I really hate summer colds. Last week I had a head full of congestion, a little bit of a sore throat, accompanied by some sneezing and coughing and blowing my nose quite a bit. In today’s world everyone wants to jump to the conclusion that it is Covid-19, but people were getting head colds long before the pandemic and will continue to do so most likely until our Lord returns.

What did I do? I stayed home a few days, took it easy, drank lots of fluids, asked God for healing, and got plenty of rest. After I recovered, I thanked God for healing me and went on with my life.

In my “down time,” I came across this passage.

Psalm 41:3–4 The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness. I said, “O Lord, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

What a great reminder that our healing is a gift from God. He is, after all, in control of everything. Restoration of health is a gift. But we can also be blessed when God withholds healing here on earth. Paul discovered that truth in his life (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

I bring this up because this Psalm seems to say that the illness is the result of David’s sin. Many people jump to the conclusion that if someone has a terrible illness or problem in their life, it is because of something they did wrong. The truth of the matter is that all of us are so sinful that we all deserve nothing but bad stuff in our lives. We deserve much worse than illness. Our sins deserve to be punished eternally. But a better way to understand the problems and illnesses we have here on earth is this: all the problems on earth are the result of all the sin on earth.

And God did something about that. That is why Jesus came. He took care of the penalty our sins deserve. He lived a life without sin that was the only acceptable sacrifice for the sins of the world. He let Himself be killed so we could be forgiven. And then He defeated death for us as well by rising from the dead. Those who put their faith in Jesus get the benefit of all He did.

When we are sick, we avail ourselves of what is available to help us heal: Doctors and medicines and rest. When we need spiritual healing, the only thing that will help us is Jesus. Interestingly enough, after He gives us His healing, He gives us rest.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.