02.03. Chapter 03. Prayer and Sickness

Prayer and Sickness

(2) Whilst all suffering is occasion for praying, this scripture particularizes one form thereof, namely, sickness, as a special opportunity for supplication. "The prayer of faith shall save him that is sick." In a remote part of South India a valued missionary was suddenly taken seriously ill at night. The complaint was evidently choleric. The swift collapse, extreme coldness, and other symptoms were Unmistakable, and just when I reached the bedside the cramps and vomiting 1 James 5:10. 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:9. 3 Luke 18:1. 4 Acts 16:25. 5 Acts 12:5. 6 See Prayer Focused and Fighting. were setting in. Inquiring if he had at hand any remedy known to be useful, the immediate reply was: I have the Lord to heal me; and He has been showing me to-night that I ought not to have occupied your mind yesterday with the unprofitable things of which I talked." Here, I thought, is that confession of fault to which James exhorts, and so I readily joined with others in the prayer of faith for recovery. An esteemed friend led in prayer, and asked specifically that the sick man might go to sleep. Nothing more unlikely at that hour could have been requested. But within fifteen minutes I saw him settle into a peaceful, natural sleep, in which he continued for five hours, and from which he awoke well. He rose during that day, and on the next day took his place as a speaker at a convention. In a remote country district in Devonshire, where I once lived, I was one evening stricken down without warning by influenza, the fourth such seizure known. Utterly prostrate, and with severe nausea, my first thought was to send for some brethren to pray. But this being found impracticable, my wife and I prayed together; and faith was given to plead that there should be a prompt raising up to fulfil a preaching engagement in a distant city the next day but one. In particular it was asked that the distressing nausea might subside. My wife rose, and at once left the room; but ere she had dosed the door I recalled her to say that the nausea had instantly gone, and that I was already well. To these sample cases numerous parallels are available. Many who adopt no such opinions as that sickness is always from the devil, or that it is sinful to use remedies or to consult a physician, nevertheless know experimentally the power of the prayer of faith in severe sickness. That God does not always immediately heal all infirmities is evident from the cases of Trophimus1 and Timothy.2 Some bodily weakness is permanent, being for spiritual benefit, and is cause for glorying;3 some is disciplinary, and can be relieved only by repentance, confession, and prayer;4 some is but the unavoidable wear and tear upon the physical machinery which is incidental to all strenuous effort. God will instruct prayerful hearts as to the nature of the ailment, and what measures, spiritual or medicinal, or both, are proper to each case.