In today’s fast-paced society, where life’s pressures continue to mount, issues such as overwork, irregular eating habits, and reacting angrily to unfavorable situations have become the norm. Combined with environmental pollution, food contamination, and the rampant spread of various epidemics, the likelihood of falling ill has significantly increased. Some individuals may even find themselves grappling with severe diseases or incurable conditions. When illness strikes, brothers and sisters who have faith often turn to prayer, seeking the Lord’s healing to alleviate the torment of sickness. Yet, when our prayers for healing go unanswered, we often become distressed and anxious. We worry that the illness might worsen and even fear that one day it might take our lives. Some brothers and sisters, witnessing their ailments persist without God’s intervention, may harbor complaints towards the Lord. They question why, despite their frequent sacrifices for the Lord, He doesn’t provide protection. These are common reactions we often have when faced with illness. Clearly, treating illness in this way is not in line with God’s will. So, how should we correctly handle illness when it comes?

Firstly, when illness occurs, it is with God’s permission; believe that God is in control of everything.

God says, “So, when someone gets sick, it may seem as though it has been caused by exhaustion, feelings of anger, or because they live poorly and lack nutrition—it may seem like this on the surface. This situation applies to everyone, so why do some people in the same age group get this illness, while others don’t? Is it fated to be like this? (Yes.) In layman’s terms, it is fated. How do we say it in words that accord with the truth? All this comes under the sovereignty and arrangements of God” (The Word, Vol. 6. On the Pursuit of the Truth I. How to Pursue the Truth (4)).

“Some people often fall ill, but no matter how much they pray to God, they still don’t get better. No matter how much they want to rid themselves of their illness, they cannot. Sometimes, they may even face life-threatening conditions and are forced to confront them head-on. In fact, if one really has faith in God in their heart, they first of all must know that a person’s lifespan is in God’s hands. The timing of one’s birth and death is predestined by God. When God gives people illness, there is a reason behind it—it has meaning. It feels like sickness to them, but, in actual fact, what they have been given is grace, not illness. People must first of all recognize and be sure about this fact, and take it seriously. When people are suffering from illness, they can come often before God, and make sure to do what they should, with prudence and caution, and treat their duty with greater care and diligence than others. As far as people are concerned, this is a protection, not shackles. It is the negative way of handling things. In addition, everyone’s lifespan has been predetermined by God. An illness may appear to be terminal from a medical standpoint, but from God’s point of view, if your life must still go on and your time has yet to come, then you couldn’t die even if you wanted to. If God has given you a commission, and your mission is not over, then you will not even die from an illness that is supposed to be fatal—God will not take you yet. Even if you do not pray and seek the truth, or do not attend to treating your illness, or even if you put off your treatment, you will not die. This is particularly true for those who have received a commission from God: When their mission has yet to be completed, no matter what illness befalls them, they must not die straight away; they must live until the final moment of the mission’s completion” (The Word, Vol. 3. The Discourses of Christ of the Last Days. Part Three).

From God’s word, we can see that, superficially, the various factors causing our illnesses seem to come from external sources. In reality, God has ordained it, determining the age at which each of us will face certain illnesses, how severe the conditions will be, and whether they will improve in the end, all predetermined by God, just as the Scripture says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). God permits these illnesses and hardships to befall us so that we can experience life and come to know God’s sovereignty and omnipotence. In fact, regardless of the type or severity of the illness we face, if God still has a purpose and mission for us, meaning God intends for us to continue living, then no matter how severe the illness may be, it cannot take our lives. Even if we do not seek treatment, the illness will not claim our lives. Similar to real-life situations where some individuals are diagnosed with cancer, undergo treatment in major hospitals without seeing improvement, and as the condition worsens, when they lose hope and decide to stop treatment, the unexpected happens – their condition gradually improves. Subsequent medical examinations reveal a reduction and eventual disappearance of cancer cells, leaving doctors astonished and labeling it a miracle. This signifies that their designated time has not arrived, their mission is still unfinished, so despite the severity of the illness, they do not succumb to death. On the other hand, some seemingly healthy individuals suddenly face death. From these instances, we can observe that God is in control of human illnesses and lifespans. Therefore, when illness strikes, there is no need to worry or be distressed about whether our ailments can be cured or if they will claim our lives. Instead, we should rely on God’s omnipotence, submit to God’s sovereignty, seek appropriate medical treatment, and face each day with a positive attitude, fulfilling our responsibilities as created beings. If, one day, an illness takes our life, it means that we have fulfilled the mission God assigned to us in this world. Such a departure is permitted by God, and we should accept it from Him, learning to submit and face it calmly.

