Faith begins where the will of God is known.
“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean” (Luke 5:12). The man with leprosy who came to Jesus knew He had the power to heal. His uncertainty concerned Jesus’ willingness. Many believers have the same question: “I know God can heal, but will He heal me?” Jesus reached out His hand, touched the man, and answered, “I will; be clean.” Immediately, the leprosy left him (Luke 5:13).
Before we pray for anything in faith, we need to know God’s will. To know His will, we need to find out what He says in His Word. If we believe our Father might want us sick, we will struggle to receive healing by faith. Wrong teaching, unanswered questions, shame, and disappointment can all create uncertainty. God’s Word reveals His character and gives us a foundation for faith that rests on His goodness rather than our feelings.
Here are five biblical proofs that it is God’s will to heal.
1. God created mankind to be free from sickness
When God created mankind, there was no sickness. He looked at everything He had made and called it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). There will also be no sickness or pain in heaven (Revelation 21:4). Jesus taught us to pray for the Father’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Healing agrees with God’s original design and His eternal purpose. We can pray for healing knowing it agrees with His will.
2. God revealed Himself as The Lord Who Heals
After God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt, they came to the waters of Marah. The water was bitter, and they could not drink it. Moses cried out to God, and God showed him a piece of wood. When he threw it into the water, the water became fit to drink. There, God revealed Himself to His people: “I am the LORD, your healer” (Exodus 15:26). He is Jehovah Rapha—The Lord Who Heals You.
God wanted to reacquaint His people with Himself and His covenant. Healing was part of His provision for them (Exodus 23:25–26). His name reveals His nature. David understood this when he reminded himself to remember God’s benefits, describing Him as the One who forgives our iniquity and heals our diseases (Psalm 103:2–3). When we believe God for healing, we are trusting Him according to His revealed character.
3. Jesus showed us the Father’s will
Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). He also said that He came to do the Father’s will (John 6:38). If we want to know the Father’s heart towards sick people, we can look at Jesus. He welcomed them and healed them. Luke records that people brought those suffering from various diseases, and Jesus laid His hands on every one of them and healed them (Luke 4:40).
Jesus never told someone seeking healing that the Father needed them sick to teach them a lesson. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). When the man with leprosy specifically questioned His willingness, Jesus answered, “I will.” His compassion reveals the Father’s heart. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). If it was His will to heal then, it is His will to heal now.
4. Healing is included in Christ’s redemptive work
Isaiah prophesied that Christ would bear our infirmities and carry our diseases. Matthew directly connected that prophecy with Jesus healing the sick: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases” (Matthew 8:17). Healing is included in Christ’s redemptive work. He bore the consequences of sin on our behalf.
Sickness was included in the curse of the Law (Deuteronomy 28), and Paul tells us that Christ redeemed us from that curse by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). The wood that turned the bitter water at Marah into life-giving water gives us a picture of the Cross. Our confidence is in what Jesus has done for us. Healing is received by grace through faith, not earned through perfect behaviour or spiritual effort. If we have received the forgiveness freely given to us through the Cross, we can also trust Him as our Healer.
5. Jesus gave His followers a ministry of healing
Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal the sick (Luke 9:1–2). He also instructed those He sent out in Luke 10 to heal the sick. The early church continued to minister healing in His name. Peter and John believed they had received authority from Jesus when they ministered to the man at the temple gate (Acts 3:6).
James instructed sick believers to call for the elders of the church to pray over them, teaching that the prayer of faith would save the sick and the Lord would raise them up (James 5:14–15). These instructions give us confidence to pray for healing. Jesus’ ministry of healing continued through His followers.
Does God need me sick?
Sometimes people suggest that God needs our sickness to accomplish a greater purpose: to develop compassion, reach someone in hospital, or teach us a lesson. Romans 8:28 assures us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him. It does not say that sickness itself is good or that we must remain sick for His purpose to succeed.
We can certainly grow during suffering, but we would never consider deliberately keeping a child sick good parenting. Jesus taught us to trust our Father’s goodness. He also gave us the Holy Spirit as our Teacher (John 14:26). Learning from Him does not require us to accept sickness as His desire for us.
What about Paul’s thorn in the flesh?
Paul called his thorn “a messenger of Satan” (2 Corinthians 12:7). In the surrounding passage, he described insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. There is good reason to understand the thorn as opposition to his ministry. We should be careful about using this passage to tell someone that their heavenly Father wants them sick.
God’s response, “My grace is sufficient for you,” reveals His provision in weakness. Grace supplied strength Paul could not produce himself. The passage gives us confidence in God’s sufficient grace to strengthen and deliver us.
But isn’t God sovereign?
Yes, God is sovereign. He has all authority, and He has chosen to reveal His character and promises through Scripture. His sovereignty gives us confidence that He will fulfil His sovereign Word. Numbers 23:19 asks, “Has he said, and will he not do it?” God cannot lie. Taking Him at His Word honours His faithfulness. All the promises of God find their “Yes” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). When we agree with His promises, including His promises concerning healing, we are agreeing with His revealed will.
What if someone has not been healed?
When the disciples could not heal a boy, it was still God’s will to heal him. Jesus healed the boy Himself (Matthew 17:14–20). Not receiving healing was not proof that God wanted him sick. Unanswered questions and disappointment can create uncertainty, but our faith is not in circumstances, we must continue to let God’s Word be established in our hearts. If you are still standing for healing, you are deeply loved. There is no place for shame or condemnation. Healing is received by grace through faith, and our confidence rests in Jesus and His finished work.
Come With Confidence
God created mankind without sickness. He revealed Himself as The Lord Who Heals. Jesus demonstrated the Father’s willingness to heal, carried our infirmities and diseases, and instructed His followers to minister healing. These truths give us a foundation for faith.
The man with leprosy asked whether Jesus was willing. Jesus answered, “I will.” Let His Word establish your heart. God wants you healed. Come to Him knowing He is both able and willing.
