From a young age and coming from a Christian upbringing, I often heard stories about blind people suddenly being able to see, people standing up from their wheelchairs and the sick being healed. These stories were not unfamiliar to me, but I never really paid them much attention until I had a firsthand experience of God’s healing myself. As much as it was a truly emotional and amazing experience, I was not prepared for what came next.
In the Bible, and through testimonies, there are countless stories about God’s healing and breakthrough, however there is less about what comes next after that healing. What I have seen is that not one person’s experience is the same. Some say their experience was one where their healing comes before falling back into their sickness, others have been healed to find another ailment trouble them, and some have experienced the full healing that comes from God.
Why is this happening? Why do some healings not last? Why do some people never fully receive God’s healing? Is it because we fail to prepare our hearts, mind, and body to equip ourselves with the weapons we need for the battle that comes after the healing?
The Battle
Some may be scared, are they heading into a Lord of the Rings army? The word demons can be scary, but the fact is we are in a spiritual warfare and we are not called to be afraid. The Lord our God stands with us, equips us and His name alone can bring them to defeat.
When God brings healing to a person or situation, Satan will come to steal, kill and destroy and for this reason alone—we need to confess and claim the healing God has done in us. It is so easy for us to fall back into habits that deny our healing, thoughts that doubt our healing and speak words that allow us to fall back into the comfort of our previous selves.
There are so many different battles that can face us in this time. For me, my battle was falling back into the label that the world gave me that I had depression and anxiety. In my mind, this was my comfort zone. I was comfortable with what I knew and what I knew was fear. It was how I had been defined by myself for years and how others saw me. I knew I was in a battle when I would hear thoughts of “You weren’t really healed. People will see you are a liar cause the healing never happened.” Doubt came at me and I had to fight back. I had to step out in faith and find my new identity in who God said I was and put aside my doubts and fears about how others knew me. Reading in Matthew chapter 4 verses 43-45, I knew that there was a fight ahead that belonged to me and God.
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” (Matthew chapter 4 verses 43-45)
The Armory
When we talk about weapons or armour in spiritual warfare, our minds often go to the armour of God. This is our spiritual warfare gear and it needs to be worn not just after healing, but after salvation, breakthrough, testimony…pretty much daily. (Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-18)
After the healing, three things stood out to me in keeping my healing.
Firstly, wisdom reminded me of where my mind, body and soul were getting nourished. God’s Word was my fuel source. It took wisdom to know that I had to align myself to who He says I am daily.
Secondly is obedience—stepping out in peace, knowing that God healed me, and facing fears that used to control me. After the healing, every fear I faced whether big or small was celebrated with the victory going to God.
Thirdly were words—what words did I speak over myself or allow others to speak over me? Every day I spoke God’s healing over my life, I claimed my new identity in Him, and I did not allow unhealthy thoughts to have power over me. If anyone spoke of my old self, I would rebuke it in His name.
The Victory
Every day I thank God for my healing, and I claim it. The victory is His and His alone. Although the battle continues on, I am no longer afraid because I stand firm in my faith and with the knowledge that He is God and God is good.
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs chapter 3 verses 13-15)