Healing, Hope, and the Mustard Seed: What the Bible Really Says

If you’ve ever prayed for healing—your own or someone else’s—you’ve probably wondered a few big questions:

Does God want me to ask? Do I have the ability to heal myself? Is my pain from God? Is sickness a spiritual attack?

Let’s walk through these together with Scripture, truth, and the comforting voice of our good Father.

Do We Pray for Healing? Absolutely.

Jesus never once told someone, “Don’t bother Me with that.” Not once.

Throughout the Gospels, people brought Him their pain—physical, emotional, and spiritual—and He welcomed them every time.

James 5:14-15 gives us a clear instruction:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them.”

Healing is something we are told to pray for. Not because God is unaware, but because He wants relationship. He wants trust. He wants faith that reaches out.

Your aches matter. Your diagnosis matters.Your tears matter. He sees them all.

Do We Have the Ability to Heal Ourselves?

Here’s the beautiful, complicated, hope-filled truth:

**No—WE don’t heal ourselves.

But yes—God may heal THROUGH us.**

We are vessels, not the source.

When Jesus said that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20), He wasn’t giving us a superpower. He was giving us confidence in His power.

When Jesus healed, He often said:“Your faith has made you well.”Not because faith healed them, but because faith connected them to the One who could.

Think of it like electricity:Faith flips the switch.But God is the power.

Even the disciples didn’t heal by their own ability—Acts 3:12 makes this very clear:

“Why do you stare at us as though by our own power or godliness we made this man walk?”

It was Jesus working through them.

So yes, you can lay hands on someone.Yes, you can pray with boldness.Yes, miracles still happen today.But the glory belongs to God, the ability comes from God, and the outcome rests in God’s perfect will.

Is Pain or Illness From God or From the Enemy?

Most believers ask this quietly, afraid they’ll sound doubtful or confused. But Scripture gives us clarity when we look closely.

1. God is NOT the author of sickness.

James 1:17 reminds us:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.”

Jesus healed sickness—He never once gave someone sickness.He cast out demons bringing torment—He never once sent them.

Jesus said plainly in John 10:10:

“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.”“I have come that they may have life.”

God gives life, not destruction.

2. But God CAN use suffering to shape us.

We live in a fallen world—broken bodies, disease, aging, accidents, and spiritual attacks come with the territory. But God is so powerful that He can take even the hardest things and turn them for good (Romans 8:28).

Pain does NOT mean God is punishing you.Pain does NOT mean God is abandoning you.Pain does NOT mean you’re lacking faith.

Sometimes healing is instant.Sometimes it’s a process.Sometimes God sustains us in the storm instead of removing it immediately.

3. Sometimes illness IS spiritual attack.

We see this in Scripture—Jesus often healed physical issues caused by spiritual oppression. But not all sickness is demonic, and not all suffering is an attack.

This is why discernment and prayer are so important.

So What Do We Do When We Need Healing?

1. Pray boldly.

Bring your illness, pain, diagnosis, and fear to the Father.

2. Pray persistently.

Jesus told a parable encouraging us to “keep asking” (Luke 18:1).Persistence is not nagging—it's trust that doesn’t give up.

3. Ask others to pray for you.

God moves in community.

4. Use wisdom and medicine.

God can heal through doctors, treatments, rest, nutrition, timing, miracles—or a mix of all of the above.

5. Trust God with the outcome.

Healing is His work.Your job is faith.His job is power.

The Mustard Seed Promise

When Jesus spoke about mustard-seed faith, He wasn’t saying, “Be a spiritual superhero.” He was saying:

“Bring Me what you have, even if it feels small.”

Little faith grows when placed in a BIG God.

And mountains—fear, pain, sickness, despair—start to move.

A Final Word of Comfort

If you are hurting today—physically, emotionally, spiritually—God sees you.He loves your body, your heart, your soul.He cares about every cell, every breath, every tear.

He is the Healer (Exodus 15:26).Jesus is your Great Physician.The Holy Spirit is your Comforter.

Yes, pray for healing.Yes, believe God can move mountains.Yes, hold onto hope even when it’s hard.

And while you wait, know this:

You are never alone.You are held.You are seen.And God is working—even now—on your behalf.

XO, Marie