“They Shall Recover” – How Long Should It Take?

You can go into a ditch on either side of the road on this one.

Obviously from the context (these signs shall follow them that believe), your recovery should be obviously supernatural.  You should not be sick as long as an unbeliever would be sick.  If you were, what kind of a sign would that be?  It would be a sign that Jesus has no healing power and that you are no better off with Him than you would be without Him.  If you would have just recovered the same way anyway, why should anyone listen to anything you say about Jesus?  From their perspective, what good is He?  Therefore, your recovery should be notably faster than it could have been by natural means.

On the other hand, many people throw away their faith when they do not see an immediate sign of recovery after having hands laid on them.  Although instantaneous miracles tend to get more publicity, you will lose out on your healing most of the time if you confine God to working instantly in your body.  You inherit God’s promises by faith and patience (Hebrews 6:12).  If all miracles were instantaneous, you would never need patience; you would only need faith.

Some of the best testimonies of healing come from people whose improvement was rather gradual (but no less supernatural).  Being healed of a terminal illness slowly surely beats dying.  You may not consider it a blessing at the time, but this practice learning to stay in faith despite adverse circumstances is one of the most important lessons you can ever learn as a Christian.  It will not only help you receive healing – this same principle will help you in every other area of your life.