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.
Life is the healer
57-0611 §40
But notice. Now, this cancer is growing. He's sucking your blood. And the first thing you know, you start getting weaker. Now, the doctor says, "I can do no more about it." You go to God and ask God to heal you. You make Him promises what you'll do. And then when you do it, you feel in your heart that, "the prayer of faith shall save the sick," God said. And the prayer of faith is prayed, then you feel assured. But now, watch right close now. Ninety percent, yes, and ninety-nine out of a hundred has hope instead of...
It wasn't so from the beginning
60-0306 §37
God is here now. There's no reason for sick people to be lingering any longer. There's no need for people to be sitting in wheelchairs, laying in cots, and mutes, and so forth. God is here. God is here. The power of the Holy Ghost is here. The same Jesus that performed wonders at the beginning is here. But you say, "Why is people still laying sick?" There was many laid sick in His days too. He passed through by the pool of Bethesda. There laid a great multitude, two or three thousand people perhaps, laying around t...
Prayer Line
53-0600 §1
...t a prayer card. That's right. Do you believe? All right, just let that group walk right down here first to the platform--just them without a prayer card. Now, I'm going to get the prayer cards just in a minute. We'll comb right through the building; we want to get everyone prayed for that we can. Now, now, how many in here's going be in prayer right now? Now, I'm going to call on these other lines all around here so we can get ev... [Gap in the audio] All right. Now let--now let's--Now, let you come ... Stop... We...
Be certain of God
59-0125 §58
He said, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick." If you're sick, I've prayed the prayer for faith for you. You've prayed it in your own heart and believe it, accept it, stand pat on it; it'll have to be that way. Nothing can take it. No matter how gloomy it looks... You say, "Well, it might look like I'm still sick." That doesn't... It's just angels' wings gathered together. That's all. It's God in a form of blessing. It's looks gloomy to you. Draw a little closer to it, and look at it again; see if it ain't God...
Faith without works is dead
50-0822 §43
...e people in out of the rain. See what I mean? Now, gifts come from God. If they are from God, they'll testify of God. And God will testify of them. Is that true? If you are sick, pray until you believe with all your heart... Did you ever just pray for something you just knowed you was going to get it? That's faith. See?