Are We to Bear a Cross of Sickness?

Many people believe God has given them a “cross of infirmity or sickness” to bear. But is this kind of belief biblical? We read in the book of Mark about taking up a cross. Let’s read this portion of Scripture and see what it says.

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Mark 8:34-35.

The definition of the phrase “take up his cross” in this Scripture is not referring to bearing sickness and disease in our physical bodies, but rather to self-denial of fleshly wants and desires in exchange for His will and plan for our lives.

This belief that God gives us a cross of infirmity to bear is a false doctrine. And it is a dangerous one too. It turns people away from believing in Him as Lord and Savior. He does not put sickness and disease in our bodies for any reason, especially not to teach us patience and endurance. Nor does He cause us to become sick so we can land in the hospital and testify of His glory to the other patients and to the medical staff. There is no glory in sickness, and it is a terrible witness to say this to people. To put it plainly, this type of belief is based upon our works to earn acceptance, rewards, salvation from our God. It devalues the plan of atonement that Jesus willing suffered to redeem us.

It certainly is true that when someone is very ill and facing death that they will cross-examine their lives and discover what is and is not important, and they start to get their lives in order. And in these situations people will start to talk to others about things most important to their hearts. But the fact remains the same: Goes does not put sickness and disease in our bodies. According to the Word of God, sickness is part of the curse, and God is not the source of the curse, but the solution for it.

Jesus Christ bore all sin, sickness and disease upon His own body so that we could be free form it while on this earth. Isaiah 53:4-5 shares with us what Jesus suffered so we could be forgiven and healed, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Salvation, which includes healing is God’s free gift to us. It is not won by works, good deeds, or by acts of suffering. Rather, deliverance and healing, like salvation are acquired by faith in Him alone.

Becky Dvorak is a prophetic healing evangelist and the Destiny Image author of DARE to Believe, Greater Than Magic and, soon to be released, The Healing Creed. Visit her at authorbeckydvorak.com.