How to Find Peace in Prayer While Trusting in God’s Will

I was taking a course a couple of months ago, and our class was given a case study with two subsequent questions to discuss. These questions highlighted the intersection of Christianity and culture; praying for healing or ending the suffering?

Here’s the first question:

Your beloved uncle has been ill for years and now faces a new and traumatic terminal disease. He is a godly believer, 92 years old. Your cousin insists that God wants to heal your uncle and asks you to pray for healing.

What will you say, and why?

Maybe you’re in a similar situation. Perhaps, you’ll face a situation like this in the future. As Christians, our faith can be ignored until a crisis. When there’s pain and sorrow, we’re often asked to pray and intercede because of our faith.

For that reason, I felt it was worthwhile to work through this case study in a more public forum.

The Power of Prayer

There are a few notable factors here. I assumed that with the terms “uncle” and “cousin,” the cousin is watching her/his father suffer. The cousin is in a desperate place between two powerful outcomes:

• First, the cousin wants more time with him.
• Second, the cousin wants the suffering to end.

Although there’s care and appreciation for an uncle, the bond between a father and child is one of the greatest in human existence. There would be deep turmoil for this cousin.

Praying for Healing

I would pray and pray hard with the cousin, over the uncle, that God might restore him, even if only for a little while. I would pray that they might have at least one more cherished moment or conversation together.

That being said, the cousin would also hear me repeat from the Lord’s Prayer before closing, that God’s will be done.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:10 (ESV)

Would there be a thought in mind, of praying that the Lord would take the uncle home to end his suffering? Of course, but that’s not what was asked of the cousin. So, that thought doesn’t make it into my prayers.

In my experience, God addresses emotional needs on multiple levels, especially during difficult decisions. Who am I to tell the cousin, ‘Your desire for your father to live longer might not be what God wants?’ What benefit would that be?

The Holy Spirit reveals so much in the waiting and watching of a few hours, never mind a few days. I would be certain that God heard my prayer, but the cousin also heard the prayer. If nothing changes, the Holy Spirit can convict or steer her/him in the right direction, as the Spirit wills.

Facing the Difficult Choice

Then the plot of the case study thickens. Here’s the subsequent question:

Your beloved uncle has been ill for years and now faces a new and traumatic terminal disease. He is a godly believer, 92 years old. Your uncle insists that God wants him to die and asks you to support his request for MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying).

What will you say, and why?

This is a very real situation for Canadians. Now that the legal ramifications are gone, Canadian Christians are left solely with a the moral decision.

At the onset, I want to know where my cousin went from the first question! It sure would be good to have his insight and support! (Forgive me for the dark humour.)

Realistically, my response would hinge so much on whether the uncle is a Christ-follower or not. That being said, I can assume a belief in God, based on the statement that the uncle “insists that God wants him to die”.

It’s also worth noting that there’s still a relational challenge at play. The uncle is not my father, so I am somewhat removed from the deepest levels of sorrow that other family members (including a cousin as son or daughter) would be experiencing.

The pull toward ending the suffering is always far greater for the immediate family.

Yet, the question remains, “How do I respond to the uncle?“

Responding with Compassionate Truth

Internally, I can understand the request. As a Christian in that situation, I might have a similar desire, reminded of Paul’s teaching that “to die is gain”, and that “to depart and be with Christ…is far better.” And yet, I couldn’t ignore his previous statement that “to live is Christ”.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Philippians 1:21-23 (ESV)

I couldn’t be the catalyst for taking someone’s life, including giving my support for their decision. Even in the suffering, I know that God is still in control. Even in the suffering, God’s purposes are being fulfilled. I can’t fully grasp why or how, but I know that it’s true.

That being said, I would compassionately validate the suffering. I would assure him that God has not left his side. I would read Scripture to Him, sharing the connection to the Gospel of each passage. If he hadn’t given his life to Christ, I would urge him to make that decision.

If he was a follower of Jesus, I might suggest ways in which God is using his suffering. If it came down to it, I might even prayerfully request that the Lord take him home.

Finding Strength in Faith

In the end, trusting God’s will while praying for healing requires a delicate balance of faith, compassion, and understanding. We have to lean on the Holy Spirit to guide our words and actions, ensuring that we remain true to a Biblical worldview.

Although this life carries with it sorrow and suffering, we must remain focused on God’s greater plan for our lives and the lives of those we love, proclaiming the Gospel to the world.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

1. How do you find peace in trusting God’s will during times of personal or family suffering?
2. Have you ever struggled with balancing prayer for healing and acceptance of a loved one’s desire to let go?
3. Which Bible passages have provided you with the most comfort and strength during difficult health challenges?