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Questions & Answers

Prayer for Healing

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Prayer, Fasting and Worship › Prayer for Healing

The question

I have prayed and acted in advance on a pledge to St. Demiana to heal one of my Sunday School students. She was alright for a month, but then her headaches returned. Why has not God healed her completely for the sake of the child’s faith in Him?

The answer

It is great to pray with such faith that God may  heal this child but we should not forget that everything we ask should be according to God's will. God answered your prayers and her headache disappeared for a whole month.

Nevertheless, have you considered that God might have another plan for the child that is not revealed for us now? St. Paul pleaded to be healed and God denied him his request "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me and He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor12:8-9).

Do not tempt the Lord. Even if you act in advance on a promise, this does not mean that God automatically will answer your prayers the way you want it. Continue on praying for her and may God's plan be soon revealed.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 429 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.