I find that many Christians get uncomfortable when talking about God and healing. To discuss God bringing physical healing raises controversial questions about spiritual gifts. To discuss emotional healing seems to reflect a concept created by modern psychology, and reserved only for those who have experienced severe emotional hurt or trauma. To discuss spiritual healing seems to delve into the realm of spiritualists, Eastern religions, or the occult. So many Christians (and biblical counselors, in particular) end up avoiding the subject of healing all together.
The problem is, there’s something deeply ingrained in our fallen humanity that desires “healing.” When people talk about healing from hurts, or trauma, or broken relationships, or addiction, we resonate with them and long for a similar experience. But why are we so drawn to the concept of healing? Is it just the influence of our culture? Is it the impact of living in our psychologized world? Or could there be something deeply theological (and biblical) about the healing our souls seem to long for?
What Does God Say About Healing?
Scripture is filled with references to healing. Even aside from the numerous instances of physical healing (by Jesus, the Apostles, or others), the concept of healing is so consistent throughout the entire Bible that it would be hard to not call it an overarching theme. God heals. And he does so (and promises to do so) over and over again. But the way he talks about healing isn’t exactly the same as the way we talk about healing.
When God talks about “healing” in Scripture he does so in a wholistic sense. Healing is not simply a physical reality—it’s a restoration of rightness or completeness that impacts the whole person (body and soul). Healing is much more than a physical reality. In fact, most of the time the Hebrew word translated as “healing” is used in the Old Testament, it’s in reference to something other than physical healing.
As we examine the Biblical record we find that, healing is not simply one blessing God performs for us. “Healing” is actually one of the primary overarching concepts God uses to summarize all the blessings we have in him (and in the new covenant, in Christ). God does not forgive us, redeem us, sanctify us, comfort us…and also heal us. God’s forgiveness, redemption, sanctification, and comfort are all aspect of the healing he provides.
This reality is witnessed throughout the Old Testament, and most strikingly in the Psalms:
- God forgives us, healing our sin (Ps. 41:4).
- God transforms us, healing our apostasy (Hos. 14:4).
- God comforts us, healing the brokenhearted (Ps. 147:3).
- God gives us hope, healing us by restoring our future (Ps. 30:2).
And, most significantly, it’s this exact same concept of “healing” God uses to describe what Christ accomplished on the cross.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4–5, emphasis added)
Christ Heals Our Sin and Suffering
The Gospel heals. Through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection we are healed. To be healed is to be freed from that which ails us. It is to be restored to health (wholeness). And that’s just what God has done for us in Christ. As Christians (and biblical counselors), we must never shy away from consistently and boldly declaring that fact.
For those that are caught in sin, Christ’s death and resurrection bring forgiveness – and this forgiveness heals their sin. Each of us needs more than simply a legal pardon, we need to be made right with God. We need spiritual restoration. And that is exactly what Christ provides. So that every one of us may call out to God in the midst of our sin asking:
“O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!” (Psalm 41:4)
For those that are caught in unbelief, Christ’s death and resurrection brings transformation. Our problems run so deep we need wholesale change if we are to have any hope in this life. And that, again, is what only Christ provides. The Spirit meets us in our doubt and unbelief and promises to change us from the inside out (Phil. 1:6). He promises to heal our unbelief.
I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. (Hosea 14:4)
But our need for healing runs beyond the problem of our sin. The suffering we experience in this fallen world leaves us broken and needy as well. However, no matter how intense the difficulty, or how traumatic the moment, God is the only one who can provide us the ultimate comfort we need. Through the comfort of the Spirit (2 Cor. 7:6) our broken hearts are given more than coping mechanism – they are healed.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
His Healing, Our Hope
This healing – whether you call it emotional healing, spiritual healing, or some other kind of healing – not only meets us in moments of crisis, but gives us a vision for the future. When the dark of the moment seems so oppressive we can’t imagine a life beyond it, God meets us, draws us, and restores our hope. He heals us.
O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. (Psalm 30:2–3)
Our God heals. He heals us from our sin. He heals us from our suffering. And we should never hesitate to declare these essential and powerful facts. Our God heals through the work of his Son, restoring us to wholeness, through the breaking of himself. The charismatics, and psychologists, and spiritualists are right: we need healing. We just need it in even more significant ways than merely the physical, emotional, or “spiritual.” We need wholistic healing. We need a healing that will restore our souls. And, thanks be to God, that’s exactly what we have in Christ. With his wounds we are healed.
