In recent months, I've had a real problem with arthritis, and some days I can hardly get out of bed. My doctor tells me I need to get on some kind of medicine but I don't want to do that. I've prayed and prayed for God to heal me, but nothing happens. Why won't God answer? — Mrs. S.K.

Sometimes we don't think God is answering our prayers—but in reality He is, although not the way we expected. In other words, He is answering our prayers—but we don't realize it.

I can't help but wonder if this could be your situation. Could God be using your doctor to answer your prayer for help? Yes, sometimes God answers our prayers for healing by intervening and restoring our health. But God also uses medicines and doctors to heal us, and we shouldn't be reluctant to seek their help. The Apostle Paul's friend Luke was a doctor; Paul called him "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14 KJV).

Nor should we feel that using medicine somehow shows a lack of faith on our part. After all, God made our bodies, and He also gave doctors and medical researchers the ability to understand our bodies and find ways to cure our ills. The Bible reminds us that in Christ "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).

Pray that God will give you wisdom as you seek help for your problems. Pray too that God will help you focus on Him and not just on your physical ills. Most of all, thank God that when we know Christ, we know that someday all the pains and heartaches of this life will be over, and we will be with Him in heaven forever.