Roy Slaybaugh was healed by a miracle. The first thing he remembered after his dreadful automobile accident was seeing an angel beside his hospital bed as he regained consciousness. The angel placed his hand of Roy’s head and told him that he would be all right now.

Roy later learned that he had sustained some terrible injuries in the accident including, among other things, a compound fracture of the skull, with cerebral fluid draining from his left eye and ear.

He had been in a coma for several days and the doctor had said there was no hope, he was dying.

Unaware of what had happened, Mrs. H, a nurse on the case, came to work the morning after the healing. Roy asked her for a piece of candy. She knew he had a fractured jaw and couldn't eat it, but thought that he could at least suck on it, so she gave him one. When he chewed it right down, she was amazed.

Roy was discharged later that morning completely healed.

The hand of the Creator still works in the healing and restoration of our bodies. Is it unrealistic then, for human beings to turn to their Creator when overwhelmed by sickness and disease?

When human strength fails, we feel our need of divine help. And never does our merciful God turn from the soul that sincerely seeks Him for help. Christ is just as willing to heal the sick now as when He was personally on Earth.

However, there are certain conditions that must be met before the Lord can bless us.

1. We must comply with the laws of health to the best of our knowledge and ability:

If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord they God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.” (Exodus 15; 26. See also the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-14).

Many look for miraculous healing without having any intention or desire to give up habits and pursuits that undermine their health. They expect Christ to heal their diseases while they cling to injurious practices that cause sickness. Should these persons gain the blessing of health, many of them would continue to pursue the same course of heedless transgression of God’s natural and spiritual laws, reasoning that if God heals them in answer to prayer, He approves of their lifestyle, and they are at liberty to continue their unhealthful practices and to indulge perverted appetite without restraint.

When we ask for a miracle, the Lord may lead us to see that some habit we are indulging is causing the problem, show us a positive lifestyle change, or direct us to some simple remedy. It is then our responsibility to obey. We cannot expect the Lord to work a miracle for us while we neglect to follow what He is telling us to do. The change or simple remedy the Lord has impressed us to use may be all that is needed to bring about a restoration. If that is not enough, the Lord may work a miracle of healing after we obey Him. He directs us to change our habits, so that when He does heal us, we will not undo His work.

2. Sin must be confessed and forsaken.

An the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:15-16)

It is not God's purpose to make healthy sinners out of people. He desires to make people whole. Christ warned the crippled man He had healed at the Pool of Bethesda, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14). Thus we see that in God’s plan, the healing of the body and spirit are closely united.

While God is merciful, compassionate, and longsuffering, it is unreasonable to expect Him to bless you while you continue in deliberate rebellion against Him. Confess any sin in your life, and seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

3. Be willing accept His decision.

In prayer for the sick it should be remembered that “we know not what we should pray for as we ought” (Romans 8:26). We do not know whether the blessing we desire will be best. His love is greater than we can possibly comprehend, and He alone understands what is for our ultimate good.

God sees the end from the beginning. He is acquainted with the hearts of all men. He reads every secret of the soul. He discerns what the results would be if He were to grant our request. While presenting our petitions with earnestness, we should say, as did our Lord in Gethsemane, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

The Lord’s may make any decision He chooses:
YES, as in the case of Hezekiah (See 2 Kings 20:1-6).
NO, as it was for the Apostle Paul (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
WAIT, as in the case of Lazarus (See John 11:6-45).

There are cases where God works decidedly by His divine power in the restoration of health. But not all the sick are healed. We should not ask Him to concede to our will, but should seek to enter into and accomplish His purpose.

True faith is trusting that God loves you and will do what is best for you. Demanding that He do exactly what you ask when you ask is not true faith—it is presumption. Rather than trying to manipulate the Lord into doing what we wish, we should seek to know His will and to have our will and desires conform to His.

The consistent course is to commit our desires to our loving, all-wise, heavenly Father, and then, in perfect confidence, trust all to Him. God hears our prayer. He always answers. Be willing to accept His decision whether it be yes, no, or wait.

Read the next article, about counterfeit healing