“According to YOUR...”

As Christians, we sometimes hear that ‘real faith’ means rejecting medicine and only trusting God. I used to wrestle with the thoughts, “How can this be faith if I’m taking medication? Faith would renounce, denounce, and refuse to accept any diagnosis or take anything but the Word!”

Diagnosis

Educational focus has been a struggle for me since my teen years. As I got older and the workload increased, my ability to stay on top of my studies seemed to decrease. During grad school, focus became so difficult, I finally did what I had put off for a while.  I took an ADHD assessment. Although the assessment was online, an actual doctor reviewed the responses and decided the official diagnosis: ADHD. After much prayer and consideration, I decided to take it up a notch.  I asked a friend in the medical field for a recommendation and made an appointment with a doctor so that I could get a prescription.  

Medication

After working with children for quite some time, I already knew which medication I wanted to try. The nurse practitioner wrote the prescription for me, and I took the medication for about 3 months. The first month was 30 days of side effects (wild times). Then, it was like someone turned on an extra light switch in the room.  Everything was brighter, clearer.  “Is this how ‘neurotypicals’ see the world? Wow!”  I eventually traded the medication for more natural supplements.  Through all of this, I was praying, letting God’s peace guide me.  For some, that may be difficult to digest or believe.  It was for me, initially.  

“How can this be faith if I’m taking medication? Faith would renounce, denounce, and refuse to accept any diagnosis or take anything but the Word!”  Have you ever had thoughts along these lines?  I sat with them for a while before I made these decisions.  The diagnosis alone felt like taboo.  Someone might say, “You need to pray!” Does taking an assessment and medication indicate that I couldn’t have prayed?  The Holy Spirit led me to several passages. 

Biblical Examples of Faith

In Matthew 8, a centurion (commander of the Roman army) approaches Jesus  because his servant is sick. Jesus offers to come to him and heal him, but the centurion states that this is not necessary.  According to his faith, Jesus only needed to “speak a word,” and his servant would receive healing.  Jesus responds by stating that He had not “found such great faith, not even in Israel!”  Jesus then tells the centurion, as he has believed, “so let it be done.” (NKJV). 

In the following chapter, a paralytic man is brought to Jesus by a group.  He sees their faith and tells the man to be of good cheer because his sins are forgiven and to take up his bed and go home. A man by the name of Jairus comes up to Jesus and begs Him to come to his house to heal his dying daughter.  As they head towards his home, a woman with a bleeding issue decides to touch Jesus’ clothes so that she could be healed. So, what does this even mean?

The desire for all mentioned was the same: healing.  Each came to The Source: Jesus. They received what they desired in different ways, according to THEIR faith.   The centurion had great faith.  He didn’t need to touch a garment.  He didn’t need to go and bring the man to Jesus.  He didn’t need Jesus to come to his home. He didn’t need to bring a piece of Jesus’ garment to the man so that he could touch it for his healing.  He only needed Jesus to just speak.  His faith was great, but were the others wrong? 

What does this have to do with the diagnosis? The medication?  There are times when people go through trials, such as sickness and disease.  People respond in various ways.  Maybe their faith stirs them to pray, believe, and wait. Great! Maybe their faith leads them to pray while taking medication or getting a procedure.  Perhaps someone prays and is led to seek the professional help of a counselor. Who is wrong?  They are each responding according to THEIR faith.  

When you find yourself in a situation where you have a need, what should you do? Seek FIRST the Kingdom.  Cast your cares on the Lord. Humble yourself and pray. Seek His face. Repent.  These are a few of the instructions we are given.  Doing these will keep you in alignment. Not going to The Source, not responding according to YOUR faith, or trying to operate according to someone else’s faith, any of these will cause you to miss your answer.

The purpose of this blog post is to reduce the chances of someone being ashamed of the decisions they have made.  Some people need medication or need to get a particular procedure but want to come across as having greater faith than what they have so they hesitate or refuse to do what is necessary.  This is not wisdom.  If you’re being led to, or sensing, that you need to go a particular route, don’t ignore this for an illusion.  

You can increase your faith by reading the Word, spending time in prayer, joining a local church, and taking the small steps of faith along the way.  As you grow in faith, let peace be the guide in decision making, not pressure, not fear, not an appearance.  Pray before you take the medicine if you choose to take it.  Pray as you look for the counselor for guidance.  Pray as you get the trainer or life coach for accountability. Whatever it is, don’t compare your faith walk to anyone else’s. Go to God, seek His wisdom, and let His peace guide you. According to YOUR faith. 

A Few Verses to Consider:

Mark 11:24 (NKJV)-Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Luke 8:48 (NKJV)-And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.

Matthew 9:29 (NKJV)-Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.

Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)-And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

James 1:5-6 (NKJV)-If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,  for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Questions for Reflection: 

(Answer the following questions personally, or if you're comfortable, type your answers here!)

1. Think about a time when you had great faith. What was the situation?  What helped you to reach this level of faith with the situation? 

   
   

2. When you review the various ways to increase your faith (daily reading the Word, listening to faith-based podcasts and songs, joining a local church, reflecting on the times God has moved on your behalf, sharing your testimony etc.), which activity could stand to do more of?