I worked in the laboratory for years. Every day, I handled samples that represented someone’s fears, questions, and hopes. A tube of blood may look simple, but to the person waiting, it can mean everything. I’ve seen the joy of promising results, as well as the heaviness when they aren’t what we prayed for.
Yet even surrounded by medical knowledge, machines, and scientific methods, my faith has never been in the tools themselves. My faith is in the Lord, the One who gives wisdom, sustains life, and holds every heartbeat.
So when people ask me, “Can science and faith really coexist?” I don’t answer from theory but from experience. I have held Scripture in one hand and a pipette in the other. I believe God can heal miraculously. I have also seen Him heal through medicine, skilled physicians, and research discoveries.
The question isn’t whether science and faith can coexist.
The real question is:
How do we hold both in a way that honors God?
What Science and Faith Are For
Sometimes science and faith feel like they are at odds because we ask them to answer the same questions. But they were never designed to do the same thing.
Science asks:
• How does the world work?
• How does the body heal?
• What causes disease?
• What laws govern the universe?
Science studies the physical, the measurable, and the observable.
Faith asks:
• Who created us?
• Why are we here?
• What gives life meaning?
• What happens after death?
• How should we live before God?
Faith speaks to what is spiritual, moral, and eternal.
We need both.
Science explains how creation functions.
Faith explains why creation exists in the first place.
Hebrews 3:4 says:
“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.”
Science studies the house; faith introduces us to the Builder.
They are not enemies.
They are companions.
Why Some People Believe Science and Faith Must Conflict
Even though science and faith ask different questions, many assume we must choose between them. Here are a few reasons why:
1️⃣ Cultural Messaging
Society often tells us:
Be scientific or be religious.
But this is a false choice.
Many scientists in history were believers:
Isaac Newton, Louis Pasteur, Gregor Mendel, and countless others today.
2️⃣ Misunderstanding the Bible
Some people treat Scripture as if it were meant to explain every biological and chemical process. But the Bible was not written to be a lab manual. It was written to reveal God, to show His character, His salvation, and His purpose for us.
3️⃣ Misunderstanding Science
Science is not inherently anti-God; it simply studies what God created. It observes the order, patterns, and laws God designed. In fact, science is possible because creation is ordered, which itself points to a Designer.
4️⃣ Fear
Some Christians fear scientific discovery will weaken faith, while some scientists fear that belief in God will weaken credibility.
But truth does not fear examination.
All truth is God’s truth because He is the Creator of all that is true.
A Christian View: Science as Part of God’s Common Grace
The Bible teaches that God cares for humanity in many ways: some supernatural and some very practical.
He gives:
• Wisdom
• Skill
• Learning
• Understanding
• Creativity
• Curiosity
These are not accidents. They are gifts, given out of His grace.
Psalm 147:5 says:
“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.”
That means every discovery we make is knowledge God already knows. Science doesn’t replace God; it simply traces His handiwork.
In the lab, this becomes very real. A correct diagnosis leads to the right treatment, and treatment leads to recovery. Relief returns. Joy is restored.
Families keep praying, yes, but they also see God working through those practical steps.
God often works through process.
God works through means.
God works through people.
Science is not separate from God’s care, but one of the ways He cares.
When Faith and Science Seem to Clash
Some topics, like creation, evolution, or the age of the earth, raise difficult questions. Faithful believers sometimes reach different conclusions. And that can feel unsettling.
But God never asked us to understand everything immediately.
Deuteronomy 29:29 says:
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us…”
Some things God lets us learn through study.
Other things He keeps hidden until eternity.
Both require humility.
Faith does not cancel learning.
Learning does not cancel faith.
Mystery is not the enemy of belief.
Mystery invites trust.
When Christians Choose Prayer Instead of Medical Help
I know believers who choose to pray for healing without seeking medical treatment. Their faith is sincere and beautiful. And we must never criticize a heart that is truly relying on God.
But in my work as a laboratory scientist, I have also seen how God uses medicine to save lives. I have watched treatments bring healing and surgeries restore function. I have seen medication sustain those who would not survive without it.
We see this balance in Scripture, too:
• Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14).
