Bible and Ellen White Promises for the Sick

It is a blessed truth that both the Bible and the writings of Ellen White offer abundant promises and words of encouragement for those who are sick. These assurances emphasize God's love, care, and His power to heal and sustain.

...statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee” [verse 26]. Read also the seventh, eighth, and twenty-eighth chapters of Deuteronomy— 15MR 29.3 (1990)

...ders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” If the professed followers of Christ would, with purity of heart, exercise as much faith in...— 5T 196.2 (1889)

...o trust in Him and be cheerful. To be anxious about themselves tends to cause weakness and disease. If they will rise above depression and gloom, their prospect of recovery will be better; for “the eye of the Lord is upon them ... that hope in His mercy” Psalm 33:18.&mdash...— 2MCP 482.3 (1977)

... Lord permitted to come a lingering illness. During the long hours of human weakness and suffering, his faith laid fast hold on the promises of God, and he beheld ever about him heavenly messengers of comfort and peace. As on the heights of Dothan he had seen the encircling hosts of heaven, the fiery chariots of Isr...— TA 134.3 (1996)

Many are God's promises to those who minister to his afflicted ones. He says: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou w...— RH July 11, 1912, par. 6 (1851)

I am writing a few lines to you in this mail, in the hope that you may receive the comfort and encouragement in your sickness that the Lord desires you to have. It will bring no brightness into your life to look continually to yourself. Look to your precious ...— 22LtMs, Lt 34, 1907, par. 1

... of God. When your mind is clouded because of physical weakness, do not try to think. You know that Jesus loves you. He understands your weakness. You may do His will by simply resting in His arms— 5MR 170.3 (1990)

...d many wakeful hours, and I called most earnestly upon the Lord. He has given me the assurance that I shall see in my body and spirit the salvation of God. During the past four months of pain and infirmity, I have constantly importuned God for help. He h...— 7LtMs, Ms 19, 1892, par. 6 (1891)

... being sick and suffering, to feel myself the object of His special administration and tender care. The Lord Jesus was never more precious to me than now.—Letter 45, 1892, p. 2. (To A. T. Robinson, November 7, 1892.— 8MR 266.1 (1990)

... pity was moved. “He saw their faith,” and it was enough. “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee,” He said to the sick man. Many watched with bated breath every movement in this strange tran...— PrT May 25, 1899, par. 9 (1885)

...he precious promise, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” Luke 11:13. What reason we have for encouragement! We are assured that the Lord hears our pr...— 7LtMs, Lt 11b, 1892, par. 3 (1891)

There is most precious missionary work to be done in our sanitariums. In them Christ and the angels work to relieve suffer...— CH 212.3 (1923)

...oubted; they could not believe the joyous truth. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.” This assurance of Jesus exceeded all their expectations. They knew of his power, while he w...— 3SP 236.2 (1878)

Here are some encouraging promises for someone who is sick:

It is a positive duty to resist melancholy and discontented thoughts, as genuine religion brings cheerfulness and happiness, leading one away from gloom and darkness toward the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His beams. Our thoughts and feelings are strengthened when we express them, and by giving more expression to our faith and rejoicing in God's great mercy and love, we can experience increased faith and joy. God's goodness and love bring a never-failing wellspring of joy, fed by streams from His throne, and we are called to be thankful, praising God for the opportunity to live for His glory and for His loving care each new day, allowing gratitude to ascend to heaven morning, noon, and nightMH 251.3.

In sanitariums, Christ and angels work to relieve suffering caused by bodily disease. Prayers and the opening of Scriptures in these settings introduce patients to the great Medical Missionary, who can heal all disease. They learn about eternal life, which Jesus longs to bestow, and how to prepare for the mansions He has gone to prepare, as He promised to return and receive them to Himself. God's Word contains gracious promises that bring comfort, hope, and encouragement to those suffering in body or mindCH 212.3.

The Lord has given definite instruction through the apostle James regarding sickness: if anyone is sick, they should call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up. If professed followers of Christ exercise faith in God's promises with purity of heart, they will experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit in both soul and body5T 196.2.

Because God's love is vast and unfailing, the sick should be encouraged to trust in Him and maintain cheerfulness. Worrying about themselves can lead to weakness and disease. Rising above depression and gloom improves their chances of recovery, for the Lord's eye is upon those who hope in His mercy2MCP 482.3. Even when the mind is clouded by physical weakness, one should not try to overthink but simply rest in Jesus' arms, knowing He loves them and understands their weakness5MR 170.3.

