Today I will begin this text by telling you that God holds our hand at all times, but especially when there is no one around. This weekend I had my four wisdom teeth removed and what an agony this surgery was, as soon as I arrived at the clinic I found out that nobody could enter the room with me, which was a torment to me at first. As I spent a lot of time in the hospital in my childhood, I used to get very nervous when I saw a needle.
So there I found myself, in an operating chair, with three dentists surrounding me, putting a cloth to protect my face during the surgery, and then they started to administer the local anesthesia, with a needle that for those who don’t feel very comfortable, looks twice the size it really is. I was scared, feeling alone and uncomfortable, but then I remembered that I was not alone and that my Lord is the doctor of doctors.
It was a 3 hour surgery and during this time I prayed from beginning to end, which kept me firm and strong in that chair, because I would have stopped at the first tooth. In some moments I felt that I would faint from the pain, but I took a deep breath and felt God’s comfort over me, I knew that he was taking care of everything so that everything would be alright. And now I want to bring you the story of three inspiring biblical characters of people healed from illnesses much more serious than wisdom tooth surgery.
The barrenness of Anna
There is none holy like the Lord; for there is none besides thee, and there is no rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2
The story of Hannah is told in 1 Samuel 1 and 2. If Hannah had not gone through what she did, most probably, we would not know the story of the prophet Samuel as we do. Anna was barren and as a result was constantly humiliated by her rival Peninnah (1 Kings 1:6).
One day in the temple, very sad about her condition, Anna prayed, wept and cried out to the Lord. She made a vow to Him: if He would grant her a son, Anne would consecrate him, giving him up to serve God daily of her life. To the glory and praise of the Lord, it happened.
Anna became pregnant, had a son, and fulfilled her vow. This son was a great man of God in the history of Israel, leading the people, anointing kings, and prophesying the Word of the Lord to his people. God greatly used the life of the priest and judge Samuel. God turned Hannah’s bitterness into joy and contentment
The blind man from birth
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and he found him and said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God? He answered and said, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him? And Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you. He said, “I believe, Lord. And he worshiped him. And Jesus said unto him, I am come into this world for judgment, that they which see not may see, and that they which see may be blind. And those of the Pharisees which were with him, when they heard this, said unto him, Are we also blind?
John 9:35-40
The story of the man born blind is told in the gospel of John, chapter 9. Jesus saw him and his disciples asked him who had sinned, the parents or the man himself, for being born blind. Until today it is common for sin to be linked to the cause of someone being sick.
Although evil entered the world because of universal sin, sickness is not always a sign of a specific sin. God is in control and sometimes even uses sickness for his purposes.
Jesus surprised his disciples by responding that the blind man was born this way so that God’s work could be accomplished through his life (John 9:3). The man was healed of blindness from birth, being proof that God is powerful and much more than physical healing, he could heal you of spiritual blindness.
Naaman – Heavily Ill General
Naaman was a Syrian, a high-ranking general, who had a terrible disease for his time. His story is told in 2 Kings 5. Despite his resources, power and fame, this man had little possibility of cure or medical treatment for leprosy. But there was a young girl, serving in his house, brought captive from Israel, who testified about God’s prophet. And Naaman believed. The all-powerful God of Israel could heal any disease.
After struggling with pride, Naaman humbled himself and obeyed the prophet Elisha’s word. He dipped into the Jordan River seven times and saw the great miracle: his skin was completely restored, to the glory of God. General Naaman recognized that there was no one like God.
This story shows us that in addition to being healed of his disease, Naaman left believing in the one true God. The healing of the Syrian commander brought glory to the name of God, and was even remembered by Jesus in Luke 4:27. God extends His mercy and saves those who trust, from all peoples and nations. God is worth believing in!
Conclusion
Many times we do not understand God’s purpose when we face an illness or have to go through some adversity. But we have learned here, that the question should not be the why, but the wherefore of a certain disease or adverse situation. We must believe in the Lord Jesus, putting ourselves in His hands, seeing by faith that God can use this event for His glory and for our growth.
Even the surgery I have had has helped me to understand that I don’t need to be afraid of needles, as uncomfortable as it may be, it is not an evil that lasts forever, it is momentary and soon passes. Maybe you are sick or have to go through a procedure that makes you afraid, but know that God will hold your hand, even if no one can be by your side.
God bless you!
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