In grappling with this difficult question, sincere Christians have come to different conclusions. Some propose that all sickness and suffering is from Satan and that it is never God’s will for His people to experience disease. Therefore, if Satan inflicts sickness then the prayer of faith should bring healing. Although there are legitimate testimonies of divine healing, thousands of people prayed “in faith” (James 5:15), yet God has not categorically committed Himself to healing every person who expresses faith. Healing rests solidly in the hands of the sovereign God, who chooses to heal or not to heal, always acting for His glory, our good, and the good of others.

We cannot see the big picture. Hezekiah begged God to extend his life, and God granted him fifteen bonus years. Yet during those fifteen years, Hezekiah fathered a son named Manasseh, who became an evil king (see 2 Kings 21:1-18). His vile acts included genocide, leading the people into sin sacrificing his own son (Hezekiah’s grandson), and securing God’s judgment on the people. If Hezekiah had known the cost of those fifteen extra years, would he have changed his prayer? The painful realm of physical suffering stretches our faith; we can only trust the all-good, all-wise Healer.

Take time to pray to ask God to give you the grace to endure suffering; to strengthen your faith to prepare you for suffering, deepen your roots so that you know that come what may, He is good and He loves you; to help you pray in faith, not just for healing but for His will.

Discuss on these questions:

How does Hezekiah’s story show that physical suffering shows that physical suffering and death may not be the worst outcome?

How does the Bible frame sickness and death so differently than our own perceptions of them?

See Isaiah 57:1-2; Good people pass away;
    the godly often die before their time.
    But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand
    that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
² For those who follow godly paths
    will rest in peace when they die.

Luke 22:42; Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

⁷ even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

How do you answer the classic question of the skeptics and the cry of suffering hearts: If God is loving, then why does He allow us to suffer horrible pain?

Consider these passages for further study on suffering:

Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Romans 5:3-5 ³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Great thoughts to focus our perspective on the pain and suffering of Gary Chapman. It makes us learn how to focus more on healing and let God take care of us.