“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
Malachi 4:2
Healing is a topic that often causes a lot of controversy. Christians hold a wide range of opinions, from those who believe that God heals all the time—if we have faith—to those who deny that God performs miracles today, and everything in between. I’m not here to tackle the question of whether God heals or not. Instead, I want to address those who are disappointed or disillusioned because they expected a healing that never came.
More often than not, I’ve found myself wondering how to reconcile the Bible’s numerous promises of healing with the reality that only a certain percentage of people who pray for healing ever experience it. Fortunately, I came across Malachi 4:2, which has helped me to see something I had never noticed before.
First, some context. The fourth chapter of Malachi talks about the coming “day of judgment,” when Jesus will return to judge the earth. It will be a terrible time of punishment. But for those who “fear his name,” that is, who trust that Jesus is the Savior and have chosen to follow him, a different fate awaits. Instead of facing a terrifying judge, they get to meet their Lord Jesus, who is described as the “Sun of Righteousness … with healing in his wings.”
I don’t know why so many of us never experience healing during our lifetime. However, this verse makes one thing very clear—whatever healing doesn’t happen while we’re walking the earth will instantly take place when Christ returns. The prophet Malachi could have described Jesus in many ways, yet God led him to portray Jesus as the one who brings healing. He wanted to spotlight the renewal and restoration Christ will bring when he comes back.
The verse goes on to paint a beautiful picture of the joy that will explode at that moment. I’ve seen several short films on social media of cows and calves who were released from confinement and led into a field for the first time in their lives. They responded by leaping, hopping, and running all over the field, bursting with joy.
I imagine my mother, who was confined to a wheelchair for the last few years of her life and unable even to feed herself, running around and jumping up and down from the sheer delight of being made whole again. Untold millions will erupt in a deafening roar, rejoicing at being delivered from all their afflictions—both mental and physical. What a beautiful day that will be!
It’s only natural to want to be healed now, on this side of death, and God wants us to pray for it. But if, for whatever reason, we aren’t restored to health, don’t lose heart. The day will come when Jesus brings healing to all his followers, restoring both body and soul.
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Greetings from Wisconsin,
I have always loved that verse in Malachi. This devotion hit at just the right time as there are many around me that are struggling with physical problems and a few that have died. Thanks for the picture of healing and release that we all will experience when Jesus comes.
My greetings and best wishes to you and Jola. God bless you as you serve Him and are light and salt to those you serve in Krakow.
Love and hugs, Karen
Thank you, and greetings to you, too.
Looking so forward to seeing your mother again in her freedom and joy. So sorry for your loss, Carol.
Thank you.
Carol, this was amazing! Such good insight on a tough subject!
Thanks 🙂
Thank you Carol. God’s Words through your words bring hope, not disregarding reality people sometimes face here on earth, they tell a
story of comfort and uplift dropping hands of
prayer
Praise God 🙂
Praise God dear Carol♡♡♡
🙂
Thank you Carol for the eternal perspective on healing ,
sorry for the loss you are experiencing , you can rejoice
in your moms presence with God