• Paul encouraged Timothy to take a remedy for his health (1 Timothy 5:23).
• Jesus healed a blind man using mud, a physical means (John 9:6–7), when He could have healed him instantly with a single command.
This reminds us that God is not limited to one method. He is the God of miracles, and He is also the God of means.
Faith is not ignoring the help God provides.
Faith is trusting God while wisely using what He gives.
How Science Can Strengthen Faith
For many Christians, myself included, studying science doesn’t weaken faith; it deepens it. The more we see how intricately the body functions, how the universe holds together, or how ecosystems sustain life, the harder it becomes to believe any of it happened by chance.
Scripture reflects this truth:
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” — Psalm 139:14
“The heavens declare the glory of God…” — Psalm 19:1
Creation does not whisper God’s glory; it shouts it.
Science shows us the details of God’s handiwork. Faith shows us the meaning behind it. Together, they lead us to worship.
Faith answers why we exist: our purpose, our identity, and our eternal hope.
Science helps us understand how life functions on this side of eternity.
And when we allow them to work together, they do not compete; they harmonize.
They are like two lenses that help us see more clearly.
When science uncovers the details of God’s world, it doesn’t diminish His greatness; it magnifies it.
So, Can Science and Faith Really Coexist?
Yes. Absolutely.
They are not two voices fighting for dominance but two ways of seeing the same reality.
Science leads us to wonder.
Faith leads us to worship.
Science looks at the creation.
Faith looks to the Creator.
They can live together, beautifully, meaningfully, and faithfully.
Conclusion: Living in the Harmony of Both
In my years in the laboratory, I have seen both the power of medical knowledge and the power of prayer. I have seen healing that came through treatment and also healing that had no explanation other than the mercy of God.
I have friends whose faith leads them to rely solely on prayer for healing, and I admire their trust. And I also believe that God can answer prayers through doctors, nurses, researchers, and the very medical treatments that science has helped us discover.
This is not a contradiction. This is who God is.
He is the God who parts seas and the God who teaches us how to build boats.
We don’t need to choose one or the other.
We can:
• Trust God fully
• Use wisdom wisely
• Study creation with humility
• Worship the Creator with awe
Because the God who made the universe is the same God who holds your life in His hands today.
Key Takeaway
Science and faith are not enemies. They serve different purposes, but they both point us to the same truth:
God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Science helps us understand how the world works.
Faith reminds us why it exists and who holds it together.
We don’t need to choose one over the other.
We can honor God with our trust and with our wisdom.
We can pray in faith and receive the care He provides through doctors, discovery, and understanding.
He is the God of miracles.
And He is the God of means.
Call to Action
If this message encouraged you, take a moment to reflect and pray:
“Lord, help me trust You in all things.
Give me wisdom to use the gifts You have provided—
both spiritual and practical.
Teach me to walk in faith and wisdom,
knowing You hold all things together.”
If you know someone struggling to balance faith with medical decisions, share this with them. Sometimes the encouragement someone needs is simply to know they don’t have to choose.
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Recommended Resources
1️⃣ The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins
Written by Francis Collins, a world-renowned geneticist and former head of the Human Genome Project, this book is a powerful testimony of how science and belief in God are not opposites.
Collins shares his journey from atheism to faith, showing how scientific discovery actually deepened his awe for God rather than replacing Him. What I appreciate about this book is that it doesn’t try to force a debate. Instead, it invites us to see how reason and faith can beautifully coexist.
If you’ve ever wondered whether modern science can support belief in a Creator, this is a thoughtful and encouraging place to begin.
2️⃣ Science and God: Do You Have to Choose? by John Lennox and Katy Morgan
John Lennox, a brilliant mathematician and Christian apologist, addresses one of the most common modern questions: Does believing in God mean rejecting science?
In this book, he explains, with clarity and kindness, why the answer is no. Lennox doesn’t speak down to readers; he simply shows how scientific inquiry and faith in God can work together without contradiction.
This resource is especially helpful for those who feel caught between two worlds: the world of measurable facts and the world of spiritual truth. It’s a reassuring guide for Christians who want to think deeply and believe faithfully.