The journey through physical challenge is often a path paved with questions, but it is also a landscape where the quiet strength of the spirit can flourish. When you are facing the daily reality of Rheumatoid arthritis—navigating the stiffness that greets you in the morning, the persistent swelling in your joints, and the fatigue that feels like a heavy weight—it is easy to feel as though your body is a territory under siege. Yet, there is a profound truth found in the consistent hearing of a promise.
Consider the simple, unwavering faith of a child. If a mother tells her little girl that she will receive a new dress next Saturday, that child does not wait until she sees the fabric to believe it is hers. Her faith is born the very moment she hears the word of her mother. She doesn’t need to understand the economics of the purchase or see the dress in the window; she simply rests in the reliability of the promise. In the same way, our confidence in restoration does not begin when the symptoms vanish; it begins when we settle our hearts on the declarations of the One who is the Father of mercies.
The Power of the Promise
Faith is not a feeling we manufacture to override our senses; it is the natural result of hearing truth until it becomes more real to us than our circumstances. For someone dealing with the chronic pain and inflammation of RA, the “natural” thing is to focus on the limitation. However, we are invited to a different perspective. We are told that our bodies are not just physical shells; they are temples, and the life that dwells within them is meant to be manifest even in our mortal flesh.
There is a restorative authority—what the Greeks called exousia—that stands above the “facts” of a medical report. This authority is backed by a mercy that is not a one-time event but a continuous, everlasting stream. To be “full of mercy” means that there is an abundance available for every area of lack, including the physical strength needed to move, to work, and to live with joy.
The Evidence of Redemption
When we look at the historical records of restoration, we see a consistent pattern: a Good Shepherd who does not desire his flock to be scattered or broken. Sickness is often described as a yoke or a burden, but there is an anointing—a specific divine enablements—designed to destroy those yokes. This is not a “someday” hope; it is a present-tense reality.
The scriptures provide a firm foundation for this expectation:
- Exodus 23:25: “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.”
- Psalm 107:20: “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
- Psalm 91:16: “With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
These are not mere words on a page; they are “imperishable seed.” When a seed is planted and watered, it is its nature to grow. By “watering” these promises—thinking on them, speaking them, and refusing to let them slip—you are creating an environment where restoration can take root.
The Gift of Healing and the Anointing
In the community of those who walk by faith, there is a beautiful provision known as the gift of healing. This is a specific manifestation of the Spirit where the inherent power of God—the dunamis—is released to mend, to stitch back together, and to make whole what has been distressed. This gift is a reminder that the heart of the Creator is always toward wholeness.
If you are struggling with the “wasting” feeling that sometimes accompanies long-term illness, or the “plagues” of persistent inflammation, remember that you have been redeemed from these things. Redemption means “to buy back.” You have been bought back from the authority of sickness. If a debt has been paid, the bill-collector has no legal right to knock on your door. Likewise, when you understand your redemption, you can stand your ground against the symptoms of RA, knowing they do not have a permanent right to your body.
Strengthening the Inner Man
A physical attack often waits for a moment of weakness, trying to overwhelm the mind and spirit. This is why it is vital to build a “strong spirit.” A strong spirit acts as a shield. It is developed by “hearing and hearing” the Word. You don’t get established by hearing a truth once; you get established by the constant pounding of truth against the spirit until the walls of doubt crumble.
Think of the shepherd boy David. He was not a giant-killer because of his physical stature; he was a giant-killer because he spent his time in the fields watering the seed of God’s Word within him. His attitude toward the promise made him wiser than his teachers and stronger than his enemies. You have that same opportunity. Even when your joints are restricted, your spirit is free to soar, to confess, and to “say so.”
Moving Forward in Confidence
If the Good Shepherd came so that you might have life “more abundantly,” then any area of “want” or “lack” in your health is an area where His provision is looking to manifest. Restoration is not just about the removal of pain; it is about being “satisfied with long life” and being “restored in strength.”
Do not be discouraged by what you see or feel today. Faith is believing that the answer is provided before it is felt. Like the little girl waiting for Saturday, you can rejoice in the promise now. The anointing that destroys yokes is in you and on you. It is a force that terrifies the darkness because it brings the light of life into the very cells of your body.
Keep your eyes on the report of the One who bears our sicknesses and carries our pains. Vocalize your redemption. Say, “I am strong in the Lord.” Let every word of promise be established in your heart, for He is faithful who promised, and He is doing a work of mending and making whole even now.
Prayer Request Page:
Lorna and Tony will pray for your healing.
PRAYER VIDEO FOR YOUR HEALING
About the Authors:
Tony and Lorna Egar are Christians based in Brisbane, Australia.
Lorna moves in a gift of healing.
She has seen God’s power, heal many people.
Tony is a Christian author with 30 books published.
His most popular book is called, “A Gift of Healing.”
It is on Amazon and Google Play.
Medical Disclaimer The content on PrayerForFree.com is provided for spiritual support and encouragement purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.