May 13
When Healing
Feels Delayed
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
1 John 5:14, NIrV
Lana winced as she moved her leg, the pain sharp and unrelenting. Her knee had been injured months ago in a car accident, and though the doctors assured her she’d heal in time, she was tired of waiting. The simplest tasks—climbing stairs, grocery shopping, playing with her nieces—had become monumental challenges.
Lana had prayed every day for healing. She prayed at home, she prayed at church, and she prayed with her Bible study group. But the pain remained.
This Sunday, sitting in the back pew of her church, Lana struggled to focus on the pastor’s sermon. She wasn’t angry, but she was weary. “God, I’ve asked You so many times,” she whispered, gripping the edge of her seat. “Why aren’t You healing me? Don’t You care?”
After the service ended, she lingered behind, her crutches resting against the pew. Carol, the pastor, noticed her sitting alone and walked over.
“Lana, you’ve been on my heart this week,” Carol said, sitting beside her. “How are you holding up?”
Lana hesitated, then sighed. “I don’t know, Carol. I’ve been praying for healing for months, and nothing’s changing. I’m doing everything I can to stay hopeful, but... I feel like God isn’t listening.”
Carol listened carefully and then placed a hand on Lana’s arm. “Lana, it’s so hard when we don’t see the answers we’re hoping for. But can I remind you of something? In 1 John 5:14, we’re told that God hears us when we ask according to His will. It doesn’t mean He’ll answer exactly how or when we want, but it does mean He’s listening and working in His perfect timing.”
Lana’s eyes filled with tears. “I just don’t understand why He would let me stay like this. I’ve asked, I’ve believed, but the pain is still here.”
Carol nodded. “I get that. Sometimes, God uses our waiting to do something greater in us. Healing isn’t just physical—it can also be emotional, spiritual, or relational. What if this season of waiting is preparing you for something you can’t see yet?”
Later that night, as Lana sat on the edge of her bed, she took a deep breath. For the first time, her prayer shifted. “Lord, I’ve been asking for healing, but tonight, I want to ask for something more. Give me patience to wait for Your will, and help me see what You’re doing in my life through this pain. I trust that You hear me, even when I can’t see the answer.”
It wasn’t an immediate fix. Her knee still ached, but her heart felt lighter. Lana knew she wasn’t alone—and that her prayers were never wasted.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for always hearing us when we pray.
Even when healing feels delayed, we trust that You are working in ways beyond our understanding.
Help us to remember that Your timing is perfect, and Your plan for our lives is good.
Like Lana, we sometimes grow weary in the waiting.
Please strengthen our hearts and give us peace, even when the answers we seek don’t come right away.
Teach us to trust You and to see Your hand at work in our lives, no matter the circumstances.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
