Sunday, June 20, 2010

God Is The Ultimate Healer

"In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from physicians." -- 2 Chronicles 16:12

This just blows my mind. King Asa supposedly followed God. He did a lot of good things. He had foreign altars removed and cut down Asherah poles. He told his nation to seek the Lord. But when it came down to his life, he sought physicians instead of the God who could heal him.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those people who think we should avoid doctors. I believe God gives us doctors for a reason. But I also believe that doctors can only do so much. God ultimately is the only One who can heal us.

I didn't include the next verse in this passage but in it Asa dies. The physicians didn't heal him. They couldn't. Only God could. Why didn't he ask God for healing? Did he want to believe he didn't need God? I really don't understand. Yeah, I know he was mad at God. Asa had done something he shouldn't and there were consequences. But Asa belonged to God and God always answers the cries of His children.

A friend of mine had major surgery earlier this year. He sought a specialist and really did his homework. His surgeon had a wonderful reputation and friendly manner. He also is a Christian who believes in prayer before his surgeries. My friend made a complete recovery. I know the surgeon did an excellent job. I also believe God guided his hands and those of the others in that operating room. God always shows up when we invite Him in.

We never know when we are going to be blindsided by a major illness. God offers us strength and comfort for that journey. We won't always find physical healing on this earth. Sometimes He chooses a different path for us. But He promises to be with us, to hold us up when we can't do it for ourselves.

How can anyone get through something major without God? I stumble and fall, take wrong turns and really mess things up on a good day. I couldn't even make it through a good day without God. How could I possibly make it through a life or death crisis?

Asa missed a wonderful opportunity to cry out to God. It is when we are most broken that God's light shines through the brightest. Physicians can be wonderful healers but God is the ultimate healer. He's also our Father. He loves us and He always comes when we cry out to Him.