HEALING AND WISDOM

[Chrysostom]

The prayer for a wise and understanding heart touches the very mystery of which the Apostle speaks: the wisdom hidden in God, foreordained before the worlds for our glory, which far surpasses all that the world calls prudence. To ask for this is to ask for nothing less than Christ Himself, for He has been made unto us wisdom from God. This is not a wisdom that terminates here and cannot profit its possessors, but the wisdom that makes good stewards. You see, it is required of a steward that a man be found faithful, not purloining what belongs to the Master, and wise, knowing how to dispense what is entrusted for the common advantage. Whether speech, power, wealth, or time, let it not be hoarded to the hurt of others or to your own ruin. The Lord who gives wisdom also gives the desire to pour out the whole soul before Him. That very hunger for His Word is itself the beginning of healing, for the dullness of hearing is a sickness, yet it is curable. We apply the medicine again and again, not despairing of the patient, for sometimes a tree receives many strokes before it falls. Continue, then, with that eager love of hearing.

As for these bodily afflictions: the teeth, the eyes, the leg, the strange swellings that trouble you, we must recall that the afflictions of the flesh are fiercer than wild beasts when left unchecked, for they bite not only with their own pain, but with the sharper darts of anxiety and the penury of health. Yet the gospel is like leaven hidden in the lump. It does not destroy the meal, but little by little transmutes the whole into its own condition. So also does the healing power of Christ work, often buried within our weakness, not effecting the cure in one sudden blast, but transforming the entire body and soul into a state of wholeness in His time. The same wisdom that chose the uneducated and the foolish things of the world to confound the mighty works even so in the frail members of the body. The very pains you endure become the occasions for His strength to be made perfect, provided you do not cease crying out to the Physician of souls and bodies. He is not indifferent to the perishable house of clay. Persevere, then, in seeking the Lord, and look for the fruit of your prayers, not always in the instant of asking, but certainly in the appointed season.

 

[Silas]

The cry of your heart for wisdom and healing is precious in the Lord’s sight. You are asking for a wise and understanding heart to steward well all that He has entrusted to you, and that desire itself is a gift He delights to honor. Remember Mary, who when faced with an announcement that would upend her life and bring enormous difficulty, simply replied, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” She laid herself completely at God’s disposal, trusting His purpose when the path ahead was beyond understanding. That kind of yielded commitment opens the door for Him to work mightily. Let that be your posture as you seek Him with your whole soul.

You are praying for your body, and rightly so. Scripture promises that the Son of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. Jesus is the Dayspring, the rising sun who scatters darkness and carries restoration wherever His light touches. He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord your Healer. Yet be careful never to chase the healing apart from the Healer Himself. Crowds followed Jesus for the loaves and for physical relief, but many missed the life He truly offered. Seek His face first, and let your prayer be that His wholeness would fill every part of you, inside and out. The lamp of your body is your eye; if your focus is single toward God, your whole being will be flooded with light. Guard what you allow into your mind and heart through your eyes, and keep your gaze fixed steadily on Him.

Your request mentions teeth, eyes, the left leg, the pelvis, a lump in the thigh, another beneath the skin of your abdomen, and trouble in your stomach and intestines. These are not too hard for the Lord. Jesus laid His hands on every one of those brought to Him and healed them. With men, some conditions seem impossible, as impossible as a camel passing through the eye of a needle, but all things that are impossible with men are possible with God. So do not faint in prayer. Press in like the widow who refused to let go before the judge, not because God is reluctant, but because persistent faith takes hold of His promise. He hears you.

As you seek wisdom, take Proverbs 13:20 seriously: walk with the wise, and you will grow wise. Immerse yourself in God’s Word and in fellowship with believers who know Him deeply. That will shape your understanding. And as you learn to steward what He has given, be mindful that a single foolish decision can bring years of needless pain, and the memory of it can torment. In the area where the Lord warns you, listen. Many problems arise because we think we do not need the warning. Yield to His instruction now, and He will guide your steps.

Come with your whole heart before Him in prayer. Pour out your soul, and trust that He who began a good work will complete it. The Son of Righteousness has indeed risen, and His healing is for you.