Day 19- The Exchange: 21 Days of Spiritual Swaps

Have you ever felt ill and wondered – “what is happening with my body?”

Years ago, I caught glandular fever. There are two types of glandular fever. The type I had affected my white blood cells and left me feeling drained, for years.

In fact, two years prior to getting the virus, I still wasn’t well and managed to pass glandular fever onto my husband!

Before I was diagnosed, I had a bad cough and felt fatigued.

I remember coughing loudly in a Shakespeare seminar, whilst at university. Suddenly, a former nurse told me that I needed to get checked over by a doctor. I told her that my illness had been dismissed as “fresher’s flu” many times… “It will probably clear up soon, right?” I said.

The nurse looked at me and explained that she had only heard a cough like mine on her hospital wards… and it wasn’t fresher’s flu!

After that conversation, I marched myself to the doctors surgery again and was finally given a blood test. Sure enough, when the results came in, I had missed calls and “urgent” letters on my doorstep, telling me that I needed to see a doctor A.S.A.P.

Throughout that experience, I felt so rough, the smallest of tasks felt draining.

Yet, on the outside I didn’t physically look any different. I was still Beth. I didn’t have any cuts or bruises. I could breathe and I wasn’t throwing up!

Even though I felt like there was something wrong with me, it took a lot of effort to convince doctors to recognise that I was fighting a pretty serious illness.

I’ve been in more than one situation whereby I have looked fine on the outside, but inside I am exhausted, struggling and I need healing.

This morning was one of those days.

I went to God with tiredness, emotional exhaustion and stress.

I look fine. I feel rough.

Maybe I am fighting off a little virus, maybe my body needs more sleep, or maybe stress has caught up with me…

Whatever the cause: God knows exactly what is wrong. He has the power to heal me and the wisdom to guide me through.

The psalmist says:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

Psalm 103: 2-3, ESV, my emphasis.

One of the best sermons I have heard, regarding healing, is by a pastor called Robert Morris. (I’ll put the link here.)

Pastor Robert explains that we receive healing by grace, through faith. That is, when we don’t get healed, is not due to a lack of faith. And it’s not because God isn’t good, either.

God is good. He does heal. Yet we live in a broken world, with the presence of sickness still here on earth.

So, today, I come before God asking Him to rid me of all illness. I’m swapping illness for healing!

I challenge you to do the same: remember God’s benefits and pray for healing, knowing He is good.

But, don’t condemn yourself if healing doesn’t come instantly. Healing comes through grace. It is not dependent on whether we can strive, or muster up, more faith!

In the past, healing has come to me through altering my diet, exercising more and resting. I’ve been led to brilliant books like ‘Whole 30’ and ‘Healthy and Free’.

Other times, I have seen Jesus instantly heal, with just one prayer.

I have also admired how God has healed me through the power of medical professionals which, I believe, is not a second class healing.

Psalm 147 says:

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

His understanding has no limit.

Psalm 147: 5, NIV.

Today, if you are feeling weary and physically ill, I want you to know that mighty God is with you.

Even if you don’t look ill, He knows what is going on in your body.

His understanding has no limit.

Even if you haven’t seen healing in ways you expect, He is always good.

He is a healing God.

Trust in Him, keep your heart open and don’t give up!

Action Points:

• Pray for healing. Pray simply and boldly “Lord, heal me, in Jesus name!”
• Be honest with Jesus. If you haven’t seen Him heal before – tell Him! If you have questions about healing, let Him know! Pretending won’t propel you into freedom. Ask Jesus for wisdom, He can heal unbelief!
• Psalms are great to read aloud, especially when you are feeling confused about healing. If you are weary and tired, pick a Psalm and read it aloud.
• Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom regarding your health – do you need to exercise? Do you need to get an early night’s sleep?