Healing Inside and Out

James 5:13-15, John Arnold

February 14, 2024 John Arnold Devotional - Growing in Wisdom 1

By John Arnold, retired pastor of Library Baptist Church, Finleyville, PA

Read James 5:13-15.

I’m convinced that everybody is wrestling with pain, both physical and emotional. We conceal it behind smiles and reassurances, afraid that revealing our struggles will make us appear less faithful. With every “I’m fine” we utter while battling inner turmoil, we deny ourselves the opportunity to experience the true healing God offers.

With every “I’m fine” we utter while battling inner turmoil, we deny ourselves the opportunity to experience the true healing God offers.

A number of years ago, I met with a Jewish doctor named Paul Caplin. He was 93 years old at the time. In his long and storied life, he carried the burden of determining who could be saved during the darkness of World War II. Pain was no stranger to him. During our conversations, he asked me a profound question, “Do you have stress in your life?” At the time, I was young and invincible, unaware of the weight stress could bear. Dr. Caplin saw what I could not. He recognized the essence of my struggle.

Scripture reveals our deepest troubles and grants us guidance to overcome them. In many ways, with its wise saying, the book of James is similar to that of Proverbs. James, the half-brother of Jesus, shares practical advice in his letter. He speaks to the hurting, offering solace and healing. He addresses the cheerful, encouraging them to lift their voices in praise. And he reaches out to the sick, both in body and soul, emphasizing the power of prayer and the support of the church.

Think of the profound impact these words must have had on those who first read them. Their significance resonates just as powerfully today.

James 5:13-15 asks, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

As my wife, JoAnn, and I recently watched the movie “Christmas Angel,” a scene struck a chord within us. Nick, a retired corporate kingpin, came to realize that helping others was the greatest investment he could make. Taking his new employee, Ashley, to a park, he asked her a profound question: “What do you see?”

“People,” she answered. Nick’s response spoke volumes: “Everyone carries around a hurt of some kind.”

Do you find yourself in the depths of pain? Know that you are not alone. Pray fervently and without restraint. Bring your burdens to Jesus, for He longs to comfort and heal you.

Do you find yourself in a season of joy and happiness? Sing with all your heart, honoring God’s mighty name. Let His praise flow from your lips like a symphony of adoration.

Are you sick, whether in body or soul? Seek out the support of the church.

God offers us the same healing today. His wisdom received through the church is the greatest resource for our healing, inside and out.

Do you find yourself in the depths of pain? Know that you are not alone. Pray fervently and without restraint. Bring your burdens to Jesus, for He longs to comfort and heal you.

Reflective Questions:

How does concealing our pain hinder our ability to experience healing? How does the acknowledgment of pain in others impact our perspective on our own struggles?
How does the advice and guidance in the book of James offer solace and healing to those who are hurting? How can we apply the lessons from James 5:13-15 in our lives when facing suffering, joy, or sickness?
How does seeking support from the church contribute to our physical and emotional healing?

Memory Verse:

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. James 5:13

Prayer:

Dear God, help me be honest with You and others that You have placed in my life. I am thankful that You have told me to pray when I am suffering. And I know that You will hear me. I also realize that people all around me are hurting. Help me to be observant and a help to those that are carrying a burden.