"God gave me this chronic illness to teach me patience and humility."
How it sounds in your head: Every morning I wake up with this pain, I tell myself God's trying to break my pride. Maybe I was too self-reliant, too confident in my strength. This must be His way of keeping me dependent on Him.
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
-- 3 John 1:2Source: Religion - twisting God's character to make Him the author of sickness instead of the Healer.
Your body betrays you daily and you need a reason why a good God would allow it. The theology that suffering equals spiritual growth gives meaning to meaningless pain and makes you feel less like a victim.
Bent over for eighteen years, couldn't straighten up, crippled by a spirit. Jesus called her forward on the Sabbath, laid hands on her, and IMMEDIATELY she was made straight and glorified God - instant reversal of nearly two decades of suffering.
I REFUSE the lie that God authored this sickness to teach me something. IT IS WRITTEN that by His stripes I WAS healed - past tense, finished work. My Father's will is health just as my soul prospers. IT IS WRITTEN that Jesus took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses. I am Abraham's seed through Christ, heir according to promise, and the BARAK blessing covers my body - the same blessing that protected liars and deceivers protects me in the better covenant. Sickness is under my feet because I am seated with Christ in heavenly places.
Your Father isn't withholding healing until you learn the lesson - He already provided healing 2,000 years ago at the cross and is running toward you with it now. Like the prodigal's father had the robe ready before the son came home, your healing was prepared before you got sick.