work for God again. He not only recovered from his illness, but he became even more active than before. God healed him because he was unshakable in his faith in God who still heals today!  

Let's Review

1. What must we do to overcome the stress and depression that afflict us?

2. What must we do to be healthy mentally and emotionally?

3. What must we do to maintain our health?

4. Why are there some that God does not heal?

5. Read the following verses and meditate on them.

*Proverbs 4:23

*James 5:15,16

*Revelation 3:20

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