Why Are Some Believers Never Healed?
1) Direct Answer
Some believers are not healed because healing works on promised grounds—faith, obedience, and a clear channel—yet God also deals as a Father, correcting, proving, and timing all things. Unbelief, unconfessed wrongs, bitterness, wrong approaches to the Lord’s Table, and the atmosphere around us can hinder. And remember, our bodies are not yet glorified; the full and final healing is guaranteed in the resurrection.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Healing is provided:
- “By His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). Jesus bore our sicknesses (Matthew 8:16-17). The Lord is our Healer (Exodus 15:26). The prayer of faith shall save the sick (James 5:14-16).
- Hindrances the Bible names:
- Unbelief shuts the door: In His own country “He could there do no mighty work” because of unbelief (Mark 6:5-6). A double‑minded man “let not that man think that he shall receive” (James 1:6-7).
- Unconfessed faults and broken fellowship: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16). If you’ve got something against your brother, first be reconciled (Matthew 5:23-24). Husbands, dwell rightly with your wives “that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).
- Dishonoring the Lord’s Table: “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you” for not discerning the Lord’s body (1 Corinthians 11:29-30).
- Some conditions are direct bondage and must be driven out: a “spirit of infirmity” bound a daughter of Abraham (Luke 13:11,16). Some cases “goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).
- God’s fatherly purpose and timing:
- Sometimes it is for the works of God to be revealed (John 9:3).
- Paul’s “thorn” remained so that the Lord’s grace would be magnified (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
- The Lord chastens sons for our profit (Hebrews 12:6-11).
- Not all saints in Scripture were instantly healed:
- Trophimus was left at Miletum sick (2 Timothy 4:20).
- Timothy had “often infirmities” and stomach trouble (1 Timothy 5:23).
- The finality of healing awaits the resurrection:
- We “groan… waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). Until this mortal puts on immortality, we still fight corruption and death (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- The price is paid, but the promise is received by faith. Where unbelief or disobedience remains, the channel is clogged.
- Faith works by love; bitterness and broken relationships short‑circuit prayer.
- God has not withdrawn healing—James 5 still stands—but He reserves the right to prove us and perfect character.
- Not healed today does not mean not saved, and it does not make the promise void. Salvation is the greater gift; bodily healing is a benefit now and total at the resurrection.
4) Short Reinforcing Counsel
- Set the channel right: repent, forgive, make wrongs right (James 5:16; Matthew 5:23-24).
- Ask the elders; be anointed; expect God (James 5:14-15).
- Feed your faith on the Word; keep your confession aligned with the promise (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 10:23; Mark 11:24).
- Remove the atmosphere of unbelief; Jesus put out the scorners (Mark 5:40).
- Resist the devil; don’t watch the symptoms—hold the promise (James 4:7).
- If the answer tarries, don’t accuse God. His grace is sufficient, and the full healing of the body is certain in the resurrection.
Now notice, two errors must be rejected: saying “healing is not for today” contradicts James 5 and Hebrews 13:8; saying “if you’re not healed you lack salvation” contradicts Paul, Timothy, and Trophimus. The Bible keeps it straight: the promise stands, faith receives, sin and unbelief hinder, and God’s timing and fatherly purpose are perfect.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Be not afraid, it is I
61-0414 §3
...s stretcher? What if this was your father sitting in this wheelchair? What if that was your child laying there? You see, you might not believe in divine healing, but you've never been sick enough yet. You've never had the doctor to shake his head and say, "Takes God next. I've done all I can do." You'll believe in divine healing then. So, you remember there's something written in the Scripture, if you would spurn Him in the days of your health like this, and when your calamity comes, He said, "I'll only laugh at yo...
Jehovah-Jireh
56-1209E §100
The colored lady sitting there, you got trouble with your neck. That's right, isn't it? Raise up your hand. You wanted to be healed. You are now. Your faith touched Him. You're healed. Amen. Just believe. Have faith. What happened? She never touched me. You seen that. She touched Something. Who was it? The Bible said that He's a high priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmity. You believe that? Then, look and touch Him. I was just His mouthpiece. I couldn't tell you what He said to her. The only way...
The Angel and His commission
47-1102 §45
..., hear me all right?... Hear me now?... like the woman who was--that was determined she was going to get in, is that right?... you're Spanish, no wonder you believe... I've never seen one fail yet. That's right. Well that's mighty fine, now just go home and rejoice. God bless you, sister... God bless you, sister, now you can say, "Praise the Lord." Now watch, just--just watch the difference now when man tries do things and when God does it. Now bow your heads... This woman's deaf, totally deaf... Almighty God, I pr...
For him will I accept
52-0718 §39
Now, God help us tonight to believe. Help us to lay aside every shadowy weight, and just move right in now with perfect virgin, unadulterated faith, Lord, and be healed, every one. For we ask it in His Name. Amen. [Gap in the audio] Symptoms arise, see it's all by feeling then. Next morning when the symptoms arise, you say, "Oh, I--I've lost my healing. That's the way it is." See, but when you know where you're standing, you got a platform. You can reach right back to Jesus said to Satan, "It is written..." It ain'...
Jairus, the secret believer
55-0604 §9
I have taught much to heathens in Africa, India, and many different parts of the world, but the worst unbelievers to deal with is not that man who has never heard; it's the man who's self centered in his own way and won't heed to God. That's the worst kind to deal with, for they seem to be just so centered that nothing can move them. Say, "Don't talk to me. I don't believe it." Recently a man said to me, said, "Brother Branham, I do not believe in divine healing." I said, "Well, it wasn't for you. It was for believ...