We understand your concern, and we commend you for seeking biblical clarity on this matter, for it is a dispute that has caused much confusion and even harm within the body of Christ. Let us address this together with the truth of Scripture, for the Word of God is our foundation, and it alone brings light to such distortions of faith.
First, it is absolutely biblical to acknowledge that believers will face trials, tribulations, and suffering in this fallen world. Our Lord Jesus Himself warned us in **John 16:33**, saying, *"In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."* The Apostle Paul also testifies to this reality in **2 Corinthians 11:23-28**, where he lists his many sufferings—imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, dangers, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, and the daily pressure of concern for the churches. If suffering were a sign of weak faith, then Paul, one of the greatest apostles, would have been the most faithless among us. Yet he boasted not in his strength but in his weaknesses, for Christ’s power was made perfect in them (**2 Corinthians 12:9-10**).
The error you describe—this "name it and claim it" teaching—is a dangerous distortion of Scripture, often tied to the prosperity gospel or hyper-faith movements. These teachings suggest that if we simply "believe hard enough," we can demand health, wealth, and success from God as if He were a cosmic vending machine. But this is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Such teachings ignore the sovereignty of God, the reality of sin in the world, and the purpose of suffering in the life of a believer. They also place an unbearable burden of guilt on those who suffer, as if their pain were a punishment for their lack of faith. This is not only unbiblical but cruel.
Consider **Job**, a righteous man whom God permitted Satan to test with immense suffering. His friends accused him of hidden sin, insisting his suffering was his own fault. But God rebuked them for their false assumptions (**Job 42:7**). Suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin or weak faith. Sometimes, as in Job’s case, it is permitted by God for purposes we may not fully understand—purposes that refine our faith, draw us closer to Him, and ultimately bring Him glory.
What about sickness? The idea that seeking medical help is a lack of faith is equally unbiblical. Luke, the beloved physician, was a companion of Paul (**Colossians 4:14**), and his medical skills were clearly not seen as contradictory to faith. In **1 Timothy 5:23**, Paul even advises Timothy to *"use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities."* If seeking remedy for illness were a sin, Paul would not have given such counsel. God often uses means—including doctors, medicine, and wise counsel—to bring healing and relief. To refuse these gifts out of a misplaced sense of "faith" is not spiritual; it can be reckless.
Now, does this mean we should not pray for healing or trust God for miracles? Absolutely not! We are commanded to bring our requests to God (**Philippians 4:6**), and James tells us to pray for the sick (**James 5:14-15**). But we must do so with humility, submitting to God’s will, not demanding our own. Jesus Himself prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, *"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done"* (**Luke 22:42**). Our prayers must reflect this same surrender.
The truth is, our faith is not measured by the absence of problems but by our response to them. Do we trust God *in* the storm, or do we only praise Him when the storm ceases? Do we cling to Him when the healing doesn’t come, when the financial breakthrough doesn’t arrive, when the relationship remains broken? True faith is not the absence of doubt or difficulty but the choice to trust God’s character and promises *despite* them.
Let us also address the claim that "once you’re saved, you can plug into the power and get anything you want." This is a twisting of Scripture, often based on verses like **Mark 11:24** (*"Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them"*) taken out of context. Such promises are not blank checks for our desires but are given within the framework of God’s will and purposes. **1 John 5:14-15** clarifies this: *"This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."* The key is *according to His will*, not our own.
Finally, let us rebuke the spirit of pride and judgment that would scold a brother or sister for admitting their struggles. **Galatians 6:2** commands us to *"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."* The body of Christ is called to compassion, not condemnation. If someone is suffering, our response should be to weep with them (**Romans 12:15**), pray for them, and point them to the hope we have in Christ—not to pile on guilt by accusing them of weak faith.
So what is the truth? The truth is that we live in a broken world, and even as believers, we are not exempt from its brokenness. But we have a Savior who has overcome the world, who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death, and who promises to one day wipe away every tear (**Revelation 21:4**). Our faith is not in the absence of trials but in the God who redeems them. Our hope is not in our ability to "claim" victory but in the One who has already secured it on our behalf.
Let us pray together for clarity, humility, and a right understanding of faith and suffering:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts seeking truth, for Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Lord, we ask for discernment in these days when false teachings twist Your promises and place heavy burdens on Your people. Forgive us for the times we have misrepresented Your character, whether by presuming upon Your grace or by failing to trust You in our trials.
Father, we lift up our brother/sister who has shared this concern. Comfort them with the knowledge that their struggles do not define their faith. Remind them that even Your Son, Jesus, learned obedience through the things He suffered (**Hebrews 5:8**), and that You are near to the brokenhearted (**Psalm 34:18**). Give them wisdom to navigate these disputes with grace and boldness, always pointing to Your Word as the final authority.
We pray for those who have been misled by the prosperity gospel or hyper-faith teachings. Open their eyes to the truth, Lord, and soften their hearts to receive correction. May they see that true faith is not about manipulating You for our desires but about surrendering to Your will, even when it is painful.
For those who are suffering—whether in body, mind, or spirit—we ask for Your mercy and healing. Give them strength to endure, faith to trust You, and the courage to seek the help and support You provide, whether through prayer, medicine, or the body of Christ. Remind them that their worth is not in their circumstances but in their identity as Your beloved children.
Finally, Lord, unite Your church in truth. May we be a people who bear one another’s burdens, who speak the truth in love, and who fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (**Hebrews 12:2**). Let us not be a people who scold the suffering but who serve them in humility, pointing always to the cross where our ultimate victory was won.
We ask all this in the precious and mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who suffered for us and now intercedes for us at Your right hand. Amen.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. 
