As Spirit-filled believers, one of the greatest gifts the Holy Spirit has provided to us is that of healing. Many times over in our lives and in those around us, healing has been poured out in miraculous ways. It is a mystery. It is incalculable. It is real.

There are five lessons I have learned along the way as we have walked through sickness, suffering, and ultimately healing. I hope these serve as an encouragement to you.

1. Healing is not complete until we reach eternity. This is such an important concept. As believers, we must understand that healing and eternity are deeply connected. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (NLT).

There is freedom in receiving God’s sovereignty when we do not harness His healing in this life. Every good thing we experience in Christ on this earth — worship, the Lord’s presence, freedom from sin — is only a glimpse of what we will experience in eternity. The same is true of healing.

This is why we do not fear death. Trust in God’s promises is one of the hallmarks of our Christian faith, and sometimes it is mind-blowing to unbelievers. We live with the knowledge that perfection cannot be achieved in this life, but we also look forward to the wholeness of complete union with God and the healing of every brokenness.

2. Healing can come in layers. Healing can happen in ways large and small and still be miraculous. Health issues can be complicated, and it’s wonderful to see God at work in the details. Healing can come all at once. It can also come in small breakthroughs, through specific answered prayers, through guidance to the right medical professionals, and in many other ways.

Last year, my husband, Wayne, had an ear infection that breached the barrier to his brain. As we walked through multiple hospitalizations and surgeries, he experienced healing in so many ways. First, an intern discovered Wayne's infection during the middle of the night in the emergency room.

We then sensed the guidance of the Holy Spirit while meeting with the surgeon and received answers to specific prayers. There were multiple possible approaches to the surgery, but the most likely was a full craniotomy. I asked God that somehow it would be avoided.

Remarkably, by the time of the surgery, the infection had completely healed. That allowed the surgical team to use a less-invasive approach.

Hope makes all
the difference in overcoming physical challenges.

Recently, Wayne developed a serious infection in the same ear, and it looked like he was headed for surgery again. This time, Wayne experienced a miraculous healing of the infection within days. Why did it happen that way this time and not the last? I don’t know. But we receive comfort and help from God every time and in every way.

3. We can stand in faith and not be in denial. When we don’t fear death, there is no reason to be in denial. It is important to understand the nuances of complex situations. We must hold this life and our way of life loosely, allowing God to be sovereign.

Philippians 4:7 says, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We can understand difficult realities and still receive peace from God that transcends our understanding.

My father has stood by the bedsides of thousands of people as a pastor. I have often heard him say, “We prepare for the worst and believe for the best.”

This does not indicate a lack of faith. It is actually an expression of faith. In spite of knowing what may be at stake, we also know God is able to do all things.

4. We should ask for healing. As we walked through Wayne’s crisis last year, most days I couldn’t even ask God for healing. All I could do was hold on to Jesus and receive the strength that came from the prayers of others.

But then one day, I meekly asked God to spare Wayne from the craniotomy. Although my faith was small — truly the size of a mustard seed — God still granted my request.

We have seen it over and over. Sometimes it is hard to ask because we don’t want to be disappointed if it doesn’t happen.

G. Mark Denyes, our pastor for many years, used to paraphrase Matthew 7:7 this way: “Ask, and keep asking; seek, and keep seeking; knock, and keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Over the years, that has inspired me not to give up.

5. The hope of healing spurs us on to overcome. Even when we understand the realities, hope inspires. Revelation 12:11 says, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

Filling our hearts and minds with the testimonies of healing is so strengthening. The hope of healing gives us the courage to stay positive during treatment, to get up one more day and do the difficult physical therapy, and to believe that by God’s strength, we will live better days. Hope makes all the difference in overcoming physical challenges.

Whatever you, your loved ones, or your congregants are going through, hold on to the hope of healing. Let the peace of God encompass you even in the midst of difficult realities.

Let’s fill our hearts and minds with testimonies of God’s healing and ask Him to do it one more time, as we believe for total restoration and eternity with Him!