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.
Faith
57-1229 §43
...nd earth, now the rest of it's in Thy hands, Lord. This is the little broken up message by difficult. People with their spirits all bothered with standing, aching feet, and sick people crying, and it is very difficult. But I pray, Lord, that You'll somehow, somehow or some way, get the little message to them, that men who have faith, who believed that You promised: all things are possible. Then those who touched the garment of our Lord. We're taught in the New Testament that He's still the High Priest that can be t...
It is I, be not afraid
62-0726 §16
...of the house isn't there to ward him off (that faith) when he returns... "I don't care how much I feel, what about it; I know I'm healed," that shuts him out. Now, you may get real sick, because why? It's like an infection in your body. The growth dies, and then it rots. And the heart, every time it beats, it goes through and purifies the blood. We know that. The blood picks up this infection 'cause you have fever, and sickness, and you get worse off than you was. And people think they've lost their healing, when...
Taking God at His Word
53-1103 §5
And you say, "Well, Brother Branham, I've been to the doctor. He tells me I can't get well." The man, maybe he's honest. I believe he would be, I believe any doctor that would have mercy on people. If the man's done all he knows how to do; all the intelligence God give him, he's tried to help you, he's done his part. That's all he can do. Well, he'd say, "You're going to die. There you've got cancer, you've got something, and we've operated and it won't stop it. It's still going on and there's nothing we can do abo...
Who has believed our report?
52-0720E §13
That is our report. Have you believed it? That's the report that we still bring to you. Jesus Christ, that, by His stripes, we are now (present tense) healed. You are already healed, every one of you. Every sick person here is healed. The only thing you have to do, is have enough faith to reach up and get a hold of it. Is that right? I believe that every sinner that's setting in this building tonight is already saved. When Jesus died at Calvary, He settled the sin question with God. Do you believe that? It'll never...
Sir, we would see Jesus
55-0828E §43
Praise the Lord! If thou canst believe! Why can't you believe? Why can't you believe? Why, God is here to heal you! Do you believe that? Sure, He is. Have faith in Him. What about it, mother? Do you want to believe now? What about it, sister, right behind, you going to believe? If you could, you could eat again. God would make you well. What do you think, little sister sitting there looking at me, with heart trouble. Sitting there with the little black band around your hat. You've got heart trouble, haven't you? Yo...