Will God cure us of herpes?
Question:
Hi,
I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and just one time in my life I felt like killing myself. I knew God existed all the while, but I never obeyed him.
I have this long-distance boyfriend, and I visit him on vacation. The first time we had sex it was great, I fell in love, and we still are. The next I went to visit, we had sex again. I got a surprise from him -- I caught herpes. I cried and I started to dislike my boyfriend because I thought he cheated on me. He told me he didn't know he had it. He said he didn't get any symptoms. I got all the symptoms. I cried. I wanted to die. I couldn't believe this happened to me. I trusted so much and I'm not a person who sleeps around.
I decided no one can help me but God, so I sought Him. I struggled but when I started reading my Bible, going to church, and listening to His words, all those suicidal feelings and hate went away. I felt like a new person. I thank Him every day for pushing me through this. No one could help me but Him.
I told my boyfriend that I want to be a Christian, and he was OK with it. He said he also wants to be a Christain. Sometimes my problem is that I blame him for everything bad that has happened to me. I didn't really forgive him for what happened to me. I kept bringing it up and he told me sorry so many times and begged me to stay with him. I decided I got to forgive him. Because of my boyfriend, I came to know God. We are still together, and he says he wants to marry me. We love each other so much.
What I'm asking is: can God heal both of us of this disease? I tell myself even if He doesn't heal us, I would never abandon Him because He took me out the worse and put me back on track. I can't live without God. So I'm asking God for healing for both of us. I also told my boyfriend we can't have sex before marriage, and he agreed. That was surprising.
Answer:
Can God heal diseases? Of course. But will He change the way His world works for you and your boyfriend? I don't think it is likely. Many times we need reminders that God is correct when He gives us instruction. Sometimes we need reminders that we need God. "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:7-10).
Though you did not know God at the time, you did do things that you knew were wrong. You considered yourself a woman who did not sleep around, yet you did have sex with one man and then suffered consequences because of it. Right now men do not have a cure for herpes. The best we are able to do is put it into remission. Perhaps God will permit a cure to be found one day, but meanwhile, you'll have to learn to live with it. At least if you do decide to marry this man, you don't have to worry about spreading the disease to anyone else.
Yes, it is possible to have herpes and not be aware of it. Some people don't have noticeable symptoms. The fact that he has herpes means he had sex with someone else who had herpes, but it doesn't tell you when he contracted the disease.
Yes, you do need to forgive him. You ended up with herpes because you decided to commit fornication. He was a contributing factor, but it was also your decision, so fairness says you both were equally guilty. Besides your own salvation rests on being able to forgive others. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).
I'm glad to hear that both of you have given up fornication. If you do decide to marry this man, I pray that you two have a joyful life together as you serve the Lord.
