Have You Had a Heart-to-Heart with the Ultimate Healer Lately?

Stories abound of people who have found healing through prayer alone. In biblical times, King Hezekiah of Israel (a descendant of the messianic line) hid the Book of Remedies, a book that detailed cures for every ailment. Through prophetic foresight, he understood that if people could simply look up a remedy in a book, they would neglect to pray to their Creator for healing. Therefore, King Hezekiah concealed the book to encourage people to turn to prayer for their recovery.

Today, it seems many of us are quick to pursue all kinds of treatment methods, both in conventional and natural medicine (and God forbid that this disparage these professionals). Alongside this pursuit, we often whisper a brief prayer while placing our hope in the treatments themselves. The order should be reversed. Heartfelt prayer and solitude should come first, rather than exhausting our resources on doctors and therapies. Set aside time with Hashem and present your challenges as though He stands directly before you.

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov teaches (Likutey Moharan, Tinyana, Torah 1:11) that prayer for healing is the most powerful and effective method, surpassing all worldly remedies. If people could see with spiritual eyes, concealed beneath the physical exterior, the impact of prayer, they would pray constantly instead of running to various doctors for medications. “I am Hashem, your Healer,” meaning: I am your true physician, not anyone else. In this awareness, earthly doctors would feel humbled before the healing power of the ultimate Healer.

With Hashem’s help, the day when this truth is widely recognized is not far off. Our righteous Messiah will reinforce this reality: salvation through prayer. Prayer to the Creator will be his ultimate weapon. We have no one to rely on but our Father in Heaven. What can a person do if all medical solutions fail them? “. . .and there exists an illness that no remedy can cure, because its strength surpasses that of herbs” (ibid.). Should such a person fall into despair? God forbid. There is Hashem and His righteous ones.

The great leaders of our generation understand the spiritual roots of illness and guide us in correcting them at their source. Jewish souls are hewn from Hashem’s Throne of Glory, unlike those of other nations, which is why our remedies may differ. Everything flows from above into the physical body. May we merit to correct these roots, Amen.