I remember the first time I saw that divine healing was a thing. I was a teenager in church. A mother of the church had been living with breast cancer and her prognosis was grave. In fact, her family had begun planning for the worst. For the end.
The other church mothers had devised a plan to intervene in this woman’s medical situation and pray for her. During the middle of worship service, the mothers circled around her frail body, anointed her with oil, placed their hands on her, and began praying to God a prayer with so much force and gravity. I firmly believe the actual foundation of the church shook.
Several weeks after that sublime prayer, I learned that this church mother’s cancer was in remission.
The mother of my church had, in fact, experienced a healing miracle through thoughts and prayers. However, as I got older I learned that her miracle had occurred, not only by prayers and thoughts, but also through the divine ordering and provision of quality healthcare. In other words, through quality healthcare, God created the conditions through which the miracle for the mother of my church could occur.
In the synoptic gospels, there are 23 accounts of Jesus healing individuals on Earth. In the gospel of Luke chapter 8, there was a woman who had been suffering with a blood-related illness for over a decade. She had spent a great deal of her time and money going to doctors, mystics and other medical professionals for healing, with no results.
Jesus healed this woman without asking for high insurance premiums, or deductibles, without surgery costs, or fees. He simply healed her. Jesus wanted her to understand that the pursuit of being healthy was a part of God’s design.
This is why the provision of affordable health care is a strong religious value for me. Millions of people in America still do not have any health care because it is too expensive for them.
After careful prayer and review of this issue, I am encouraged that Vice President Kamala Harris advocates not only for the retention of the Affordable Care Act, but it appears she would like to expand it. Many families in my community depend on it. It certainly is a relief for my family that my two sons can remain on our family’s health insurance plan until they are 26.
I also shudder to think about how many people with pre-existing medical conditions would be denied coverage without the Affordable Care Act.
Vice President Harris’ opponent has said out of his own mouth that he will eliminate the Affordable Care Act, if he is placed in a position to do so.
In fact, when asked in the last presidential debate with Vice President Harris what his health care plan would be to replace the Affordable Care Act, he said he had “concepts of a plan.”
That’s no plan at all. What’s more, my family, my church families, and my community need more than concepts of a plan. We need affordable health insurance.
Further, I understand that Vice President Harris plans to extend the enhanced tax credits in place that have substantially reduced health care premiums. Just recently, the current administration announced lower prices for 10 popular, costly drugs for Medicare recipients.
I am praying for leadership in this country that makes affordable healthcare a priority.
