Health is something we often take for granted until it is withdrawn. When we are healthy and strong we feel self-reliant. When we are sick we become weak and helpless. Physical illness brings our limitations and dependence into focus. This can be a good thing because we are reminded that our sufficiency rests in God. When we are sick, it is God who sustains us (Psalm 41:3; Isa. 38:16). We feel the need of him more than ever before. Even so, the truth is that even when we are healthy and strong it is still God who sustains us (Psalm 3:5; Heb. 1:3).Though many seek wellness from the hand of doctors, it ultimately comes from God (2 Chron. 16:12;). Doctors are not always able to heal (Mark 5:25-26), but when God heals it is done (Jer. 17:14).
Our spiritual heath is much the same as our physical health. Others can give us help along the way, but it is ultimately only God who can give us spiritual soundness. If we truly turn to God from sin we can be restored (2 Chron. 7:14), but if we refuse to hear God's call to repentance and health we suffer spiritual sickness (Isa. 6:10) and ultimate death (Jas. 1:15). Death is the end all of diseases. Physically, we seek to treat the body to keep alive and well in a physical sense. The problem is, apart from Christ there is no cure for death. Though we treat the body, death is inevitable in a physical sense (Heb. 9:27), but spiritual death is not unavoidable. Life in Christ as the answer to both physical and spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus is the great physician. Only he can answer death with life (Jn. 11:25). He is the ultimate healer (Isa. 53:5).
Showing posts with label Sickness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sickness. Show all posts
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Birthday Girl
My daughter is nine years old today. She was so excited she could hardly contain herself during church. The giggles were bouncing off the walls as she and her friends gathered around the table for Ice Cream and Cake and the birthday girl opened her gifts. As I watched the lively bunch together, I could not help but remember the day she was born and how we nearly lost her.
Born four and three quarters pounds, diagnosed with a serious bowel infection, the doctor gave a grim prognosis and offered little hope (Jer. 8:22). We were told that the next twelve hours were critical. If she could hold on until then she would have a slim chance of recovery. My wife and I turned to God in prayer, our dependable source of hope in times past. We called all the prayer chains we knew to call and bent our knees (Psa. 34:6, 86:7) to the one who gave us this little girl and asked him to preserve her life. The atmosphere at the neonatal unit was drastically different when we returned. The grim face of the doctor was changed to perplexity. He was not a man of faith, but he had never seen such a condition turn around so quickly. He had expected our little girl to be barely hanging on at best, but now she was not only hanging on, she was thriving (Psa. 103:4). He could not explain the difference. His medical books and scientific mind predicted sickness and possible death. When told of our prayers he offered no objection. He had no alternative answer for such a quick recovery.
Nine years later I am still rejoicing over how God answered our prayers. We have had nine years of Joy and she is a testimony to God's grace. He has brought hope from despair, health out of sickness, turned sorrow to joy, and snatched life from the grip of death. Sarah is a living testimony to the power of prayer. We are truly grateful to God for our little girl (Psa. 107:8; Phil. 2:27).
Born four and three quarters pounds, diagnosed with a serious bowel infection, the doctor gave a grim prognosis and offered little hope (Jer. 8:22). We were told that the next twelve hours were critical. If she could hold on until then she would have a slim chance of recovery. My wife and I turned to God in prayer, our dependable source of hope in times past. We called all the prayer chains we knew to call and bent our knees (Psa. 34:6, 86:7) to the one who gave us this little girl and asked him to preserve her life. The atmosphere at the neonatal unit was drastically different when we returned. The grim face of the doctor was changed to perplexity. He was not a man of faith, but he had never seen such a condition turn around so quickly. He had expected our little girl to be barely hanging on at best, but now she was not only hanging on, she was thriving (Psa. 103:4). He could not explain the difference. His medical books and scientific mind predicted sickness and possible death. When told of our prayers he offered no objection. He had no alternative answer for such a quick recovery.
Nine years later I am still rejoicing over how God answered our prayers. We have had nine years of Joy and she is a testimony to God's grace. He has brought hope from despair, health out of sickness, turned sorrow to joy, and snatched life from the grip of death. Sarah is a living testimony to the power of prayer. We are truly grateful to God for our little girl (Psa. 107:8; Phil. 2:27).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)