“We discover more of God through afflictions than by many sermons. In the word we hear of God, but in afflictions we see God.” —Thomas Case
For Christians dealing with a seasonal head cold or a life-changing diagnosis, illness can be a miserable experience and one we’d all like to avoid. Even with advances in medicine, sickness and disease still surround us everywhere we go.
With prolonged illness, there’s an added emotional and spiritual weight that compounds suffering. Being unable to attend church, go to work, be with loved ones, or live a normal life can lead to profound isolation and depression. It can make prayer difficult even for a mature believer.
But when our bodies and words fail us, God’s word offers deep healing for our hearts. The Bible gives us many examples of how we can pray and ask God for healing, encouragement, and strength in the midst of illness. Below we’ve gathered some relevant and helpful verses that you can pray back to God to find spiritual rest during your greatest afflictions.
What does the Bible say about sickness?
People suffering from illness can be seen throughout scripture and especially in the New Testament. In fact, Jesus spent much of his ministry healing the sick [Matthew 8:16] and even resurrecting some who died from sickness [John 11:43-44].
While God can and often does heal us, not all illness, disease, and affliction will be removed in this life. Only until the Lord remakes Creation will we experience a total regeneration of our physical body [Revelation 21:4-5]. As believers, we can joyfully look forward to an eternity of perfect union with Jesus.
Prayer for today: verses for comfort and restoration
Being held back by poor health can make any believer feel frustrated, angry, or downcast. We’re tempted to distrust God for allowing sickness in our lives, but it’s in these fragile moments that the Lord shows His enduring faithfulness. It’s there that we clearly see our complete dependence on Him for everything we need.
When you feel too sick to pray, or can’t find the words to say, it can be helpful to recite God’s word back to Him. These Bible verses about strength, healing, and endurance will help God’s Spirit work in you as you endure any physical trial you’re going through. Feel free to meditate on them, memorize them, and use them in your prayers to the Lord throughout the day.
- 1Psalm 13:1
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” [Psalm 13:1, ESV]
Saying something like this to God might make us uncomfortable if we’re being honest. At first glance, it sounds like the writer is accusing God of abandonment. We know very well that the Lord never forgets us, but during a long period of sickness it doesn’t always feel that way. God understands these emotions and still loves us in our neediness.
David also experienced tremendous affliction and depression, which is preserved for us in this psalm. It serves as a model for us to cry out to God in our lowest hour and pour out our cares to Him. By praying these verses, we can put words to our hurt while also calling for His help.
- 2Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” [Philippians 4:6, ESV]
When recovery seems far off and you’ve been managing symptoms for longer than you can remember, it’s easy for anxious thoughts to creep in. “Will I always be like this? What if this only gets worse?” The moment you’re tempted to spiral into endless worry, God calls us to bring our urgent requests to Him without hesitation.
Not only that, but we’re also instructed to add thanksgiving to our requests. Expressing gratitude to God is a cornerstone of prayer. Without it, we focus only on what we want from Him and ignore the many blessings He has already given us. In giving thanks, we discover a peace that surpasses all understanding in any circumstance.
- 3Psalm 41:3
“The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.” [Psalm 41:3, ESV]
This psalm illuminates an important truth about God. When we’re sick, it’s the Lord’s hand that keeps us and allows us to recover. His power and protection preserve us from calamity.
While we still need good doctors and effective medicine, we must ultimately rely on God for healing. When we depend only on our own means, we rob ourselves and the Lord of close fellowship with Him during illness.
- 4Romans 5:3-4
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” [Romans 5:3-4, ESV]
Rejoicing in suffering sounds like insanity to unbelieving ears. What could possibly bring us joy in illness? Much, actually! Instead of viewing affliction as a detour from the life we want, God invites us to see it as His training ground to strengthen our faith and godly character. Faithful endurance is a witness to the outside world that our hope rests in the Lord alone.
When believers endure suffering, we grow in our dependence on the Lord more than we ever could with an easygoing, carefree life. God allows illness so that we trust not in our wellbeing, but on His love and promises instead. Knowing and loving Him in a deeper way is always something to rejoice in.
- 52 Corinthians 4:17
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” [2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV]
The Bible offers a helpful reminder of why we endure hard things. It helps us look beyond our affliction and consider the glorious reward awaiting us in heaven. One of the many challenges of prolonged illness is weighing the very real pain and discomfort we feel in light of eternity.
But, even our worst suffering pales in comparison to the endless, unfathomable joy we’ll have with Jesus forever. Paul even goes so far as to say that all our affliction is light and momentary and readies us for our final resting place in glory.
Trusting God in every season
As you pray through illness, know that the Lord has a purpose for you in this trial. These verses can help you hold fast to God no matter what His plans are for you. By committing them to your mind and heart, they can also help you see that God is always dependable, faithful, and merciful to His children.
