God Can Heal You
“Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are the ONE I praise.” ~Jeremiah 17:14
Imagine feeling completely isolated, rejected, shunned by society, physically and emotionally spent…unloved and unwanted—only to have circumstances change in an instant. Suddenly, your body is whole; you feel love for the first time…but not fleeting love…eternal love—the kind that lasts forever and heals the brokenness that has been overwhelming on the inside. What changes? The Savior of the world enters the picture and changes everything. His unfailing love overcomes barriers, softens the hardest hearts, and brings hope and healing both physically and emotionally.
This description above is based on the healing of the leper found in Luke 5. Maybe as you were reading, you didn’t have to imagine this scene. Maybe you are living it right now, whether through a physical ailment or intense emotional wounds. Recently, I was reflecting on the leper in the Bible and was envisioning how this person must have felt: everywhere he entered, people would shout “unclean” and run away. Not only was he dealing with this debilitating disease and experiencing the physical pain, but he was also having to deal with the severe rejection that comes along with feeling unaccepted by society. Talk about a double whammy! Out of all the healings in the Bible that Jesus performed in Scripture, this particular one grabs me most deeply.
Take a look at these two verses and soak in the powerful meaning and the method that Christ used to heal the leper. “In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed his face to the ground, begging to be healed. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and TOUCHED the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said, ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.” Luke 5:12-13.
There are so many encouragements from these verses:
- The leper bowed his head in reverence and honor to the Lord. He worshiped the Lord by acknowledging His authority. This was an act of humility on behalf of the man recognizing Jesus’ ability to change the situation. We can learn from this example by doing the same. There is strength that comes from understanding that Christ is the one who enables us and makes us strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He is God, and we are not. He holds the universe together and reigns Supreme. Christ loved us enough to die on a cross, take the sins of the world on Himself, and overcome death to offer us life—eternal life (John 3:16). And, because He is God, He has the power and the ability to heal, to restore; to bring death to life. We can bring Him everything that concerns us and lay them at His feet and entrust our lives to His care by believing in His Sovereignty.
- The leper asked the Lord to cleanse Him. He asked God for a miracle; for a breakthrough. But, this statement is also very symbolic. God is not only able to physically heal us, He is also able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. According to 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Not only can we experience physical cleansing (like the leper), we can also experience spiritual cleansing, as well.
- The leper is healed both physically and emotionally. When Jesus listens to this man’s plea, He does more than what the man even asked Him to do. This individual not only receives physical healing, but emotional healing, as well. How do we know this?…The method that Christ chose to heal him—physical touch. The Savior of the world could have chosen any number of methods…The method He chose was one that would have melted the hardest heart…He reached out and touched the very person that everyone else would have run away from. Breaking barriers, Jesus reached the deepest recesses of this man’s heart and let this person know that he was indeed loved, noticed, cared for, and accepted.
In what areas can you personally identify? Are there deep emotional wounds that need to be healed? Do you have physical ailments that are debilitating or causing you pain? Know that just like the leper, Christ cares about you and has compassion on you. He is fully able to turn circumstances around 180 degrees. Like the account in Luke 5, invite Jesus into your circumstances and recognize His Lordship in your life. Surrender to His plan, and know that He has a purpose and a plan for whatever challenges you have had to endure or are currently enduring. Whatever method He uses to accomplish His purposes in your life, take encouragement from Scripture. God is able to do more than you can ask, think, or imagine. He can supersede what you ask for and do far greater things than you have pictured for yourself. Let’s focus on these healing Scriptures below and believe in His authority and His ability to perform the impossible. There is power in the name of Jesus and in His Word. Claim His promises. Keep believing that He is able. Keep trusting. Keep expecting:
*“Surely, He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” ~Isaiah 53:4-5
* “‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD.” ~Jeremiah 30:17
* “You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love You kept me from the pit of destruction; You have put all my sins behind your back.” ~ Isaiah 38:16-17
* “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent out His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.” ~Psalm 107:19-21
* “LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” ~Psalm 30:2
*He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” ~Psalm 147:3
