BETWEEN MIRACLE AND MEDICINE: NOT EVERY TRAGEDY IS A DIVINE MYSTERY

By Kayode Ogunjobi

There is a thin but important line between trusting God for a miracle and neglecting the very means through which He may choose to answer our prayers. It is a line that many people have crossed, sometimes with devastating consequences. Some have crossed it out of ignorance. Others have been driven across it by misguided religious convictions, misplaced confidence, or the unfortunate counsel of spiritual leaders who sincerely believe they are helping but fail to appreciate the consequences of their advice.

I unrepentantly believe in miracles. I believe in the supernatural power of God. I believe that God can heal the sick, open barren wombs, restore broken destinies, reverse seemingly impossible situations, and do what human understanding cannot explain. I believe that there are moments when the intervention of God leaves even the most sophisticated scientific minds searching for explanations.

However, I also believe that faith must not become an excuse for recklessness, and the pursuit of a miracle must not become a reason to despise medicine.

We must learn to distinguish between the God who performs miracles and the wisdom He has made available to humanity through knowledge, research, science, and medicine.

To anyone who doubts the reality of miracles, I offer a challenge. Search for recordings of past Holy Ghost Services of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Listen carefully to the testimonies of people who have recounted extraordinary experiences of healing, restoration, and divine intervention.

Approach those testimonies with an open mind. Examine them thoughtfully. If you have dismissed every possibility of a miracle without investigating the evidence presented by those who testify to one, perhaps it is time to reconsider your position.

I am confident that listening to these testimonies may profoundly challenge your assumptions. You may yet sing a new song and become an advocate of miracles.

But let us make one thing clear: believing in miracles does not require us to reject medicine, and believing in medicine does not require us to deny God.

One of the saddest realities in our society is that people have lost their lives because of a misunderstanding of faith. Some have refused medical attention when time was critical. Others have stopped prescribed medication because they believed a prophecy had settled the matter. Some have been persuaded that visiting a hospital demonstrates a lack of confidence in God.

Even more troubling is the fact that some spiritual leaders, through ignorance or an inadequate understanding of medical realities, have misled people into decisions with grave consequences.

The fact that someone occupies a pulpit does not automatically make that person knowledgeable about obstetrics, cardiology, endocrinology, infectious diseases, or emergency medicine.  A person can be spiritually sincere and medically uninformed at the same time.

A prayer leader may have an extraordinary gift for encouraging people in their faith but lack the training required to recognise an obstetric emergency. A preacher may be deeply committed to God but have no knowledge of the complications that can arise when blood sugar becomes dangerously elevated.

Such limitations are not necessarily a reflection of bad intentions. However, when people give medical advice without the necessary competence, or discourage others from obtaining appropriate care, the consequences can be tragic.

Good intentions cannot replace medical competence, and spiritual authority must never become a licence to endanger human life.

James 3:1 warns that those who teach will face a stricter judgement. Spiritual leaders must therefore exercise great care when their counsel may influence decisions involving life and death.

Let us consider some practical examples.

MR AND MRS A: WHEN A PRAYER MOUNTAIN IS NOT A MATERNITY CENTRE

Imagine Mr and Mrs A, a young couple expecting their first child. They have prayed for years for the fruit of the womb, and their joy is beyond description when pregnancy finally occurs.

They believe God has answered their prayers. They testify in church, share their testimony with friends, and begin preparing for the arrival of their baby.

As the pregnancy advances, however, they make a decision that could have serious consequences. Rather than registering for antenatal care at a suitable maternity facility, they decide to spend the remainder of the pregnancy on a prayer mountain.

Their reasoning is simple: God gave them the child, and God will deliver the child.

Indeed, God answers prayers. Many women may have delivered safely in prayer camps, churches, homes, and other settings. We should not dismiss the sincerity of their faith or assume that every birth outside a hospital must end badly.

But the fact that some women have delivered safely in such circumstances does not establish that every pregnancy is safe without medical supervision.

A testimony of safe delivery is not a substitute for antenatal assessment.

Imagine Mrs A developing complications while labour begins. Her blood pressure rises dangerously, and she develops a severe headache and visual disturbances. Without prompt assessment and appropriate treatment, she could suffer seizures, a stroke, organ damage, or death. Her baby could also be placed at serious risk.

Alternatively, imagine prolonged labour caused by obstructed labour. The baby’s oxygen supply may become compromised, and the mother may suffer serious complications. An emergency caesarean section could become necessary.

In such circumstances, time is of the essence.

The issue is not whether God can protect Mrs A. The issue is whether Mr and Mrs A should knowingly ignore available measures that could identify danger and save both mother and child.

Why should a couple risk losing a child they prayed for when antenatal care could identify complications early and help them prepare for a safe delivery?

Why should a woman be encouraged to remain in a place where the necessary emergency services are unavailable when her condition requires urgent medical intervention?

Why should a preventable tragedy be allowed to unfold in the name of faith?

A prayer mountain may provide a place for spiritual devotion, but it cannot replace the clinical assessment, emergency equipment, trained personnel, and surgical capacity required to manage obstetric complications.