Secondly, when illness strikes, it is crucial to focus on seeking God’s will and understanding which aspect of our corrupt disposition God intends to purify.

God says, “When God arranges for someone to get an illness, whether major or minor, His purpose in doing so is not to make you appreciate the ins and outs of being sick, the harm the illness does to you, the hardships and difficulties the illness causes you, and all the myriad feelings the illness causes you to feel—His purpose is not for you to appreciate sickness through being sick. Rather, His purpose is for you to learn the lessons from sickness, to learn how to feel for God’s will, to know the corrupt dispositions you reveal and the wrong attitudes you adopt toward God when you’re sick, and to learn how to submit to God’s sovereignty and arrangements, so that you can achieve true obedience to God and be able to stand firm in your testimony—this is absolutely key. God wishes to save you and cleanse you through sickness. What about you does He wish to cleanse? He wishes to cleanse all your extravagant desires and demands toward God, and even cleanse the various plans, judgments, and schemes you make at all costs to survive and live. God does not ask you to make plans, He does not ask you to judge, and He does not allow you to have any extravagant desires toward Him; He requires only that you submit to Him and, in your practice of experiencing and submitting, to know your own attitude toward sickness, and to know your attitude toward these bodily conditions He gives to you, as well as your own personal wishes. When you come to know these things, you can then appreciate how beneficial it is for you that God has arranged the circumstances of the illness for you or that He has given you these bodily conditions; and you can appreciate just how helpful they are to changing your disposition, to you attaining salvation, and to your life entry. That is why, when illness comes calling, you must not always be wondering how you can escape it or flee from it or reject it” (The Word, Vol. 6. On the Pursuit of the Truth I. How to Pursue the Truth (3)).

“How should you experience sickness when it comes? You should come before God and pray, seek and grope for God’s intention; you should examine yourself to find what it is you have done that went against the truth, and what corruption in you has not been resolved. Your corrupt disposition cannot be resolved without undergoing suffering. Only in being tempered by suffering can people not be dissolute, and able to live before God at all times. When someone suffers, they are always at prayer. They have no thought for the pleasures of food, dress, and other enjoyments; they pray constantly in their hearts, examining themselves to see whether they have done anything wrong or where they may have gone against the truth. Normally, when you face a serious illness or strange malady that makes you suffer very badly, this does not happen by chance. Whether you are ill or in good health, God’s will is there in that” (The Word, Vol. 3. The Discourses of Christ of the Last Days. In Believing in God, Gaining the Truth Is Most Crucial).

When illness happens, there is God’s will. In such times, we should take a moment to be quiet before God, trying to understand His intentions and figuring out what He might be teaching us. Major and severe illnesses are not coincidental; some are trials permitted by God to reveal the corruption and impurities within us. For example, when we enjoy God’s grace and presence without facing illness, feeling that God loves us exceptionally, we then willingly follow Him with great confidence, and may feel happy to forsake things and expend ourselves for God; however, when faced with sickness, especially with illnesses causing significant pain, if our prayers for healing go unanswered, we might become disheartened, disappointed in God, complain and blame God, and even regret our past sacrifices. This makes us realize that our previous efforts are not sincere but driven by personal motives. Our sacrifices and expenditures are driven by a desire to trade and seek blessings and protection from God, filled with extravagant demands of God. It is only now that we realize our belief in God is too adulterated, and we are not expending ourselves for God with a sincere heart. It can be said that God uses illness to reveal many corruptions, deficiencies, shortcomings and even rebellions against Him within us, in order to help us recognize our true state and prompt us to seek lessons in truth to resolve these issues. This enables us to genuinely repent before God, making our faith and love for God more pure, and allowing us to be truly compatible with God and receive His approval. This is God’s way of saving us.

