Elisha’s Sickness and Faith
By H. Clay Trumbull
"NOW ELISHA was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died." Was it because of Elisha's lack of faith, that he was sick unto death? His course with Naaman seemed to show a fair understanding of the place and power of faith in the treatment of disease; how happens it, then, that he yielded to disease in his own case, and fell sick of a sickness whereof he died? Elisha's faith rested the question of the cure or of the continuance of sickness with the Lord. Only faith that is exercised in that way is true faith. Continued sickness is often for the glory of God, and for the good of the child of God. When it is so, the child of God is willing to continue in sickness, without being cured. Faith-sicknesses are quite as marked an illustration of the power of faith as are "faith-cures." Elisha fell sick of a sickness whereof he died—in faith.—H. Clay Trumbull.