Old Promises Of Healing In New Modern Ways

Old Promises Of Healing In New Modern Ways

His people believed his promises. Then they sang his praise. Psalm 106:12

“Dr. Anderson, I know God has promised many things in the Bible, but do you think he can heal me?” Darryl asked.

Stage four colon cancer can be a scary diagnosis. When I was in medical school, and also as a resident, we were told to approach patients with metastatic colon cancer carefully because the diagnosis was the equivalent of a death sentence. We would have a short conversation about treatment protocols, and then the conversation would drift to end-of-life care and the comfort measures the patient wanted.

In those moments, I talked to my patients about what they wanted or did not want in their final moments. I also took the opportunity to discuss their spiritual health. They needed to know that their time on earth was short.

As I considered how to answer Darryl’s question, I thought about all those past conversations. With new medical advancements, the diagnosis no longer carries the grave prognosis it once did. That’s not to say that everyone will be healed or survive, but great strides in oncology treatment have been made. Many of my patients are still alive and singing God’s praises years after their final treatment cycle.

Some call these advances a medical breakthrough, but I prefer to think of them as a medical miracle—one that God has guided. Though these discoveries are made by medical science, I know that God has his hand in every one of them, as he reveals himself and keeps his promises every day. It’s exciting to work in a field where I can see such marvelous evidence of God’s faithfulness. It’s a great reminder of why we need to keep our eyes open to what is happening around us so we can see the fulfillment of God’s promises.

“Darryl, I believe that God keeps his promises to heal us. Sometimes it is an inexplicable event that happens here and now. Sometimes it is a miracle of science and medicine that was years in the making. And sometimes it is an indescribable event that happens when we enter our forever home. So, yes, Darryl, I am convinced that God keeps his promises and will heal you.”

TODAY’S RX

Open your eyes today to see all of the ways in which God keeps his promises. Then sing praises to him.

Father, I will never cease to be amazed by your faithfulness in keeping your promises. Help me to keep my eyes open to them every day, so that I may witness more of your unfailing love and grow deeper in my faith.