Illness 3

He bore our sins in His own body on the tree so we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness.  By His stripes, we are healed.   1 Peter 2:24

There's the word we're after when we are struggling with illness: Healed.

After a certain point in the torture and crucifixion, there was no doctor that would've been able to heal Jesus' body.  It was too far gone. 

And yet, the great paradox of the crucifixion is that it healed us!  The torture that killed Jesus' body healed our souls!  The agony of Jesus served an important purpose.  He certainly didn't want it to happen, right?  He even asked God to not let it happen.  Three times He asked.

But the answer was no.  His suffering served a purpose.

In the middle of illness, we are focused on the cure.  And understandably so. 

But it would also be healthy to consider what purpose it might serve.  Might it serve a purpose of getting our attention off of something we had focused on that wasn't good for us?  Might it serve a purpose of allowing us to demonstrate faith to some person around us?

We all want to be healed.  And ultimately, the sacrifice of Jesus does that for us.

But in the meantime, until our bodies are healed on this earth, it might be worth praying for God to show you a purpose the illness can serve.

That purpose very well could save another person's life.  Or maybe even their soul.

What is your response to this verse?