Faith and Sickness: Why We Must Pray, Not Judge or Blame, the Sick
Leave the speculating to the stock traders on Wall Street.
I'm charismatic, unapologetically so. I believe God still heals supernaturally in response to prayer, just like in the Book of Acts. Nothing in the New Testament convinces me otherwise.
I’m not alone—many believe God can still perform miraculous healings.
Yet, especially in the West, these seem rare, leaving one to wonder why one sees so few healings in response to prayer.
This question came up after the passing of Nabeel Qureshi, best-selling author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. At just 34, Nabeel passed away from stomach cancer despite countless prayers for his healing, including his own. Many were left asking, "Why?"
The short answer you need to come to terms with is, " You don’t know." As Deuteronomy 29:29 says,
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”
You may not have a clear answer, but here’s what you can’t do: let your personal experiences define what God can or can’t do. As Dr. Michael Brown wisely said,
“I still believe the testimony of Scripture, since my theology is based on the Word rather than on personal experience.”
When healing doesn’t come, you often scramble for answers—and sometimes, those answers come close to blaming the sick. You’re on dangerous ground when you say to the sick things like:
"You don’t have enough faith."
"There’s unconfessed sin in your life."
"God is judging you."
"You’re being disciplined."
These well-meaning comments can deepen the pain of those already suffering.
Here are some practical tips for navigating the tension between believing in God’s healing power and your lived experience of the low volume of healing in your church.
Stop Speculating About Why Someone is Sick
Unless you're omniscient, you can’t definitively know why a person is sick. It could be:
Innocent suffering – like David and Bathsheba’s first child.
Sin – as with the Corinthian Christians taking the Lord’s Supper unworthily.
Discipline – Miriam’s leprosy.
Testing – as seen in Job’s trials.
Judgment – Uzziah’s leprosy.
Great purpose – The man born blind
The truth is, you don't know the reason behind the sickness. So, stop speculating. Doing so often leads to unnecessary judgment and blame, deepening the pain of those suffering.
Pray Expectantly
Instead of speculating, pray.
God alone is omniscient—He knows every detail about the sickness. And He’s omnipotent—the one with the power to heal. As James 5:14-16 reminds us:
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
When you pray, things happen—including healing. Some may dismiss it as a coincidence, but as N.T. Wright wisely says,
“When I pray, coincidences happen; when I stop praying, the coincidences stop happening.”
Healing is no exception—when you pray, God answers, and healing can follow.
Stop Speculating About Why Healing Didn’t Happen
A key line from James is, "in the name of the Lord Jesus." This isn’t just a throwaway phrase—Jesus’ name isn’t a magic word to get everything you want. It means healing happens through His power and authority. And that same authority means He can also choose not to grant healing. You may not agree or understand why, but you aren’t the one in charge.
Even if you have faith to move mountains, if Jesus says no, it’s not happening. And the reasons may have nothing to do with sin or lack of faith. So instead of speculating, leave the guessing to the stock traders on Wall Street. Trust God and keep praying.
Conclusion: Pray, Trust, Support
When sickness strikes, our job isn’t to speculate or judge—it’s to trust God, pray, and support others. Healing is in God’s hands, not ours. So, instead of explaining why healing hasn’t come, take action: pray with faith, offer compassion, and trust God’s wisdom.
As James says, "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Pray, support, and leave the rest to God.
Well written and well said, Oz. 👍🏻👍🏻