Faith and Healing - 2 Kings 13

Elisha is sick - verse 14: "Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died."

...and dies - verse 20: "Elisha died and was buried"

...yet even his bones contain resurrecting power - verse 21: "When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet"

To explain this power - 2 Kings 1:9: "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?' 'Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,' Elisha replied. 'You have asked a difficult thing,' Elijah said, 'yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.' As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this..."

Only three men in the Bible just get taken to heaven. Most Christians consider that's a sign of approval from God. Elijah gets this sign of approval, Elisha gets "a double portion of your spirit." Elisha should have approval from God.

James 5:14: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up"

So Elijah knows how to offer a prayer in faith and double-portion Elisha doesn't? If only Elisha had been a part of a church with elders to pray for him! Abraham died of a sickness too.

What's your answer?

I think it has to do with the context of James 5. He spends five verses telling the church to be patient during suffering. "Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God" James points to Job and begs the church to trust that God cares and does see their struggles, but that He is able to refine them during trials.

Since I am un-trusting of human beings' nature, I think if I were writing that passage, I would follow it up with a warning to not swing too far in that direction. I'd say something like, "But don't stop asking God for good things just because you think you're trusting Him! Ask Him! Ask your friends to ask Him! If you're in pain, express it to Him; even beg Him to remove it. Only be careful not to get impatient with Him if He doesn't. Though I don't know how or why it works, prayer is powerful! He is your Father and enjoys seeing you enjoy even if immediate enjoyment isn't the greatest goal of a good father."

However, this still lacks in fully explaining the part about "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up." I don't know.