Healthy Affliction

“And the people, when they knew [it], followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.” (Lu 9:11 AV)

What compassion!  He healed them that had need of healing! Those that follow Jesus get all the healing they need!  Jesus was taking his apostles into a city that is in a dessert place.  These people, in their desperate need, are following into an uncomfortable place with no real promise of being healed.  Yet he healed them all of all that needed to be healed!

There is a promise to those who will follow Christ through the good times and the bad.  There are blessings that are ours to enjoy.  There are healings there for those in need of them.  But one must be willing to go to where Jesus is!  Sometimes those healings require hardships.  Like a dessert place.  I learned something after my shoulder surgery!  Physical therapists are mean and they have no feelings!  They demand that we exercise that shoulder so that we get full range of motion.  They don’t care how much pain we are in!  They get paid to torture us!  Just kidding!  They are remarkable people!  To push us beyond what we think we can do so that it will make us stronger is their calling!  So, too, with Christ.

If we are unwilling to follow Christ into the dessert place, then do not expect to be healed of all.  Some, sure.  But not all!  Every need of healing will be met if we promise to follow Jesus wherever He may lead us!  If we are willing to go to where Jesus is going, then the Spirit will shape us and mold us.  He will reveal areas that need to be healed that maybe we are totally unaware of!  The key has always been to go to the dessert place!  Go to the place of affliction!  That is where Jesus heals of all that needs to be healed!