Is sickness a blessing?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Aug 23, 2018
51
14
8
#81
Sickness only exists because the fallen state due to sin. So while its not necessarily about personal sin it is still about the sinful condition and the death of the flesh.
Death is the result of sin. But not all Christian deaths can be said to be nothing but God's specific judgment of Christians for committing sins.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,189
6,606
113
62
#82

Job 1:21B and 13:15A
Thank you for the inspiration .:)
As thoughtful as your post is, inspiration comes from God. I'm happy to be a vessel. I know that's what you meant anyway.
 

Underwhosewings

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2023
1,318
670
113
Australia
#84
I believe ultimately that everything in our life is designed to bring us into a more intimate relationship with God.
Increasing our faith is one aspect of that. It did so for Job...see Job 13:15. Though He slay me, I will trust Him.
But there is more. Job 42:5 says I had heard of Thee with my ears, but now my eyes seeth Thee. I don't think Job actually saw God. I believe God revealed Himself to Job in such a way as the difference of his understanding and experience was as if he was blind and now he could see.
In other words, our brains receive about 15% of its sensory information from hearing. It receives 80% from the eyes. If you were blind all your life and could suddenly see, imagine how your experience and understanding of the world would change. Now imagine that happening to your spiritual sight. How different would your understanding and experience of God be?
This only comes as a result of difficulty. That's why James says count it all joy when you fall into all types of trials. We don't enjoy the difficulties. But we can endure them well knowing the end of them is a deeper and more intimate relationship with God.
Amen!!!
Never try to escape from trials.
We grow spiritually, so much, when we submit and talk to God about it.
I find the more I submit and talk to God, the more He speaks to me.
It’s truly wonderful.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,189
6,606
113
62
#85
In a fallen world, things that formerly didn't exist can have beneficial and harmful effects.

Image a world without pain. You could bump into a door, have internal bleeding, and die before you ever realized it. Cancer could devastate your body before there was any chance for recovery. I had a friend who had a terrible accident and split open his head. While he was being treated they found brain tumors.
I realize this is little consolation to those who suffer with pain regularly or constantly. But I do encourage you to keep seeking the Lord and trusting Him.
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#86
Science is working on proving that tension (the lack of faith) is the cause of most sickness.

Just holding our body tense as we react to life in unchristian ways can cause such as migraine and stomach ulcers.

We have Christ within, and we fill our mind with the word. The word leads to relaxation and contentment that brings on health and vitality according to
science.

Instead of pills, perhaps simply forgiving what caused our personal hurts may be a more effective cure of our sickness, along with learning not to keep our body tense thinking that will help us.
Interesting.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#88
It has been proven.

I am speaking as the 97 year old, healthy woman I am.

Prove it for yourself. Use your imagination to bring up someone you resent, who you haven't been able to forgive, now how are you feeling? Are you relaxed? Imagine holding your body this way all day.

Now think of a lovely time you have had, or someone you love, Meditate on a favorite scripture. What a difference in how your body feels! There is healing and happiness in the body, now.
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#89
It has been proven.

I am speaking as the 97 year old, healthy woman I am.

Prove it for yourself. Use your imagination to bring up someone you resent, who you haven't been able to forgive, now how are you feeling? Are you relaxed? Imagine holding your body this way all day.

Now think of a lovely time you have had, or someone you love, Meditate on a favorite scripture. What a difference in how your body feels! There is healing and happiness in the body, now.
I have already forgiven all who have trespassed against me.
And yes, i agree there is health and happiness in love and mercy.
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
4,940
591
113
#90
Is sickness a blessing?
Nowhere in the Scriptures do I see God saying that sickness is "a blessing"!

But, what I do see is the Lord Jesus and the early Church healing multitudes of sick persons, not only physically sick, but those with mental and emotional problems. Matt 8v16, Acts 5v16

And no matter when anyone tries to say otherwise, healing IS MOST DEFINITELY included in the atonement! Isaiah 53v4 with Matt 8v16,17.

It would make good sense for the Body of Christ today, to emulate the pattern laid down by the Lord Jesus and the early Church and heal ALL who are sick, instead of making excuses for their blackslidden prayerless state!
 
Aug 23, 2018
51
14
8
#91
It has been proven.

I am speaking as the 97 year old, healthy woman I am.

Prove it for yourself. Use your imagination to bring up someone you resent, who you haven't been able to forgive, now how are you feeling? Are you relaxed? Imagine holding your body this way all day.