The wiser approach is to pray throughout pregnancy, attend antenatal appointments, follow qualified medical advice, and arrange delivery in a facility equipped to respond to emergencies.

If Mrs A requires a caesarean section, it does not mean that God has failed her. If she needs medication to control her blood pressure, it does not mean that her faith is defective.

It may simply mean that the medical intervention available to her is part of the means through which her life and that of her baby can be protected.

How many families have suffered the unbearable pain of losing a mother, a newborn, or both because medical attention was delayed? Not every maternal or neonatal death is preventable, even with excellent care. Yet timely access to skilled maternity services can prevent or reduce many serious complications.

A family should never have to learn this lesson through a coffin that could perhaps have been avoided.

MR B: THE NAIL, THE ANOINTING OIL, AND A PREVENTABLE CRISIS

Mr B is walking around his compound when he accidentally steps on a rusty nail. The nail penetrates his foot, leaving a painful wound. Rather than seeking medical attention, he reaches for his anointing oil.

He applies the oil to the wound and prays fervently. The following day, the pain persists, but he continues to anoint the affected area. He declares healing, quotes Scriptures, and insists that he will not allow fear to undermine his faith.

His confidence may be sincere. His prayers may be heartfelt. But is he making a wise decision?

A puncture wound can introduce bacteria deep into the tissues. Tetanus is a serious disease which has killed so many people

The appropriate response is to obtain prompt medical assessment, ensure proper wound cleaning, and have a qualified clinician assess whether tetanus vaccination or tetanus immune globulin is indicated. Antibiotics may be needed for certain wound infections, although they do not replace tetanus immunisation or immune globulin when these are indicated.

Anointing oil is not a substitute for wound care or tetanus prevention.

Let me ask a simple question. Would it not have been better for Mr B to visit a hospital, receive the necessary treatment, and support his recovery with prayer and anointing oil?

Why should he choose between prayer and medical care when he can embrace both?

There is another important consideration. Mr B may not even know the degree of purity of the oil he is applying. Has it been prepared and stored hygienically? Is it suitable for application to an open wound? Has it been tested for sterility? These are practical questions that spiritual enthusiasm cannot answer.

Anointing oil is a profound spiritual significance for a believer. However, it should not automatically be assumed to be sterile or medically suitable for treating an injury.

Now imagine that Mr B develops a serious infection or tetanus after delaying appropriate care.

People might gather around the family and say, “Amuwa Olorun!” meaning that God caused it or that it was an act of God. But should we be so quick to attribute the outcome to God?

What if the tragedy resulted from ignorance, delayed treatment, or the mistaken belief that seeking medical care would contradict faith?

Not every tragedy is a divine mystery. Sometimes, what we call a spiritual battle is a medical emergency that we failed to recognise in time.

We must be careful not to blame God for the consequences of decisions that could have been made more wisely.

God gave us the capacity to pray. He also gave us the capacity to think, learn, investigate, and act responsibly. We dishonour neither prayer nor God when we use these capacities to protect our lives.

WHEN COUPLES WAIT FOR SARAH’S MIRACLE WITHOUT SEEKING MEDICAL ANSWERS

Consider another deeply emotional situation.

Mr and Mrs C have been married for several years and are desperately hoping for a child. Every month, they wait with anticipation. Every month, disappointment follows.

One year becomes five. Five years become ten. Ten years become two decades.

They attend prayer meetings, sow seeds, receive prophecies, and encourage one another with the story of Sarah.

Their declaration is familiar: if God could answer Sarah when she was old and had seemingly written herself off, surely He can answer them too. They are right about one thing. God answered Sarah.

According to Genesis 17:17, Abraham wondered whether a child could be born to a man who was one hundred years old and to Sarah, who was ninety. Genesis 21:1 to 2 records the fulfilment of God’s promise through the birth of Isaac.

Sarah was ninety years old when Isaac was born.

What a remarkable testimony of divine faithfulness!

But I must ask a difficult question.

If God could answer Sarah at ninety, does that mean every couple experiencing infertility should wait for decades without investigating possible medical causes?

Certainly not.

Would it not be wiser to pray while also seeking a medical evaluation?

A fertility assessment does not cancel a prophecy. It does not insult God. It does not declare that conception is impossible.

Instead, it may reveal the nature of the challenge, identify treatment options, and help the couple make informed decisions.

I am particularly concerned about couples who are repeatedly told that seeking fertility treatment demonstrates impatience or insufficient faith. Such advice can prolong suffering, increase emotional distress, and sometimes reduce the options available to them.

The pain of infertility is already profound. Couples should not have to carry the additional burden of believing that every unsuccessful month is evidence of spiritual failure.

Let us remember that medical investigation is not the opposite of faith. It can be a way of discovering where help is needed.

GOD ALSO GAVE HUMANITY THE WISDOM TO ADVANCE MEDICINE

I find it difficult to understand why some believers celebrate the wisdom of God in every area of human advancement but suddenly become suspicious when that wisdom is applied to medicine. They ride in vehicles but do not appreciate medicine.

