My 365 Day Struggle to Know Christ; Day 17, belated

Day 17, belated, August 26, 2011

Hey everyone.  Sorry for the absent blog yesterday.  Yesterday was a rough day.  I woke up feeling flu-ish.  I almost past out upon getting out of bed and going to the bathroom yesterday morning.  Though I did not lose consciousness, I did lose my strength to stand and ended up on the floor with my dog curled loving next me.  I knew that things were not okay when as I went to the floor my dog was instantly at my side caringly making sure I was okay.   I tried to see if I could jumpstart my body into feeling better by taking a long hot shower to no avail.  I ultimately spent four hours at 2 different doctors, one was the urgent care to diagnose what I had and the other was an orthopedic walk-in clinic because of pain I had been experiencing in my back due to a hard week at work.  I then spent the rest of my day curled up on the couch healing.  Needless to say that yesterday was not my best day. 

Have you ever noticed that when you are sick other aches and pains that were small before now feel enormous?  My back had been bothering me due to a particularly strenuous couple weeks at my job and when I woke up yesterday that pain had magnified greatly.  So after going to the urgent care, I decided to check and make sure I had not hurt a disk or something like that in my back.  The doctor assured me that my back was fine and that I was probably just experiencing muscle pain and tightness.  She prescribed this wonderful anti inflammatory for the pain and the pain in my back felt much more manageable after taking it. Before I was able to feel some pain relief though, I had to go to the pharmacy to get the drug.  I found that by the time I got to the pharmacy I was in so much pain that I was swaying back and forth while waiting to put in the order for my prescription.  The interesting thing about my back pain was that as long as I moved it was tolerable.  The moment I stopped, sat down, or laid down it became unbearable. 

Have you ever had pain in your life that was unbearable in the stillness and silence?  Sometimes we keep ourselves busy with jobs, task, errands, social activities, tv, movies, video games, music, and outings to keep from having to deal with the pain we feel in our souls.  We don’t want to take the time to sit down and truly have to come face to face with what is causing our pain.  Maybe our pain is due to a broken relationship, an addiction, being buried in debt, a loss, a medical condition, or maybe just distance from Jesus.  In John chapter 16, verse 33 Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Jesus says these words after explaining to the disciples that he would be leaving them soon.  To fully understand verse 33, it helps to hear verses 20-24, where Jesus explains what it will be like once he leaves. Jesus says,

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.  When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.  In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

We all know that in this world sorrow, pain, death, sickness, and brokenness happen due to the curse on this world and the sin in our hearts.  Isn’t wonderful though to know that we who are in Jesus have put our trust in the one who has conquered the sin and pain of this world.  On top of that we have the ability to have a relationship with Jesus where we can pour out our hearts to Him and He will answer our heart’s cry that our joy may be full! 

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says that Jesus’ power is made perfect through our weakness.  So through our sorrow, sickness, brokenness, and pain Jesus’ power is perfected because his power can be seen through us as he takes our weakness and overcomes it for His kingdom.  We have a wonderful and mighty God folks.  He has overcome this world and he desires to make our joy full in Him.  If you are constantly on the move trying to stay one step in front of your pain, struggles, and/or weaknesses today, I humbly implore you to stop, fall to your knees, and lay them all at the feet of Jesus today.  Most of you know Matthew 11:28-30 very well and it says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  We have a wonderful, gentle, caring savior who is there for us even on our lowest of days.  Would you come to Him today?  Take it from me, He is completely trustworthy and fulfills all his promises.  So experience healing today.

Blessings,

Greg