I will start by saying it is always right to pray for the healing of the sick.  We read in James 5:14, “Is any sick among you? 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.”  Someone who is sick is sometimes incapable of praying for himself; and it is a privilege to have someone to come and pray with and for him. Besides, the prayer of a righteous man may be of avail in restoring him to health as we read in James 5:15, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

Now, let’s look at 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”  When we pray according to the Lord’s will, by the leading of the Spirit, he will always hear us and respond.  This speaks to us of God’s sovereignty.  He has a perfect will for His children, and He will answer our prayers out of his divine will.  It is possible for us to pray for a particular need and the Lord not answer us as we ask Him.  Let’s look at an instance where the Apostle Paul prayed for healing, but did not get healed…instead, he got something better. 

2 Corinthians 12:7-8 are the words of Paul, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.”  Paul had been so greatly used of the Lord that there was a real chance that he could become proud of himself.  So, the Lord gave Paul a “thorn in the flesh.”  For this, Paul prayed three times that the Lord would take this away from him.  Instead of healing him, the Lord taught him a very good and needed lesson.  We read in verse 9, “And he said unto me, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

Paul thought he needed to be healed physically, but the Lord knew his real need and taught Paul to rely fully on Him.  All Paul needed was God’s grace, and through this infirmity, he learned that valuable lesson.  Is it always God’s will that we be healed?  If that was so, it stands to reason that no one would ever die…and we all die because we have all sinned as we read in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

Before closing, let us look at what we learn from reading Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  This shows us clearly that the Lord’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect.  Can’t we understand that it is God’s will that is right?  He knows all things…past, present, and future.  His will is what we really need.  Definitely, we should ask the Lord for His will when we pray.  His will is ALWAYS right and is good for us.  (CC)  (622.2)