I have ministered to people who needed healing for an ailment and because they saw a relative or a friend with the same ailment lose their battle with it, they resigned themselves to the same fate.
Sometimes when Christians are seeking God to have their needs met, they tend to look at the experiences of others to project the outcome, rather than looking at the plumb line of the Word of God to illuminate the truth. They are actually walking by sight instead of walking by faith.

I have ministered to people who needed healing for an ailment and because they saw a relative or a friend with the same ailment lose their battle with it, they resigned themselves to the same fate. That mindset was locked into place and no matter what I said to them or how often I showed them in scripture that it didn't have to be that way, they still allowed that lie to overshadow the truth.

Satan loves it when we take our eyes off of the plumb line of God because he knows that the truth of the WORD is the truth that will set us free. He will divert our attention to everything else but the truth. When he comes at us with his lies, we need to be mindful of the scripture that says, “Submit yourselves to God, RESIST the devil, and he will flee.” – James 4:7

When we look at other people and their personal experiences, we think we know them and know what kind of faith they have. But in reality, we really don’t. We don’t know what they were confessing to God in the midnight hour in the middle of their bathroom. Many people stay in faith in front of others, and behind closed doors they might be confessing something completely different. 

For many years back in the 90’s, I battled a terrible illness called Epstein-Barr Virus. If you have ever had the flu, then you know what I was feeling. But imagine having it day after day, and year after year, with no end in sight. I was bedridden on and off over those years with a myriad of symptoms and other diseases that accompanied the EBV. 

My midnight hours were spent listening to healing scripture tapes, reading the Word and confessing His truths over my spirit, soul, and body. It took some time, but I eventually started feeling better and was able to function normally again. The Lord was faithful and blessed me because of my faithfulness in keeping His Word in front of my eyes and coming forth from my mouth.  He taught me a very important truth which is found in Proverbs:

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
(Prov. 4:20-2)

I had to guard my heart from hearing the negative reports from the doctors, from people who criticized me because I was ill for so long, and from the devil who was constantly trying to tell me that my time was up. I had to turn away from commiserating with other sick people because my focus needed to be solely on the plumb line.

So keep your faith in the plumb line of the Word of God and not on the experiences of others or on your circumstances. Circumstances do not dictate truth… but God’s Truth will always dictate the circumstances.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7)