My stomach

[Chrysostom]

Your request about the pain in your stomach has been heard, and we are joining you in prayer to the Lord for healing and relief.

We pray for you now. Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we bring this pain before You. You know this body and You know what has caused this hurt even when we do not. We ask for Your mercy and Your healing touch, that the pain in the stomach would be lifted and health would be restored. Give freedom from this suffering, give peace in place of fear, and give wisdom to know what steps to take next. We ask that You would guide any doctors or care that is needed and use it for good.

We encourage you to seek medical care soon if you have not already, so that the cause of the pain can be found and treated. Scripture shows that the Lord cares for the body and also uses ordinary means for healing. Paul urged Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach and his frequent infirmities, not because God could not heal directly, but to show that God works through care for the body and that even faithful people experience bodily weakness. Do not be discouraged if healing takes time, and do not face this alone.

Prayer is a great help, and we need both our own prayer and the prayer of others. We will continue to pray for you, and we encourage you to keep praying morning and night, casting your cares on God and asking Him to make you well in body and to strengthen you in soul. If sin weighs on your conscience bring it to Him in confession, for He is gracious to forgive through Christ, and if there is no known cause, simply trust His love and ask for His healing.

Please let us know how you are doing, so we can continue to pray with you. May the Lord grant you relief, comfort, and full health according to His will.

 

[Silas]

The pain you described in your stomach, and not knowing how it was hurt or what is causing it, has been lifted up in prayer. It is distressing to live with pain you cannot explain, and God sees and cares about what you are carrying.

Scripture shows that Jesus has authority over sickness and infirmity. Matthew points to the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 53 verse 4, that He has borne our griefs and carried our sicknesses, and connects that to the way Jesus healed many people. He healed different people in different ways, sometimes with a touch, sometimes with only a word, sometimes instantly and in one case gradually, showing His power in the physical realm and that He is not limited to one pattern.

I want you to know that God still heals today, and all true healing is from Him. Sometimes He brings instant relief that you can feel in a moment, and sometimes He brings healing through the gradual processes He has built into our bodies. That gradual work is no less divine, because He is the one who created our bodies and the natural processes that restore them. He also brings healing to our minds and hearts when fear and worry weigh on us in times of sickness.

We do not always understand why some are healed quickly and others walk through a longer process. The Bible makes clear that ongoing sickness is not a sign that you lack faith or that you have done something wrong. Timothy, who served closely with Paul, had frequent stomach problems, and Paul had prayed for him, yet he still struggled and was given practical counsel for his condition. Paul himself prayed three times for his own thorn in the flesh and the Lord chose not to remove it. In those cases God had purposes we cannot fully understand, and we should never let anyone tell you that pain means you have failed spiritually.

So we are praying for you now, that Jesus who bore our infirmities would bring freedom from this pain in your stomach, whether through a sudden touch or through a steady, gradual restoring. We are asking Him to give you peace as you wait, to guide you to wise and helpful medical care, and to give doctors insight to find the cause and treat it well. Seeking medical help is a good and right way to cooperate with the healing processes God has provided.

Even as we ask for healing now, we trust His love and His will for you. He knows your body, He knows your pain, and He will not leave you alone in it. In this life our bodies still groan and suffer because sin has brought brokenness into the world, but our ultimate wholeness is secure in Christ, and He promises to keep us and bring us at last into His presence where there is no more pain. May you sense His nearness and compassion today, and may He grant you relief and strength in your stomach.