Isaiah 53:5, which is then  quoted in 1 Peter  2:24, is a key verse on healing, but it is often misunderstood and  misapplied. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our  iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” The word translated “healed” can mean either  spiritual or physical healing. However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2  make it clear that it is speaking of spiritual healing. “He himself bore our  sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for  righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter  2:24). The verse is talking about sin and righteousness, not sickness and  disease. Therefore, being “healed” in both these verses is speaking of being  forgiven and saved, not physically healed.

The Bible does not  specifically link physical healing with spiritual healing. Sometimes people are  physically healed when they place their faith in Christ, but this is not always  the case. Sometimes it is God’s will to heal, but sometimes it is not. The  apostle John gives us the proper perspective: “This is the confidence we have in  approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And  if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked  of Him” (1 John  5:14-15). God still performs miracles. God still heals people. Sickness,  disease, pain, and death are still realities in this world. Unless the Lord  returns, everyone who is alive today will die, and the vast majority of them  (Christians included) will die as the result of a physical problem (disease,  sickness, injury). It is not always God’s will to heal us physically.

Ultimately, our full physical healing awaits us in heaven. In heaven, there  will be no more pain, sickness, disease, suffering, or death (Revelation 21). We  all need to be less preoccupied with our physical condition in this world and a  lot more concerned with our spiritual condition (Romans  12:1-2). Then we can focus our hearts on heaven where we will no longer have  to deal with physical problems. Revelation  21:4 describes the true healing we should all be longing for: “He will wipe  every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or  pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”