Safeguarding your Healing Beliefs

[Oriel]

I don't know about you, but it seems like everyone has an opinion about how to get 'your healing'.  And, it can often be frustrating and tiring, to continuously keep knocking back all the good advice.

But an even bigger problem happens when we begin to accept all the opinions and beliefs we are being exposed to.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  (Ephesians 4:14)

This scripture verse might seem a bit harsh and in most cases it is.  Most people who give advice do so because they really care however the information they give may or may not be well informed.  Others give advice because they really don't know what else to say, illness baffles them, especially illness which is chronic and unexplainable.  In these cases they will often repeat things they have heard but have no real knowledge, understanding or experience of.  Lastly, you have the group of people who think they know exactly what you need to receive your healing and become really upset with you when you fail to produce the effects they think you should.

What would happen if you were to accept all the advice being given to you?

You would look a lot like that wave being blown about by the wind.

From a practical viewpoint this is really unhelpful because you never really wait long enough to really give something a try.  And we are all guilty of it, when we don't see the results we want quickly we automatically assume that something isn't working and look for something else.

Who says that healing has to happen in an instant?  Did God part the Red Sea in a second?  How long were Israel in captivity before they were delivered?

From a psychological perspective, it's not very healthy to accept all these opinions. It is a tell-tale sign of uncertainty and wavering belief.

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  (James 1:6)

When we accept other beliefs and opinions we do so because we are uncertain of our own.  Obviously we don't know everything so it's good to learn from others, but we need to learn to draw the line somewhere or end up feeling frustrated, hurt and betrayed due to a lack of success.

This is where learning to safeguard your beliefs is very important.  For example, don't simply say amen to everything if you don't believe it.  And, don't be pressurised into accepting other people's opinions and beliefs about your health, well-being, healing.  Instead focus on developing and strengthening your own beliefs through God's Word.

Focus on the long-term goal of total health and well-being through listening and being obedient to God's Word over often short-lived hope through following one healing opinion after another.

This was on my heart so I thought I would share.

Achama @ On the Road to Healing
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