Now think of a lovely time you have had, or someone you love, Meditate on a favorite scripture. What a difference in how your body feels! There is healing and happiness in the body, now.
Long life is a gift from God. However, to give up one's life in service to God if God so wills brings even greater rewards to a Christian.


Proverbs 3:1-3
King James Version
3 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
 
Aug 23, 2018
51
14
8
#92
Nowhere in the Scriptures do I see God saying that sickness is "a blessing"!

But, what I do see is the Lord Jesus and the early Church healing multitudes of sick persons, not only physically sick, but those with mental and emotional problems. Matt 8v16, Acts 5v16

And no matter when anyone tries to say otherwise, healing IS MOST DEFINITELY included in the atonement! Isaiah 53v4 with Matt 8v16,17.

It would make good sense for the Body of Christ today, to emulate the pattern laid down by the Lord Jesus and the early Church and heal ALL who are sick, instead of making excuses for their blackslidden prayerless state!
Healing the sick, raising the dead, and taking up snakes and poisons without harm were all sign gifts God used to prove those true disciples preaching in the name of Jesus were of God.

Mark 16:20
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.


After the Bible was completed (that which is perfect was come) ...

1 Corinthians 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

there was no longer a need for miracles to prove preachers were of God. Everyone could read the Bible or access the Bible for themselves to confirm the word of God.
 
Aug 23, 2018
51
14
8
#93
Nowhere in the Scriptures do I see God saying that sickness is "a blessing"!

But, what I do see is the Lord Jesus and the early Church healing multitudes of sick persons, not only physically sick, but those with mental and emotional problems. Matt 8v16, Acts 5v16

And no matter when anyone tries to say otherwise, healing IS MOST DEFINITELY included in the atonement! Isaiah 53v4 with Matt 8v16,17.

It would make good sense for the Body of Christ today, to emulate the pattern laid down by the Lord Jesus and the early Church and heal ALL who are sick, instead of making excuses for their blackslidden prayerless state!
Those claiming the power to heal the sick bring reproach on their own ministries by neglecting to heal those in hospitals everywhere.
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
4,940
591
113
#94
1 Corinthians 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

there was no longer a need for miracles to prove preachers were of God. Everyone could read the Bible or access the Bible for themselves to confirm the word of God.
A VERY BIG LOL!

No matter how you twist the Scriptures, there is no way that you can make "that which is perfect" refer to the Scripture canon; the Scripture canon is NOWHERE in the context of 1Cor 13.

You're simply propagating a lie of the Devil!
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,386
5,725
113
#95
After the Bible was completed (that which is perfect was come) ...

1 Corinthians 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

there was no longer a need for miracles to prove preachers were of God. Everyone could read the Bible or access the Bible for themselves to confirm the word of God.
I don't know where this idea has come from but it is wrong. It's a verse ripped from it's context.
A completed canon is not remotely hinted at as the perfection to come.

The perfection to come is after resurrection when we see God face to face. As is explained in the same passage of scripture.

1 Corinthians 13
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part;

11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known
 

notmyown

Senior Member
May 26, 2016
4,927
1,272
113
#96
I'm 70 and have suffered health issues yet I trust the Lord to do with me as He will, in sickness or in health, in wealth or in poverty, and in joy or in sorrow. I know I have an appointed time to die and I want to go when the Lord wills.
and this, ladies and gentlemen, is what faith looks like. :)
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#97
To me, the Lord's reply to Apostle Paul's prayer springs to mind.
In the book of 2 Corinthians 12, Paul was given a thorn in his flesh and the Lord said

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"

Paul goes on to say he will boast all the more gladly about his weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on him.

Paul was the one who healed many and yet the Lord chose not to heal him.
In this regard, sickness could be interpreted as Lord's calling for you to come nearer to Him.

I encourage you to pray as Paul did; for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul explains exactly what his thorn in the flesh was, a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him. you say it yourself, insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties.

... if Paul was sick he'd never have survived those things.
 

Underwhosewings

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2023
1,318
670
113
Australia
#98
Easier said than done.
I have had plenty, and I praise God for every single one of them. I can hardly believe that I am still alive to tell.
When you submit to trials that God has allowed in your life, you become a great blessing to those around you.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#99
Amen!!!
Never try to escape from trials.
We grow spiritually, so much, when we submit and talk to God about it.
I find the more I submit and talk to God, the more He speaks to me.
It’s truly wonderful.
praps we all need a good dose of leprosy then.

... them lepers in the bible did not hold your opinion