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.
Be not afraid
60-0717 §103
...eve it? Now, have faith in God. How many out there... Now, that's one gift working by that. Now, to another gift... Do you believe with all your heart? How many out there's sick or got something wrong with you? Raise up your hands. Just so that you know before we pray for the sick. God help me. Now, be reverent. Sit still. No matter where you are---balcony, up and down the rows, no matter---it doesn't matter a bit. You just keep on believing, just be reverent. Now, don't make yourself... You're getting nervous. Jus...
Why?
61-0128 §84
In a few days, she began to feel sick again. She got all nervous. She called up the doctor, and she said... Oh, of course there was a big lot of money in it, so he accepted the operation. And a doctor friend of mine stood in the operation, and they opened the woman up. And the thing was already gone, see. It was gone. She had the operation for nothing. One of my very personal friends said they sewed it up. "There was nothing we could do." The thing was done gone. Well, see, she just wasn't instructed enough to know...
The Rejected King
60-0515M §77
...ttle slingshot of faith I come for this soul and this body, that the enemy of cancer has grabbed her beyond the reach of the doctors, but I come forward this morning, Lord, getting her back to shady green pastures and still waters. In the Name of the triumphing Jesus to which I am His ambassador with unfailing faith I believe she shall be brought back by the power of this prayer. And may so be it, in the Name of Jesus... I believe there is a baptismal service just now? Would you raise your head just a moment? The p...
Hear ye Him
58-0301E §53
...I'm going to meet you one of these days, in the Presence of the great I AM. And now, if the Lord God will help me to know what you're here for... Now if I told you, "You're sick, lady," that might be a guess. And I say, "I'm going to lay hands on you; you're going to get well." That could still be a guess. But if the Holy Spirit will do like it did in the Son of God, go back, and tell you something that has happened, then you'll know whether that's true or not. And if He know what was, He surely could tell you what...
As the eagle stirreth up her nest
59-0815 §75
...You got Scripture to back it up now, but she didn't have any Scripture. She said, "If I touch the border of His garment, I will be made well." How many remembers the story? Why, certainly. She said, "I believe the man. There's something about Him, that I believe that He's honest and sincere and I believe He is the Messiah." So she slipped through the crowed and she touched His garment; she squeezed back through the crowd again. And everybody was shaking hands with Him, and patting Him on the shoulder. And He stoppe...