RUMINATIONS

Why Do Good People Get Sick?

The Bible is replete with examples of people with physical illnesses.

Some were healed, others were not. But why? Why is it that good people sometimes get an incurable disease? Every case is different, and only God knows the true answer to that question.

One example of a man not divinely healed was the Apostle Paul, and he had this to say about his illnesses or “infirmities”:

“For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2Co 12:6-9 AV)

Some in Christianity would say that; IF you have the faith, God WILL heal you. To those persons, I would refer them to Paul’s statement there in 2 Corinthians. He had asked God 3 times to heal him. And God’s answer might surprise you. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 God told Paul “My grace is sufficient tho thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

There are many reasons why God may choose not to heal. And, as in Paul’s case, it may not have anything to do with wrongdoing on the part of the sick. In his case, God told him “My grace is sufficient…”. If you are God’s child, and you have asked for healing, and God has not healed you: you can rest assured that His grace will be sufficient. Now, that may not be what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth.

Why Do Good People Get Sick?

Well, I can speak with some authority. In November 2015 I was diagnosed with stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma ( a particularly nasty type of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma). I have now been through 3 years of Chemotherapy and a Stem Cell Transplant. I am currently in remission and I trust that it will be long-lasting. However, I live with the knowledge that my type of Cancer could return at any time.

During the Stem Cell Transplant process, the patient is given a ‘lethal dose’ of Chemotherapy. This kills all the bone marrow in your body. Without that bone marrow, a body cannot produce any blood products. Then, healthy stem cells are re-introduced through a transfusion. During the grafting process, blood and platelet transfusions are necessary in order to sustain life.

Does that sound scary? You bet it does! And it was during that period of recovery that I came to this conclusion: If I can trust God to save my soul; I can trust Him with my life. I came to the place that Job did. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15 AV)

I made that decision that even if God did not heal me … I would trust in Him and give Him the glory come what may. That decision brought me an acute sense of inner peace. I have since come to the place that Paul did: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  Whatever happens to me physically; to God be the glory!

by Rev. R.C. Wetzel