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The Ministry of Health and Healing
the sick to the One who can save to the uttermost all who come to
Him. He who made the human mind knows what the mind needs.
God alone is the One who can heal. Those whose minds and bodies
are diseased are to behold in Christ the Restorer. “‘Because I live,’”
He says, “‘you will live also.’”
John 14:19
.
This is the life we are to present to the sick, telling them that
if they have faith in Christ as the Restorer, if they cooperate with
Him, obeying the laws of health and striving to perfect holiness in
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His fear, He will impart to them His life. When we present Christ
to them in this way, we are imparting a power, a strength, that is of
value, for it comes from above. This is the true science of healing
for body and soul.
Sympathy
Great wisdom is needed in dealing with diseases caused through
the mind. A sore, sick heart, a discouraged mind, needs mild treat-
ment. Many times some continuing home trouble is, like a canker,
eating to the very soul and weakening one’s hold on life. Some-
times remorse for sin undermines the constitution and unbalances
the mind. Tender sympathy can benefit this class of invalids. The
physician should first gain their confidence and then point them to
the Great Healer. If their faith can be directed to the True Physician,
and they can have confidence that He has undertaken their case, this
will bring relief to the mind and often give health to the body.
Sympathy and tact will often prove a greater benefit to the sick
than will skillful treatment given in a cold, indifferent way. When a
physician comes to the sickbed in a listless, careless manner, looks
at the afflicted one with little concern, by word or action giving the
impression that the case requires scant attention, and then leaves the
patient to his or her own reflections, he has done positive harm. The
doubt and discouragement produced by his indifference will often
counteract the good effect of the remedies he may prescribe.
If physicians could put themselves in the place of the one whose
spirit is humbled, whose will is weakened by suffering, and who
longs for words of sympathy and assurance, they would be better
prepared to be empathetic. When the love and sympathy that Christ