Thirdly, in the midst of illness, we need to have faith and stand witness to God.

God says, “While undergoing trials, it is normal for people to be weak, or to have negativity within them, or to lack clarity on God’s will or their path for practice. But in any case, you must have faith in God’s work, and not deny God, just like Job. Although Job was weak and cursed the day of his own birth, he did not deny that all things in human life were bestowed by Jehovah, and that Jehovah is also the One to take them all away. No matter how he was tested, he maintained this belief. In your experience, no matter what refinement you undergo through God’s words, what God requires of mankind, in brief, is their faith and their God-loving heart. What He perfects by working in this way is people’s faith, love, and aspirations. God does the work of perfection on people, and they cannot see it, cannot feel it; under such circumstances, your faith is required. People’s faith is required when something cannot be seen by the naked eye, and your faith is required when you cannot let go of your own notions. When you do not have clarity about God’s work, what is required of you is to have faith and to take a firm stance and stand witness. When Job reached this point, God appeared to him and spoke to him. That is, it is only from within your faith that you will be able to see God, and when you have faith God will perfect you. Without faith, He cannot do this” (The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Those Who Are to Be Made Perfect Must Undergo Refinement).

“No matter what trial befalls you, you must treat it as a burden given to you by God. Say some people are beset by great sickness and unbearable suffering, some even face death. How should they approach this kind of situation? In many cases, the trials of God are burdens He gives to people. However great the burden bestowed upon you by God, that is the weight of burden you should undertake, for God understands you, and knows you will be able to bear it. The burden given to you by God will not exceed your stature or the limits of your endurance, so there is no question that you will be able to bear it. No matter what manner of burden God gives you, what kind of trial, remember one thing: Whether or not you understand God’s will and whether or not you are enlightened and illuminated by the Holy Spirit after you pray, whether or not this trial is God disciplining you or warning you, it does not matter if you do not understand. As long as you do not delay in performing your duty and can faithfully abide by your duty, God will be satisfied, and you will stand firm in your testimony” (The Word, Vol. 3. The Discourses of Christ of the Last Days. Only in the Frequent Reading of God’s Words and Contemplation of the Truth Is There a Way Ahead).

When illness strikes, we often struggle to comprehend God’s intentions. What should we do in such moments? Regardless of whether we understand God’s intentions or the pain that illness itself brings, what is most crucial is having faith in God. God knows each person’s stature and assigns burdens according to what we can endure. Sickness is also a burden that God places on us to test whether we can refrain from complaining and blaming God during illness, whether we can remain faithful and obedient to God, whether we are able to persist in fulfilling our responsibilities, and stand witness to God. Just like Job during his trials, he lost all his possessions, his children’s lives were taken, and he was covered in painful sores, and what’s worse, he was attacked by his wife and friends. He suffered greatly, not understanding God’s intentions or why these things happened to him. However, he believed that everything comes from God; no matter how God tested him, he held fast to the way of fearing God and shunning evil, maintaining faithfulness, loyalty, and obedience to God. Despite personal physical suffering, he did not complain or blame God. Rather, he praised God’s name by saying, “Jehovah gave, and Jehovah has taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah” and “shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” With these words of praise and the fear of God in his heart, Job stood witness to God in the presence of Satan and received God’s blessing. Eventually, God appeared to Job in a whirlwind, spoke to him, and bestowed even greater wealth on him than before. Through these trials, Job’s reverence and faith in God were truly elevated, and God’s heart found comfort. Therefore, when illness strikes, we should follow Job’s example, maintaining faith and obedience to God and standing witness to Him. It’s evident that illness is a grace and blessing from God!

Through what we shared above, have you gained insights about how to approach illness and suffering? Our heartfelt wish is that those currently facing illness and pain can grasp the intentions of God, learn meaningful lessons from their experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of the truth!