Letter to the Congregations: 14th March 2026

Our Dear Brethren,

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled” (Psalm 6:2).

There are many brethren who are simultaneously crying out to God for help, for guidance, for healing of their wounds and of their illnesses. There are times when God heals us instantly and in those moments we praise Him and continue on in life. But what do we do when God doesn’t heal us? How do we respond when we think God doesn’t act on our behalf?

Do we still praise God even when He doesn’t give us the answer to our prayers we were hoping for? Can we possibly force God’s hand through prayer and fasting? Are we upset with God when He doesn’t do something the way we think He should?

Hopefully we know that there’s no way we can force the hand of God, even though we are to continue “to pray and not lose heart” (see Luke 18:1-5). God knows what our needs are before we know them ourselves. He also knows what is best for us and what is best for those around us. Everything He does is to further His plans of salvation for us and for mankind.

Sometimes that means: “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). He also “has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens” (Romans 9:18). God is going to do what is according to His own will, knowing for sure that His will gives the best results.

But do we accept God’s will, or do we continue to push for our own will? This is sometimes a difficult balance because we do desire healing in many ways, and we presume that if God would only heal us now that our life would be so much better. But God looks beyond the immediate future. He also looks at how our hearts and minds are shaped, and situations that give us choice in life.

The apostle Paul, in continuing to seeking healing from God about “a thorn in the flesh” that bothered him for a while, was given this answer: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This means that sometimes God doesn’t heal us because in our weakness His strength is shown. It isn’t that God doesn’t desire to heal us, but the timing of that healing is important for His plans for us. After all, Jesus “was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). That healing will happen, either now or later.

Although not related to healing but the saving of their lives, the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego is very powerful. They were willing to give God honor and glory even if He would not save their lives in the fiery furnace: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

Do we seek God’s will in our prayers and in our lives regardless of when our healing comes? Do we still praise God even when times are tough?

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe