Finding Strength in Health Problems
“But blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree
planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear
when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of
drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah
17:7-8)
What about you? Do you
have confidence and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? I trust the Lord. I trust
that my life’s directions, my actions, and my journey with Christ are all part
of His overall plan for me. I believe God made me who I am: My body, my
intellect, my attitude, my weird sense of humor, my heart for Him, and my love
for people. I believe that God is using me in unique ways to relate to people─to
introduce them to Christ and to remind those who are lukewarm that God is love
and they need to heat up for Him.
I was in great health
until I was pumped full of all sorts of vaccinations from the Army, after which
my health turned downward. (My own conspiracy theory is the vaccinations caused
negative reactions in my body. I’ve met many other soldiers with similar health
problems after they took the same vaccinations.) Considering all my ailments
and other health problems some people mock me for my faith.
They say, “Why would a
loving God allow one of His children (me) to have all these problems?” Why
would I believe in a God that would “punish” me with a lot of health problems
that affect me every day with pain, discomfort, mental problems, and much more?
I just laugh to myself, and say, “God made me to be me to use me for His
purpose.” My ailments make me stronger in faith and allow me to have a unique
perspective so I can relate to others who have similar problems. I can
confidently say to them that, “Yes, there is a loving God and regardless of
health problems, He is still real and working in my and your life.”
I shouldn't complain about
my ailments because as Romans 9:20-21 says:
“But who are you, a human being,
to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why
did you make me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to
make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some
for common use?”
I don’t question God about
my ailments but thank Him that they allow me to be closer to Him and to
interact with others who suffer; to provide encouragement and comfort, and that
even though we have health problems, God is still love, loves us and He wants
us with Him in eternity (heaven).
When I get discouraged
from my ailments I remind myself of what is awaiting me, such as what John
wrote in 14:1-3:
“Let not your heart be
troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many
mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you
to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
God knows me and works in
me because He created me. Through me He uses me to get His word of salvation to
others. I’m always looking up because I know He is preparing a home for me. He
is for you, too, if you believe Christ is your Savior and are born-again (John
3:1-7).
I renew my trust in the
Lord every day. I trust that He brings people into my life that I can influence
and introduce Christ to. I trust that He will be with me in those moments that
I need Him most, when my fibromyalgia flares, when my Crohn’s disease causes me
trouble, when my meds for my bipolar stop working, I trust that the Lord works
through the doctors and my heart to carry me through those points of my life
when I seemingly can’t bear anything alone. He carries me through those tough
times and affirms to me that He is real and that He loves me; and what I can't
handle, I can give to Him to help me.
Don’t get me wrong, I pray
for healing all the time but accept at the same time that God may not have
complete healing as part of His path for me, but that my problems can be used
for His good, for the furtherance of His kingdom. When I do pray I pray not
only for healing but also for relief and for strength to make it through road
bumps that my health throws at me at times. I would like to attest right now
that my Crohn’s has been in remission for months. I prayed for guidance from
Christ to help alleviate the pain and problems associated with Crohn’s disease,
and you know what?
What can you do? Do you
trust and have confidence in how God made you and how He can use you? Maybe you
go to a support group of some sort or sit in a room full of people getting
dialysis or are friends with people who suffer as you do, or similarly. What
about when you interact with your nurse or doctor? What a great opportunity to
talk about how God is working in your life. Talk about the blessings, not the
bad from your ailments. You may spark a conversation that will lead to the
saving grace of someone.
Use your problems to get
closer to Christ. Trust to allow Christ to help you with your problems. They
don’t even have to be health related. They can be financial, relational, work
related, etc. Use the negative to turn to the positive and let Christ lead you
and be in you in these moments. You always have a choice. You can sit and whine
and complain and feel sorry for yourself, or you can trust and have confidence
in that God made you the way you are for His purpose. You must find that
purpose by praying and asking God how you can use the way He made you to
further His kingdom. Remember Matthew 7.7:
“Ask and it will be given
to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Don’t use your problems,
health or otherwise as an excuse not to act for Christ, but use them as an
opportunity for Christ.
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