Why Doesn’t God Always Heal? Understanding Miracles and Faith

Why Doesn’t God Always Heal? Understanding Miracles and Faith

Life is full of trials—some visible, some hidden deep within our hearts and minds. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in a God of miracles (Mormon 9:15-19). We read of Christ healing the blind, the lepers, and even raising the dead. We hear modern testimonies of miraculous healings and divine interventions. And yet, many of us pray for miracles that seem to go unanswered.

Why doesn’t God always heal? If He has the power to restore limbs, to cure cancer, to mend broken minds, why do so many still suffer?

A Life Designed for Growth

The simplest answer is this: this life is a test. Mortality is our proving ground, a place where we develop faith, patience, and trust in God’s plan. Elder Neil L. Andersen taught:

> "Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it. Your faith will grow not by chance, but by choice." (“Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice,” Oct. 2015 General Conference)

Like a carefully cultivated garden, our trials and experiences are meant to grow something specific in us—faith, hope, and charity (Ether 12:27). If God stepped in to fix every hardship, would we truly develop these Christlike attributes?

The Role of Miracles

The scriptures do show that miracles happen, but often they serve a larger purpose in God’s eternal plan. The miracles of Christ were not just acts of compassion but also powerful witnesses of His divinity (John 20:30-31). They restored balance in a world darkened by sin and disbelief. Yet, even in His mortal ministry, Christ did not heal everyone.

Laman and Lemuel saw angels and incredible signs, yet their faith faltered (1 Nephi 3:29-31). Miracles alone do not create lasting conversion. The Prophet Joseph Smith, who experienced firsthand the power of God, also endured great suffering and was ultimately martyred. Even the most faithful are not spared from the refining fire of mortality.

Why Some Are Healed and Others Are Not

It is difficult to understand why some receive miraculous healing and others do not. President Dallin H. Oaks explained:

> "Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best." (“Healing the Sick,” Apr. 2010 General Conference)

Sometimes healing is immediate. Sometimes it is gradual. And sometimes, healing does not come in this life but is reserved for the next. That does not mean we are loved less or that our faith is weak. Rather, it means that God, who sees the eternal picture, knows what we need most for our ultimate happiness.

Finding Peace in an Unhealed Life

I have prayed for healing. I have struggled with the weight of trials that seem unmovable. Through personal revelation, I have come to understand that while I may not receive certain miracles now, my brokenness will be made whole in the life to come (Revelation 21:4).

If you are struggling, know this: God loves you. His plan for you is tenderly crafted, designed not just for survival but for exaltation. The trials of this life, though heavy, are but a small moment (D&C 121:7-8). He will strengthen you to endure, and one day, all that is unfair will be made right through Jesus Christ.

This is my testimony. These are my prayers for you—not just in my moments of kneeling, but in the quiet thoughts of my day. May you find peace in His promises.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Iron Rod is much more

Hold to the rod, the iron rod;

'Tis strong, and bright, and true.

The iron rod is the word of God;

'Twill safely guide us through.

1 Nephi 11

25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.

'Twill safely guide us through.

And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters...

The word of God...

For so many years I and I assume based on our hymns and literature have taken for granted the word of God means only the scriptures, whether from prophets of old or living prophets.

But the word of God I believe means more.  Something deeper.  It's his word. 

Surely, you think I crazy because I'm just repeating it in a different way.

It is His WORD.

His word as in promise, bond, covenant.  His promise of grace and what it takes to receive it.  Deeper than just a guide, it is literally the method by which we can be found and pulled out of the marshes and quicksands and onto the path again.

It's more than a set of phrophetic guidebooks..

Grace - An Epistle to Arkansas

Elder,

You've been in the bible belt long enough to get caught up in a bash already.  You've likely been warned to stay out of them.  Not to hide from or back down from declaring the truth against the firey anger of half truths.  But simply that the fire and anger are not a place where the spirit dwells.  As I said, you've likely heard that already so enough.

But thinking about that reminded me of the most common argument I heard come from such gnashing teeth.  The anger that we deny Christ because we don't believe in his grace.

One would refer to the grace without works is dead" reference and they always had additional scriptures, so did we.

Once again, not fuel for a bash but a recent post of mine to my friends on Facebook discusses this in a way.

"Everyone struggles with fighting who they were.  We often haven't learned to recognize who we are.  One struggle all through coming back was that when I came to the school it was from a position of having received so many scholastic chances as a younger man and with those grades holding me back I was truly asking for one final chance.

Or so it appeared. While the scholastic system might not be set up to nurse me through struggling grades my performance since then has given me a gpa that can handle a more difficult semester if it happened.  

So many times the thought of, "If I don't finish this now I can't, because this my last chance." Has both spurred me on but often pushed me too far and those were the times I almost quit because I thought hope was gone.

Good mentors and a great wife have pulled me back everytime.  But this semester it was finally seeing that no matter what, I have built something that can't be lost if I have to slow down, I gave myself permission to enjoy the experience.  Especially the opera.  My recital.  Finishing the fulltime student part of it all.  It's wonderful.  

Even last chances can become infinite possibilities with time, tears and toil."

While the university has finite chances to receive mercy or grace, the Lord's is infinite.  These bashers are correct, it's all we need.  But imagine if the school was the same.  I could have gone back, failed, gone back and failed, and continued to receive their mercy.  However, I'd still be imprisoned.  In a loop that never ends.  Their mercy would be worth nothing.  Their grace is therefore dead.

On the flipside, it was easy to see that I was imprisoned by not fully understanding what grace had done for me.  Trapped at looking at an old image of myself and not the new one in the mirror.

As we sin, we can only move forward by grace.  We can be trapped by continuing to receive grace for the same things over and over and over or we can be trapped into seeing only the old image and not the one transformed by grace followed by toil.

Infinite possibilities. His grace is true.  His sacrifice real.  

Love, 

Dad