IS PHYSICAL RESTORATION ALWAYS A MIRACLE?
By David Paulson, M.D.
THERE is no remedy which in itself possesses healing power. It is the power of God alone that heals, that power which takes a child and develops him into a full-grown man; but the child must co-operate at every step in order to secure this transformation. Likewise there is something for the chronic invalid to do if he wishes to have the miracle of health wrought in him. Frequently the boy wishes that he did not have to pass through the long, tiresome process of growing into manhood. That God could save him this period of growth is evident from Adam's case and the raising of Lazarus; yet under ordinary circumstances God recognizes that it is best for the boy to grow up instead of reaching manhood by some shorter process. So invalids, knowing what God could do, and refusing to recognize that God will do what is the best for them, frequently clamor for immediate recovery. They do not consider the good that will come to them in being compelled to co-operate with God in order to secure health, thereby learning something that will enable them to go out and warn others how to "cease to do evil" and "learn to do well." A boy goes out in the cold, frosty air of a winter morning, and after taking vigorous exercise comes in with a famishing appetite; for the cold atmosphere, coming in contact with his entire body, has whispered something to a thousand nerve-endings. Every cell and nerve-center is aroused, and the blood comes surging to the surface, as is shown by the bright red glow of his skin. The boy has unconsciously co-operated with God, and has gained a certain amount of transformation as the result. When the chronic invalid takes a cold hand rub, or a cold mitten friction, or perchance a cold towel rub, or possibly a cold spray, followed in either case by such vigorous rubbing that the surface fairly glows, then he has secured the best possible physiological substitute for the boy's morning exercise in the cold air, and the result is an onward step in the march toward health. But nowadays it is becoming fashionable for boys to ruin their healthy appetites, from the inside by the use of cigarets, and from the outside by lying in bed until breakfast is ready in the morning, and loafing around during the daytime. As a consequence, there is coming onto the stage of action a generation of dwarfed, puny, miserable examples of manhood, simply from the failure of the boy properly to co-operate with God, so that he could reasonably expect to have the miracle of growth performed for him. So thousands of invalids persistently refuse to deny a perverted appetite; and they have more confidence in some artificial tonic or stimulant which has been purchased at the corner drug-store than they have in a vigorous application of cold water from the well in the door-yard, which, when properly adapted to their case, physiologically, arouse the healing forces which reside within the body. Often the patient spends more time worrying because God does not heal him instantly, than he spends in finding out how to "cease to do evil" and "learn to do well." It is always God that does the healing. Ps. 103:3. No so-called "healing agent" possesses any virtue only just to the extent that it co-operates with, or clears away the obstructions in the way of, the healing power that God placed in every man when He breathed into him the breath of life. Just to the extent that man succeeds in cooperating with that power, the process of restoration is shortened. God does not delight in the suffering of any of His creatures, and we may be sure He does not permit one moment of suffering that either is not tending to correct us, to bring some dross to the surface, or to teach us some valuable lesson whereby we may help others out of their difficulties. Sometimes a prayer is more beneficial than all other treatment; it will bring the invalid into harmony with the Infinite, and will clear out of his mind some rebellious thought or feeling that is lurking there. In other cases the only answer God could consistently give to the prayer would be to correct some physical rebellion in the patient's habits of life, and make him willing to take such steps as would place him in harmony with the healing power within him. Earnest prayers should always be mingled with whatever is done for the patient's recovery, and then we may absolutely leave the results in God's hands; for even in physical matters the human agent can only sow; God must bring the harvest.