Do you believe John 3:16? Then why isn’t Mark 16:17–18 your daily life?
Hi, I’m Addison. You’re reading (or listening to) Bigger Than Me—a weekly guide devoted to removing the fears, doubts, and misconceptions that keep believers from healing the sick in everyday life.
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(Unsure if modern healing is something the Bible actually teaches? Start here.)
Peter notices it first.
From a distance the fig tree looks full.
Dense leaves. Lush color.
Perfect for a quick snack.
Jesus walks toward it and reaches into the branches.
Nothing.
“May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”
He speaks to the tree.
Peter braces, expecting something dramatic to follow.
Fire.
Thunder.
A split down the trunk.
Nothing comes.
The leaves don’t move.
Peter lingers, still waiting.
Jesus has already turned back toward the road.
The others follow.
Jerusalem waits.
The day fills quickly.
Voices in the temple.
Teaching in the streets.
Long looks from the priests.
The tree is forgotten.
Morning comes.
They pass it on the way back.
Peter slows.
The leaves hang dry. Curled in on themselves. The branches are brittle.
The trunk looks hollowed out.
The whole thing has shriveled to its base.
He stops in the road.
“Rabbi… look.”
His voice carries more than surprise.
“The fig tree you cursed has withered.”
“If Nothing Changed, God Must Have Said No.”
When nothing changes in front of us, we assume nothing happened.
When people speak in Jesus’ name and symptoms remain, we conclude heaven chose not to act.
We don’t say it out loud.
But we interpret delay as refusal.
The moment looks untouched, so we treat it as settled.
And once we decide God has declined, we stop believing.
Spoken Once. Obeyed Immediately. Seen Later.
Jesus did not negotiate with the tree. He addressed it.
“Have faith in God,” He says next.
“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.”
The authority flows from Him. The command moves toward the obstacle.
When we speak in Jesus’ name, we are not persuading God to act. We confront what opposes what He has already declared.
If nothing looks different yet, that is not God withholding.
The roots may already be responding.
Delay is not denial.
A Prayer for Persistence
Original graphic by Bryan Arcebal
Dear Father,
Thank You for making me Your child.
Thank You that when I speak in Your name, Jesus, I am not asking You to reconsider Your will. I am enforcing what You have already done.
Your authority is not dependent on my eyesight.
Silence does not weaken Your Word.
And Your Kingdom does not stall because I don’t see movement.
I reject the lie that delay means denial.
Align my voice with Yours.
Steady my hands.
Keep my feet planted when nothing appears to change.
If something has not yet bowed, teach me to remain firm.
You are faithful.
Your authority stands.
And I stand with You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Until next time,
Addison
How To Command Healing
Here’s a simple guide to start healing in Jesus’ name today:
Ask what’s wrong and have the person gauge pain or severity.
Ask to pray for them.
In the prayer:
Declare that the Kingdom of God is here and sickness can’t stay
Directly command the problem to leave in Jesus‘ name
Directly command the body to heal in Jesus’ name
Have them test it and gauge improvement (if they can)
Listen for direction from God, then pray again if He tells you.
Stand in confidence once God says it’s done.
Witness and invite Holy Spirit to stay (if they’re not a believer already)
Take the experience to prayer to hear from God afterward.
If you want deeper answers including more detailed steps, I’ve put together a full training resource and FAQ here:
Have you tried laying hands on the sick?
Got Questions About Healing? Join Us Wednesday.
If you’re trying to grow in healing but still have questions, the Bigger Than Me community is built for that.
Every Wednesday we host a Healing Q&A at 3:30pm central time inside the Discord.
You can:
Ask any question about healing
Receive prayer if you need healing yourself
Learn how to pray for others confidently
The goal isn’t just information.
It’s helping you step into seeing God heal the sick through your own hands.
Everything I’ve Learned About Healing
If you want deeper answers about healing, authority, and how to pray for the sick, I compile everything I’m learning regularly into one living resource:
In Jesus Name: A Divine Healing Guide
Inside you'll find:
Biblical foundations for healing
Practical steps for praying
Common objections answered
Real-world guidance for growing in faith
