One of the greatest struggles in the Christian life is this: What do I do when God’s Word says one thing, but my body, my mind, and my feelings say another? Many believers wrestle with this tension, especially in relation to healing. The Scriptures promise forgiveness and restoration through Christ, yet pain, weakness, or discouragement often tell a different story. In these moments, we are tempted to lean on our senses and speak according to what we see or feel rather than what God has declared. But the Christian life is not built on shifting feelings. It is built on the finished Word of Christ, and faith rests in Him, not in the fluctuations of human experience.
Faith Comes by Hearing #
Paul, in his letter to the Romans, wrote to a church surrounded by false teachings and uncertainty. He aimed to anchor their confidence, not in human effort, but in the living Word.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
— Romans 10:17 (ESV)
The Greek word used for “hearing” is akoē. It is not mere sound entering the ear but implies reception, understanding, and embracing the message. Faith is not an instant emotion; it grows as the Word of God is received into the heart and allowed to dwell there. James brings this truth to its practical outworking:
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”
— James 1:22 (AMP)
Hearing opens the door, but obedience keeps us walking inside. A hearer without action is self-deceived. Faith is not passive agreement with Scripture. It is a daily choice to live in response to the Word, trusting it above what our senses may report.
The Word vs Our Senses #
Most of us know what it is to feel frustrated when our bodies or emotions seem to deny God’s promises. Israel faced this in the wilderness when they saw giants in the land and concluded they could never enter (Numbers 13:31–33). Their eyes misled them, while God’s Word had already promised victory. In the New Testament, the same principle applies.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
— Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)
Our senses fluctuate. Pain rises and falls. Feelings shift with circumstances. But Christ does not change. His Word is eternal and steadfast. Faith does not ignore the reality of our senses but recognises a higher reality in Christ. Just as we once trusted His promise of forgiveness without seeing it, so too we trust His promise of healing, wholeness, and life. Faith is not denial of the senses but submission of the senses to the truth of His Word.
Picture sailors at sea during a storm. Their senses tell them they are lost and in danger. But the lighthouse, steady and constant, guides them safely to shore. God’s Word is that lighthouse. Waves may roar and winds may howl, but the light does not move. Our senses must learn to follow the unchanging light of Christ rather than the shifting storm of circumstance.
The Cross: Forgiveness and Healing Together #
Many find it easier to believe God forgives sin than to believe He heals the body. Yet Scripture never separates these two gifts. The prophecy of Isaiah spoke of the Suffering Servant who would bring both forgiveness and healing.
“He was pierced for our transgressions… and with His wounds we are healed.”
— Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)
The Hebrew word rapha means to restore, mend, and make whole. It describes complete restoration — spiritual, emotional, and physical. Centuries later, Peter confirms this fulfilment in Christ:
“…by His wounds you were healed.”
— 1 Peter 2:24 (NET)
The Greek word iaomai means to cure fully, to make whole. Christ bore sin and sickness at the Cross, accomplishing a single work with a single sacrifice. Forgiveness and healing are not separate blessings but two sides of the same gift. When we accept one and doubt the other, we divide what God has already united in His Son.
Training Your Senses with the Word #
Faith not only rests in the spirit; it reshapes how we use our senses. Left untrained, our eyes see problems, our ears hear fear, and our emotions waver between despair and hope. But when the Word governs us, even our senses begin to recognise God’s reality.
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.”
— Psalm 28:7 (AMP)
“…by His wounds you were healed.”
— 1 Peter 2:24 (NET)
When weakness whispers defeat, faith answers with God’s Word. When pain insists nothing has changed, faith declares what Christ has finished. Repeatedly speaking the Word reshapes perception. It is not imagination or wishful thinking but alignment with what God has already decreed. Over time, our hearts, minds, and even bodies learn to respond to the Spirit’s life rather than to the old signals of Adam.
Healing Is Life in Christ #
The deepest truth of healing is not found in methods but in Christ Himself. Medicine may bring temporary relief, but only Christ gives life.
“…for in Him we live and move and exist…”
— Acts 17:28 (AMP)
The Greek word zoē describes the uncreated, eternal life of God — the very life now imparted to believers. Healing flows from this life. It begins in the spirit, renews the mind, and strengthens the body. Doctors and treatments can be gifts of God, but they are never the source. The source is Christ dwelling in us. His Spirit sustains us day by day until the final resurrection, when mortality is swallowed up by life.
Not Positive Words, But God’s Word #
Faith is not about positive thinking or human optimism. It is about agreement with God’s eternal truth.
“He sent His word and healed them, and rescued them from their destruction.”
— Psalm 107:20 (AMP)
Human words may inspire for a moment, but they cannot impart life. God’s Word carries the same power that spoke creation into being and raised Jesus from the dead. Confession, then, is not trying to make something true but declaring what is already true in Christ. The tongue aligns the soul with the spirit, bringing the body into agreement with God’s finished work.
The Power of the Tongue #
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
— Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)
What we speak reveals where our trust lies. If we continually voice weakness, doubt, or defeat, our hearts will follow. But when we speak God’s Word, we release His life into our circumstances. James reminds us that blessing and cursing should not flow from the same mouth (James 3:10). A tongue disciplined by the Spirit becomes an instrument of faith, steering the whole life toward Christ.
Life in the Body of Christ #
Faith was never meant to grow in isolation. Christ places us in His Body, where His Spirit flows through every member.
“If one member suffers, all the members suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:26 (AMP)
The Spirit who raised Jesus dwells in us together.
“He… will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in you.”
— Romans 8:11 (AMP)
When believers gather, Christ’s life flows through prayer, worship, and encouragement. Isolation starves faith, but fellowship strengthens it. Seeing Christ at work in others grows our confidence. Bearing one another’s burdens makes His life tangible in daily struggles. Fellowship is not optional — it is vital to sustaining the life of faith.
Application #
When pain comes, confess the Word, not the problem.
When discouraged, remember you are already forgiven and healed in Christ.
When tempted to isolate, seek fellowship and prayer with believers.
Train your senses by daily speaking God’s Word until it becomes your natural response.
In Christ,
Godwin.