The compassionate Savior is ready to receive those with broken hearts and contrite spirits, lifting them up with words of hope and courage and helping them grasp His strength for peaceSpTB06 50.3. God's promises are rich, full, and freely available, and by complying with their conditions, one can claim their abundant blessingsST March 10, 1887, par. 15. Through believing in Him and accepting His great sacrifice, everlasting life is obtained, an eternal life insurance policy worth far more than any purchased with money2MR 289.4.

When we receive help and comfort, we should sing praises to God and talk with Him, becoming His friends and relying on Him. We can obtain a faith that trusts regardless of feelings, knowing that feeling is not the evidence of being a Christian, but implicit faith in God is. He promises not to leave us comfortless but to come to us, and because He lives, we shall live also. We behold Christ by faith, grasping His promises, just as Enoch walked with GodGH March 1, 1901, par. 14+1.

It is a great mistake to dictate to God, as He knows what is best. Even in suffering, one can become better acquainted with the Savior and receive many tokens of His presence, light, and love, feeling like an object of His special administration and tender care. The Lord Jesus can be more precious than ever during illness8MR 266.1. We are also assured that the Lord hears our prayers, and if we ask, seek, and knock, it will be given, found, and opened to us7LtMs, Lt 11b, 1892, par. 3.

We should talk faith and move onward, forward, and upward, believing and receiving every word of God's promises, such as "I will not leave you comfortless." This assurance should be shared with every doubting, troubled soul. We are to believe that God will do exactly as He has said and walk by faith. Every ray of light received should be flashed upon the pathways of others12LtMs, Lt 108, 1897, par. 6.

Yes, I certainly do! There are many comforting and encouraging words that can be shared with someone who is sick, reminding them of God's care and the hope available in Christ.

Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings—as much a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the way to our Father's house? Those professed Christians who are constantly complaining, and who seem to think cheerfulness and happiness a sin, have not genuine religion. Those who take a mournful pleasure in all that is melancholy in the natural world, who choose to look upon dead leaves rather than to gather the beautiful living flowers, who see no beauty in grand mountain heights and in valleys clothed with living green, who close their senses to the joyful voice which speaks to them in nature, and which is sweet and musical to the listening ear—these are not in Christ. They are gathering to themselves gloom and darkness, when they might have brightness, even the Sun of Righteousness arising in their hearts with healing in His beams. It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged and strengthened as we give th...— MH 251.3 (1905)

There is most precious missionary work to be done in our sanitariums. In them Christ and the angels work to relieve suffering caused by bodily disease. And the work is by no means to stop there. The prayers offered for the si...— CH 212.3 (1923)

...statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee” [verse 26]. Read also the seventh, eighth, and twenty-eighth chapters of Deuteronomy— 15MR 29.3 (1990)

...n life and in death. It is in the darkness of affliction, bereavement, trial, and persecution, that the light of Christian faith shines brightest, and the Lord's promises are found most precious. And when the grave receives the child of God...— LP 294.1 (1883)

As we look at the promises of God, we find comfort and hope and joy; for they speak to us the words of the Infinite One. Properly to appreciate these precious promises, we should study them carefully, examining them in detail. How much joy we might bring into life, how much goodness into the character, if we would but make these promises our own! As we journey in the upward way, let us talk of the blessings strewn along the path. As we think of the mansions Christ is preparing for us, we forget the petty annoyances which we meet day by day. We seem to breathe the atmosphere of the heavenly country to which we are journeying, and we are soothed and comforted— YI January 23, 1902, par. 5 (1852)

...r and read. Sickness or misfortune may enter the home, and through the truth contained in the books God sends peace and hope and rest. His love will be revealed to their souls, and they will understand the preciousness of the forgive...— AUCR April 1, 1901, par. 2 (1898)

...busy life He led! Day by day He might have been seen entering the humble abodes of want and sorrow, speaking hope to the downcast and peace to the distressed. Humble, gracious, tenderhearted, pitiful, He went about doing good, lifting up the bowed-down and comforting the sorrowing. None who came to Him went away unhelped. To all He brought hope and gladness. Wherever He went He ...— ST April 29, 1903, par. 2 (1874)

Such were the provisions made by our merciful Creator, to lessen suffering, to bring some ray of hope, to flash some gleam of sunshine, into the life of the destitute and distressed— RH September 17, 1889, par. 18 (1851)

...y an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is f...— 10LtMs, Lt 100, 1895, par. 13

..., all may follow Christ’s example of faith and obedience. Unto every one who lays hold of the hope, the encouragement, the light, the grace, the peace set before him in the gospel will be ministered an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus ...— 21LtMs, Ms 49, 1906, par. 16

The minds of the suffering ones must be led to grasp the hope of deliverance from special peril. Speak to them hopeful words, words of courage. There are those patronizing our sanitariums whom the Lord will heal if they will abstain from the ...— 24LtMs, Lt 158, 1909, par. 11