Here I am sitting at home with a sore throat feeling dizzy and a bit loopy from taking Nyquil last nigt, contemplating once again why we get sick. Sure I know that sickness and death is a consequence of sin in the world... but I often wonder why God allows his children to get sick.
Now I know that the scriptures tell us that the rain falls on the just and on the unjust so sometimes bad things just happen to us for no real reason at all... we contact germs, we get in a car wreck, we get hurt at work and on and on.
Sometimes though I wonder if God allows us to get sick to slow us down and get our attention focused back on Him. This concept can sound a little bit sadistic but just hear me out. Look at what James 1 tells us:
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
So, next time you are going through a tough time, don't get angry with God for allowing it to happen or for not cutting it short, instead... consider it pure joy and let your trials have their work in you so that you may be mature and complete believers, not lacking anything at all!
Pastor Willy
i like this version.... 'don't try to get out of anything prematurely...'
ReplyDeleteUm....yeah...But we do, don't we. We cry out, "i'm down, i'm down. I've been hit. Helllllllooooo." Which is why a good prayer through out time has been, "Lord have Mercy. Lord have Mercy." repeating...until it's not a shout but rather a lullaby from our own lips, as he gently (sometimes not so gently) rocks us to a state of peace, and the 'true colors' are shifted or realigned back to a kingdom perspective...back to Hope and Trust, and glory not thine own.