Aunt Sevvy, does anointing for healing work?
24 March 2025 |
Dear Aunt Sevvy,
I have chronic pain that makes life difficult. A family member suggested I ask my pastor for anointing. Two of my relatives were anointed: one died and the other is still sick. Does anointing work, Aunty?
Needing a Miracle
Dear Miracle:
The problem here may have to do with how we frame the question.
We tend to think of prayer and anointing as something we want to “work”—a sort of divine medical procedure. If it doesn’t “work,” God has let us down. Yes, James says that “The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.” But let’s be honest: if that always “worked” (that word again), no one would ever need to die. Not every prayer for healing is answered, and that doesn’t reflect on the sincerity or goodness of either the pray-ers or the pray-ees.
Let’s try looking at this as a community petition—but also a community promise. Back in Bible times priests were anointed with oil into their role, recognizing a covenant with the whole community. Now, in the era of the priesthood of all believers, we all gather to lift a needy one up in prayer, asking God’s will to be done in their life—but just as important, to pledge our own help and love. The passage finishes with: “If they have sinned, they will be forgiven,” which leads Aunty to believe God’s response will be reliably spiritual rather than reliably physical.
You have asked an important question, and Aunty hopes we can talk honestly about prayer and anointing, rather than thinking of it only as a way to get God to do a miracle.
Aunt Sevvy
Aunt Sevvy has collected her answers into a book! You can get it from Amazon by clicking here.
You can write to Aunt Sevvy at DearAuntSevvy@gmail.com. Your real identity will never be revealed.
