God’s Purposes in Sickness – Part 2
God’s Purposes for Sickness: Finding Meaning in Our Suffering
When illness strikes, it’s natural to wonder if there’s any purpose behind our suffering. With over 10,000 recognized sicknesses in the world, believers often ask: Does sickness have meaning, or is it just something meaningless we must endure?
The answer from Scripture is clear: sickness is not meaningless. God may use illness to accomplish divine purposes in our lives, helping us become more Christlike and grow in our walk with Him. Let’s explore three significant ways God can use sickness for His purposes.
How Can Sickness Advance the Gospel?
In Galatians 4:13-14, Paul reveals something remarkable about his ministry to the Galatians. He writes, “But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time.”
Paul’s sickness wasn’t an accident or inconvenience—it was God’s providence at work. The apostle had planned to travel elsewhere, but illness forced him to stop in Galatia to rest and recover. During this unexpected detour, Paul preached the Gospel, and many came to faith in Christ.
Modern Examples of Gospel Advancement Through Illness
This principle still applies today. When we’re sick, God may place us in hospitals, doctor’s offices, or situations where we encounter people we wouldn’t normally meet. These divine appointments become opportunities to share Christ’s love and the hope of salvation.
Consider how illness might put you in contact with healthcare workers, fellow patients, or caregivers who need to hear about Jesus. Your faithful response to suffering can become a powerful testimony of God’s grace and strength.
Can Sickness Complete Our Earthly Journey?
In 2 Kings 13:14-20, we read about the prophet Elisha’s final days. Unlike his predecessor Elijah, who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha’s ministry ended differently: “When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die… Elisha died and they buried him.”
God sovereignly chose to use sickness as the means to bring Elisha’s earthly journey to completion. This reminds us that while God determines the “when” of our death, He’s also sovereign over the “how.”
Understanding Our Appointed Time
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 tells us, “There is a time for every event under heaven, a time to give birth and a time to die.” God has wound a clock for each of our lives, and only He can see it. The death rate remains 100%—if Jesus doesn’t return first, we all have an appointment with death.
Some will die naturally, others tragically or violently, and some through sickness. When facing terminal illness, we should follow King Hezekiah’s example in 2 Kings 20:1-6. He prayed earnestly for healing, and God granted him fifteen additional years. We should always pray for healing while trusting God’s sovereign will.
Hope for Believers vs. Non-Believers
For Christians, death through sickness leads to ultimate healing in God’s presence. However, those without a relationship with Jesus Christ through faith don’t have this hope. Only those who have turned from sin and trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior can look forward to heaven when they die.
Jesus is the only one who saves from death because He conquered death through His resurrection. No other religion or way offers this hope of eternal life.
How Does Sickness Stir Our Longing for Heaven?
Revelation 21:1-4 describes the new heaven and new earth where God’s people will dwell forever. In this perfect place, “there will no longer be any death, mourning, crying or pain, for these things have passed away.”
The weaknesses, pains, and suffering we experience in our physical bodies are only part of this present world. They’re not part of our eternal destiny with God.
Refocusing Our Hearts on Eternity
God can use the discomfort and limitations of sickness to shift our focus from temporal to eternal things. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:2, “For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven.”
Just as a fire that destroys material possessions can help someone realize what truly matters—relationships over things—sickness can refine our focus. It reminds us of what matters most and kindles our hearts to long for God’s promises.
When disappointment, pain, and grief accompany illness, we should meditate on Scripture passages about the new heaven, God’s presence, and our future glorified bodies. This helps orient our thoughts and desires toward what matters most.
Finding Peace in the Midst of Suffering
Living with chronic illness or health challenges doesn’t mean living without joy and peace. When we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, we can face health battles confidently because we know He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Jesus ultimately saves us from sin, death, and all the consequences of sin—including sickness. With faith in Him, we have assurance that whatever comes our way, He will be with us and provide what we need to fight the good fight.
Life Application
This week, examine how you respond to illness—whether your own or others’. Instead of viewing sickness as merely an inconvenience, ask God to help you see potential purposes He might have. Look for opportunities to share the Gospel with healthcare workers, fellow patients, or caregivers you encounter. Use times of physical weakness to pray for healing while also deepening your longing for heaven and eternal wholeness with Christ.
Consider these questions as you reflect on God’s purposes for sickness:
- How might God want to use my current health challenges to advance His Gospel?
- Am I prepared spiritually for whatever means God chooses to complete my earthly journey?
- Does my experience with sickness increase my longing for heaven and eternal life with Christ?
- How can I maintain joy and peace in the midst of physical suffering, trusting in God’s sovereign purposes?