A Battle Forseen

I've definitely had better days,  I'm not a pretty sight but it is what it is. ;)

There are times when you don't want to compete a task and then there are times that you can't.  Today was one of those times where I couldn't do anything today.  Literally.  I woke up in the middle of the night with difficulty breathing and finally got that under control after an hour or so.  Then I woke up with stomach flu/food poisoning like symptoms.  Let's just say that my day did not turn out at all like I had hoped it would.  As you read yesterday, I have an immense of amount of work that needs to be done both at home and work.

Well today, I was at the mercy of the sickness, which was waging a war with my body.  Though I believe my body will ultimately win, today was not that day.  It took me two hours before I had enough strength and stability to make it to the doctor.  Once I made it to the doctor, I had to wait three hours to be told I have a fever but not the flu or strep.  The gave me an antibiotic prescription and told me to go home, rest, and drink lots of liquids.  By the time I got home, I was hitting rock bottom physically.  I had not eaten or drank anything all day on top of the stomach flu like symptoms that ravaged my body in the morning.

After some much needed medicine and a small amount of food, I proceeded to spend the rest of my afternoon on the couch, praying for healing and a chance to work tomorrow.  Here I am still on the very same couch writing this blog now.  My body still aches, my stomach is only marginally cooperating, and I am trying to gauge whether I have the strength to attend one last Master Gardener class before our final test next week.

Sometimes when we do not allow ourselves to rest and de-stress, God allows our body to demand rest for us.  I in no way enjoy sickness but maybe this is exactly what I need at this time.  Is it weird to think that maybe my sickness was necessary today for some reason.  Maybe I am exactly where I need to be, doing exactly what I am, which is practically nothing except writing this blog.

I believe that God is sovereign in all areas of our life.  By making that statement, I have to include sickness also.  I in no way believe that this means you should never go to the doctor or take medicine.  I just believe that there is a purpose to my sickness.  John 9:1-7 brings this idea to light saying,

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. ² And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”³ Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud ⁷ and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.  

This man's ailment existed that God might be displayed in him.  I don't know about you but I find this reality sobering.

We live in a world where sickness, handicaps, and malformations are see as sin, screw ups, and  genetic imperfections.  A few weeks ago Brandt Hansen from the staff of Air1 had the opportunity to go to Afghanistan and be apart of the ministry called Cure International.  He got to witness them healing a 15 year old girl named Nazar, who suffered from a cleft palate.  Through this ministry, this young woman will be able to go from an outcast to an accepted person in society.  Even more than that though, she, her family, and her village will be ministered to through the compassionate work of this Christian organization.

Next time you find yourself laid out on the couch suffering from a sickness or pass a person with some sort of disease, malformation, or condition, take the time to consider how God is using it or them to bring glory to Himself.  Maybe His glory will be shown through your love to them.  Maybe His glory will be shown through you seeking Him in your suffering.  Each day is a gift from God, whether through sickness or health.  How will you shine for Jesus today?

Blessings,

Greg

My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry.  We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field.  I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link.  I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser.  Thank you.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist