When Your Body Isn’t Okay: Finding Healing Through Prayer and Scripture

I am no spring chicken and have the normal aches and pains that 60+ year olds get…arthritis, back aches, all the things…but I have been very blessed overall, with a healthy life. But what about the non-physical ailments. The emotional exhaustion. The thought of how to move forward. And at the end of the day, we all know that sometimes your body just isn’t okay. Maybe you’re dealing with something ongoing. Something exhausting. Something that doesn’t have a quick fix. And after a while, it wears on you—not just physically, but emotionally too.

You try to stay positive. You try to push through. But some days? It’s just hard no matter how strong we are. And in those moments, “healing” can start to feel like a distant idea, the impossible, instead of something real. But here’s something I’ve been learning: healing isn’t always where we expect it to start.

It’s Not Just Physical

We tend to think of healing as something that happens in the body—symptoms gone, energy restored, everything back to normal. But Scripture paints a bigger picture. It reminds us that what’s going on inside of us—our thoughts, our stress, our hope (or lack of it)—actually matters more than we realize. There’s this verse, Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good medicine…” So a mindset and a reminder that what’s happening in your heart and mind affects your body too. And when you’re hurting, that inner space can get heavy fast. That my friend, is where prayer comes in and my philiosphy of always, always finding the joy. There IS something to be thankful for, always.

Prayer Isn’t About Getting It Perfect

To some of us, praying is hard. I listen to our Pastors and even others quickly put together the perfect prayer to speak out loud. How in the world do they do that? When I pray, I first think….God, I know you know my heart. Thanks goodness. Because this is probably not going to come out right. So if you’ve ever felt like you don’t know what to say when you pray, I am right there with you.

Sometimes prayer sounds less like a polished speech and more like:
“God… I’m tired.”
“I don’t understand this.”
“I need help.”

And that’s enough.

Prayer isn’t about saying the right thing—it’s about being real. Shew…thank goodness.

Philippians 4 says to bring everything to God—everything. Not just the neat, put-together parts, but the messy, frustrated, confused parts too. And what does God give in return? Not always instant healing—but peace. And honestly, when your body is struggling, peace is not a small thing.

Speaking Truth When Your Mind Is Spiraling

You know those moments when your thoughts just run wild? “What if this gets worse?” “What if it never changes?” “Why is this happening?” Yep… those.

That’s where Scripture becomes more than just words on a page. There’s something powerful about actually speaking truth out loud—even if you don’t fully feel it yet. And it doesn’t have to be perfectly quoted but here are some scriptures that speak to His power.

• Jeremiah 30:17 – “I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.”
• Isaiah 53:5 – “By His wounds we are healed.”
• Psalm 103:2–3 – “Praise the Lord… who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”

Healing Doesn’t Always Look Like a Miracle Moment

We all love stories of instant healing. And yes—those moments happen. But a lot of the time, healing looks… slower. It might look like:

• Getting through today when yesterday felt impossible
• Finding a little more strength than you had before
• Feeling calm in a situation that used to overwhelm you
• Taking the next step, even if it’s small

That doesn’t mean nothing is happening. It means something deeper is unfolding.

A Simple Way to Start

If you’re in a place where you need healing—physically, emotionally, or both—don’t overcomplicate it. Try this:

• In the morning:
  “God, I give you my body today. Be with me in this.”
• During the day (when it gets hard):
  “Help me right now.”
• At night:
  “Thank you for getting me through today.”

And maybe pick one verse—just one—and come back to it throughout the day. That’s it. No pressure to do more.

One More Thing

If you’re struggling, this isn’t about choosing between faith and practical help. You can pray and see a doctor. You can trust God and take care of your body. It’s not either/or.

And if you’re in the middle of it right now—feeling worn down, frustrated, or even a little hopeless—I want you to hear this:

You’re not forgotten.
You’re not doing this alone.
And healing… even if it’s slow… is still possible.

Sometimes it starts in the quietest way: “God, I need you.” Try it. I promise you will feel the power of His love.