Who gave humanity the ability to observe the human body, investigate disease, develop diagnostic tools, discover medicines, perform surgery, and improve maternal care?

Who gave human beings the intellectual capacity to investigate the causes of infections, develop vaccines, understand blood circulation, and develop treatments that have helped millions survive conditions that were once frequently fatal?

I believe that God is the ultimate source of life and that human intelligence, creativity, and discovery are among the gifts through which humanity can serve others.

This does not mean every scientific claim is correct or that every medical treatment is safe. Medical science must be tested, refined, and practised responsibly. Medicines can have side effects. Procedures can carry risks. Doctors can make mistakes. Medical advice should be individualised and based on the best available evidence.

Nevertheless, the limitations of medicine do not justify the wholesale rejection of it.

If we believe that wisdom comes from God, why should we automatically reject the fruits of disciplined investigation, scientific discovery, and responsible medical practice?

A surgeon’s ability to remove a tumour does not make the surgeon a rival to God. A laboratory test that identifies an infection does not diminish divine power. A vaccine that prevents a dangerous disease does not render prayer useless.

Rather, these can be instruments through which human beings protect the lives they have been given.

MR G: THE PROPHECY, THE POUNDED YAM, AND THE MEDICATION HE ABANDONED

Now let us consider Mr G.

Mr G has a history of high blood pressure and diabetes. He has been receiving medical care, and his clinician has prescribed medication alongside dietary and lifestyle recommendations.

One day, he receives a powerful prophecy that he will live long and fulfil his destiny. The prophecy fills him with joy. He believes God has assured him of a long and prosperous life.

Unfortunately, his interpretation of the prophecy leads him to make a dangerous decision. He stops taking his medication without consulting his clinician.

Mr G also loves pounded yam and eba. Despite being advised to manage his portions and pay attention to his blood glucose levels, he continues to eat large quantities without considering how the meals fit into his overall dietary plan.

He reasons that if God has promised him long life, he should not be afraid of disease.

His faith may be genuine. His love for food may be understandable. But his decisions could expose him to serious harm.

Let us examine the possible consequences.

First, uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease. Mr G may feel perfectly normal while his blood pressure remains dangerously high.

Would the prophecy have been less powerful if Mr G had continued taking his prescribed medication?

Would his faith have been weaker if he had attended his appointments, monitored his blood pressure, checked his blood glucose, and followed an appropriate dietary plan?

Absolutely not.

A prophecy of long life should encourage responsible living, not reckless disregard for the body.

The fact that Mr G has a medical condition does not mean that God cannot heal him. Equally, believing that God can heal him does not establish that his condition has disappeared.

We must stop confusing confidence in God with confidence that nothing can go wrong.

The Bible teaches us to trust God. It does not teach us to become careless with our lives.

RCCG AND THE POWERFUL MESSAGE OF ADVANCED MEDICINE

One development that deserves particular attention is the investment by the Redeemed Christian Church of God in advanced healthcare through Redeemer’s Health Village in Ogun State.

In August 2026, the facility launched a robotic surgery programme in partnership with RoboMed Global Inc. In September, the hospital announced its first robotic assisted prostate cancer surgery. The wider collaboration also achieved a landmark tele robotic operation in which a surgeon operated from Mowe, Ogun State, on a patient located in Abuja. The procedure involved the removal of a cancerous kidney tumour

These developments are remarkable demonstrations of how faith based institutions can invest in scientific innovation, advanced medical technology, and the preservation of human life.

This is an important lesson for the Christian community.

If the RCCG considers advanced medical equipment worthy of investment, if it establishes facilities to provide specialist treatment, and if its medical teams embrace technological innovation to improve patient care, then surely believers should reflect on the relationship between faith and medicine.

The Church’s investment is not evidence that prayer has failed. It is evidence that prayer, knowledge, resources, and responsible action can work together in the service of humanity.

There is no contradiction here.

The same Christian community that gathers to pray for the sick can build hospitals, equip laboratories, train medical personnel, support research, and make advanced treatment available to patients.

This is not a retreat from faith. It is faith expressed through practical service.

We cannot celebrate medical advancement in our churches and discourage medical care in our homes.

Faith is precious. Wisdom is equally indispensable.

I believe in miracles. I will continue to believe in miracles. I believe that God can do what human beings cannot do.

But I refuse to believe that faith requires me to reject every instrument of help available to me.

Pray for healing, but do not reject treatment. Trust God for a miracle, but do not neglect the means of care available to you. Believe in divine intervention, but never allow ignorance to masquerade as faith.

We should pray as people who know that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, as Ephesians 3:20 declares. We should also act as people who understand that wisdom is the principal thing.

Miracles are real. Medicine is real. Human life is precious. And wisdom demands that we do not sacrifice one in the name of the other.

May God give us the faith to trust Him, the humility to learn, the wisdom to act, and the compassion to protect the lives He has entrusted to us.

Kayode Ogunjobi is a Researcher, Publisher, Preacher, Public Affairs Analyst, Author, Lover of God, Humanity & Nature.