Short answer
It's natural to long for healing when facing sickness or pain. The Bible shows us that God absolutely can and does heal today. While healing isn't always instant or in the way we expect, God remains sovereign over all things, including our health, and He invites us to bring our requests to Him with faith and hope. His ultimate healing plan is found in Jesus Christ.
What Scripture says
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
"That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”"
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,"
"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Going deeper
When we or someone we love is suffering from illness, the question 'Does God heal today?' can feel incredibly urgent and personal. It's a question born out of real pain, fear, and a deep desire for relief. The Bible shows us a God who is intimately aware of our suffering, a God who has always demonstrated compassion for the sick and brokenhearted. It's important to approach this question with both faith in God's power and an understanding that His ways are higher than ours, and His healing can take many forms.
Scripture teaches us that God certainly can heal and, at times, does so miraculously. We see countless examples of physical healing throughout the Old and New Testaments, culminating in Jesus's earthly ministry where 'he healed every disease and every affliction among the people' (Matthew 4:23). This promise is echoed in passages like James 5:14-15, where we are encouraged to pray for the sick. However, the Bible also presents passages like Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' (2 Corinthians 12:7-9), where God's answer was not removal of the affliction but strength in weakness. This shows us that divine healing isn't always a guaranteed or instant cure, but rather a complex aspect of God's sovereign plan, His timing, and His ultimate purpose for our lives.
The good news of the gospel is that God's ultimate healing has already been secured through Jesus's death and resurrection. He bore our sins and our sicknesses on the cross (Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4-5), providing not just a pathway to eternal life, but also a promise that one day, all tears, pain, and sickness will be no more (Revelation 21:4). While we live in a fallen world where sickness still exists, we can live with profound hope, knowing that God cares deeply, hears our prayers, and works all things – including our suffering – for our good and His glory. His grace is truly sufficient, even in our weakness.
If you or a loved one are facing illness, continue to pray, seek medical care, and ask for support from your church community. Bring every concern to God, trusting in His love and His wisdom, knowing that He sees you, hears you, and holds you. Whether healing comes in this life or the next, through medicine or miracle, our hope is ultimately in Christ, who promises us a future free from all pain. Draw close to Him and lay your burdens at His feet.
Key takeaways
- God is compassionate and intimately aware of our pain and suffering.
- The Bible is clear: God can and does heal today, sometimes miraculously.
- Jesus healed all kinds of sickness during His earthly ministry, fulfilling prophecy.
- Healing isn't always instant; God's grace is sufficient in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).
- The gospel offers ultimate healing and hope in Christ, extending beyond physical cures to eternal restoration.
A prayer
Heavenly Father, I come to You today with burdens on my heart concerning sickness and pain. I believe You are a God who heals, and I ask for Your divine touch in my life or the life of my loved one. Strengthen my faith, comfort my anxious heart, and help me to trust Your wisdom and Your perfect timing. Whether You choose to heal physically or to carry me through this trial, may Your grace be sufficient for me. In Jesus's name, Amen.
Read the full passages
Every scripture cited above, opened for reading and study in context.