“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13
As the threat from COVID-19 grows, so do the methods people are taking to prevent it and slow its spread. People are advocating everything from social distancing, handwashing, and covering your mouth when you cough to things like crystals, magnets, and juniper berry essential oil aromatherapy. Apart from these other methods, I’ve also seen some folks on social media proclaiming that through the power of faith and prayer they know that they won’t be getting the coronavirus.
As Christians, what are we to make of these sorts of declarations of faith in the power of prayer? On the one hand, we know that our Father in Heaven knows how to give good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:11), and certainly health and protection are good gifts. In the context of prayer for healing we are even told that “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). (Of course, this last verse is in the context of confessing our sins to one another which is different from the way most people generally use it.) Moreover, we’re told that if we ask anything according to His will, He will give us what we desire (1 John 5:14-15).
On the other hand, we know as a matter of fact that not every prayer for safety, protection, or healing is granted. Sometimes we pray for God to protect or heal, and His answer is simply, “No.” Paul tells us that he had a “thorn in the flesh” (what this refers to is debated, but I believe Paul was referring to a physical problem with his eyesight), and he asked God three times to take it away from him. God refused, saying, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
These two things that are clear. First, we know that it is not sinful to pray for healing or physical protection in this life. Asking God for our safety, for preservation of our health, for healing and the like is not a wrong way to pray. Second, we know that it may not be God’s will that we have these things. As in Paul’s case, God may say, “No,” to our prayer requests. It may be His desire that we suffer in order that we may, in our weakness, rely on His strength rather than our own.
We need to learn to pray beyond our physical desires and needs. David Powlison writes that, concerning the way most Christians pray, “Visitors to many of our churches might be pardoned if they get the impression that God is chiefly interested in perking up our health, yet not very good at it!” We must learn when we pray, not to ask only for health and healing, but for sanctification also, that through our suffering God may make us more like Jesus that we may be conformed to His image. We should pray that we would learn to be content in whatever circumstances God brings into our lives because our ultimate goal is not to be comfortable in this life, but for us to be fully satisfied in Him. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism famously puts it, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
One particular verse that people often point to regarding the power of prayer is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Taken wrongly, this verse is often twisted to mean that we can accomplish or have anything we want through the power of Christ. “I can win this big football game!” “I can earn a million dollars!” “I can ace this test!” Clearly this is not what Paul is talking about. First of all Paul is writing his letter to the Philippians from prison (Phil. 1:16-17). If his “I can do all things” is of the sort that many people take it to be, then he certainly wouldn’t be in chains. Secondly, Paul has just rehearsed a litany of situations in which he has learned to be content: brought low and abounding, facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need (Phil. 4:11-12). In other words “I can do all things” means “I can be content in any circumstance” whether sick or healthy, whether hungry or full, whether poor or rich. Through the strength given to the believer in Christ, contentment in any circumstance of life is possible. Again, this doesn’t mean that God will physically preserve you from sickness or even death. What it does mean is that you can say with the Apostle Paul, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9).
So, as you’re praying for yourself and loved ones during this time of sickness, remember to pray beyond your physical needs. Yes, pray for health and protection, but more importantly, pray that whether you remain healthy or become sick that God would be using your circumstances to draw you closer to Him. Pray that you would have opportunities during this time to serve others in a Christ-like way. And above all, pray that by His providential control over your life that you would be steadily being conformed to the image of Jesus, for in Him is all your
hope in this world and the next.
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