Never Part of God’s Plan

Sickness was never part of God’s original plan. We weren’t supposed to get sick or age. In fact, we weren’t supposed to die. But it goes back to our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden. If Adam and Eve hadn’t eaten the forbidden fruit, we wouldn’t get sick or age.

But because they did, we age and have illness, and ultimately, we die. Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NKJV).

Even so, why does God allow sickness? Here’s a short answer. Sometimes God allows sickness in our lives to bring us to Him. The psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:67 NKJV). I’ve heard many stories of people who felt they had no need for God, but then they became ill, asked for spiritual help, and found it. So sometimes God allows it to get our attention.

Then again, sometimes God allows sickness in the lives of believers to keep us humble, as He did with the apostle Paul. Writing about a “thorn in the flesh,” Paul said, “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:8–9 NLT).

God also may allow sickness so that He can be glorified through our lives as we honor Him. For example, Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic, and Nick Vujicic, who was born without arms and legs, have both turned a disability into an ability.

So even when we don’t understand why God allows sickness, there are reasons He does. And He can be glorified through it.