Why Do Faithful Believers Still Get Sick?
1) Direct Answer
Faithful believers still get sick because we are living in mortal bodies in a fallen world. Sickness is an enemy and often an oppression of the devil, but God sometimes permits it as a test, a chastening, or a platform for His glory. Healing is in the atonement and we are commanded to pray and believe, yet the full redemption of the body is future at the resurrection; until then, even the righteous may face infirmity.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Our bodies are not yet redeemed: “We… groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). “The outward man perisheth; yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
- Sickness is an oppression of Satan: Jesus “healed all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). The woman was “bound by Satan” (Luke 13:16). Job was smitten by Satan though he was upright (Job 2:7).
- Not all sickness is because of personal sin: The man born blind—“that the works of God should be made manifest” (John 9:3).
- God provides healing now: “By His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5; fulfilled in Matthew 8:16-17). “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders… the prayer of faith shall save the sick” (James 5:14-16).
- Yet choice servants still faced infirmities: Timothy’s “often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). Trophimus left sick (2 Timothy 4:20). Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death, but God had mercy (Philippians 2:27). Paul’s “thorn” remained so that God’s grace would be magnified (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
- Final, perfect health is at the change: “This mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- New birth changes your soul; the Holy Spirit dwells in you. But the body remains mortal until the resurrection. That’s why a Spirit-filled believer can still get sick.
- Healing is provided by the cross. We stand on the promise, pray, lay on hands, anoint with oil, and believe. Sometimes God heals instantly, sometimes progressively, and sometimes He reserves the perfection of it for the resurrection.
- Sickness is not always a sign of unbelief. If it were, why were Timothy, Trophimus, and Epaphroditus sick, and why did Paul carry a thorn? The Bible says God used those circumstances for humility, mercy, and testimony.
- God may allow sickness for chastening (Hebrews 12:6-11) or for His works to be revealed (John 9:3). But we never glorify sickness—we resist it as an enemy and trust God for deliverance.
- Even those who were healed eventually died; that shows present healing is real but temporary, while the eternal cure is the body change.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, the same Lord who forgives your sins is your Healer. Stand on His Word, call for prayer, keep confessing His promise, and rest in His wisdom. You see, we fight the good fight now, and we will have the final victory when this mortal puts on immortality.
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.
All the days of our life
59-0612 §61
Now, you know there was a little woman in the Bible that couldn't have a prayer card or get in the prayer line, but she touched the border of His garment. Do you remember that? That's all the prayer card she needed. If she'd have had a prayer card without that kind of a faith, she'd have never got healed. But she had the faith without the prayer card, and that's all that's necessary. And that's all you have to have. Have the faith without a prayer card, and you can be healed. Do you believe that? Just let you know...
We would see Jesus
61-0208 §102
...it'd go out into the land, and catch that spirit and bring it right back again to that person. It's true. God in heaven knows it's true. Now, being it's on you, and you're still under free moral agency, you'll have to act. And I couldn't do that, unless it was a commandment of God showing me a vision. Jesus said, "I do nothing except the Father shows me." Then you say, "Can He show you that I am well, or what...?" He can show me what's your trouble but you have to accept ... your faith... I couldn't save you, neit...
And then Jesus came
57-0302 §44
It doesn't matter just how many. Sometimes we can get to all of them; sometimes we can't. Who doesn't have a prayer card, and is sick? Let's see your hand. I'd like to see those. All right. Over here without prayer cards? I'd like to see sometime... The people who has prayer cards, We don't want them... You know, I want ... still have a chance to get in the line, see. But those without... All right. How many believes that Jesus is still the same yesterday as that woman passed through ... or, He passed through and t...
Faith
56-0815 §2
See, the first thing, you have to get used to each other. As I used to say, get all the spooks away where we won't be afraid of each other and know that we're not here to harm one another. We're here to help one another. And so, then, usually a person when they're healed, too, oh, right away they're just feeling marvelous. And now, if you don't know the approach of how to hold that healing, it'll come right back, and you'd be worse than you was the first time, see. Now, sickness is the devil. We know that. You can'...
Healing (What cancer is)
53-0904 §33
Dear Heavenly Father, we bring to You tonight handkerchiefs for the sick and the needy. And, dear God, we know that Thou does know all the need of these people. And now as You're looking down to us, looking to see how much faith that You can find... We hear Jesus say, when He returns would He find faith. He didn't question whether He'd find churches or righteousness or teachers, but He said, "Would I find faith?" O God, such a valuable thing. Now, many are sending in these handkerchiefs, Father, and Thou knowest th...