Pain Teaches Us to Expect the Unexpected

“The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand” (Isaiah 14:24).

A fellow writer sent me a picture she took on a vacation of some camels walking up from the ocean shore.  I was quite surprised to see camels by a sea of water rather than sand! The picture made me smile.  Life is full of the unexpected, and those of us with pain and illness know this truth quite well.

One day I may feel fine doing an activity and the next day it may cause pain and setbacks.  Other times I’m surprised at what doesn’t cause issues. 

The day before we left on a recent trip I was punching out shapes of paper for cards. I was sitting on the floor and my position triggered  bad back pain.  Who would have thought something so simple could cause such problems, but praise God I was still able to take the trip.

Then on the way home I fell.  My last fall caused some serious flare-ups with my back requiring physical therapy so I was very concerned about this fall, but praise God I had no bad aftereffects.  Why was it that punching paper caused such repercussions and a serious fall did not?  I never know what to expect. 

Life in general is full of the unexpected.  But if we allow it, living with chronic pain and illness can teach us to be more flexible and see the good amidst the bad.  When we are faced with unexpected negatives in life, we have the assurance of knowing that God is not taken by surprise.  He has a sovereign plan for each of us.  The negatives are accomplishing His divine purposes in our lives, and we can cling to that truth during our hardest disappointments.  Perhaps through one of those hard times, God will unexpectedly move us from the desert to the ocean, and if not, He will provide an oasis when we need it.

Prayer:  O Lord, as I face the unexpected things that pain and problems bring, how thankful I am that nothing is unexpected to You.  Teach me to adapt to the surprises, trusting in Your plan for my days. Amen.

 

God’s Plan and Purpose Are Present in Every Season of Life

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV).

My husband and I just returned from a huge antique car show in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  We were there 30 years ago, when I had carried my oldest daughter around in a “Snuggly”.  My how things change!

Seeing those antique cars, part of me longed for the world to be as it was then -  less chaotic and simpler than today.  But even then the world was dealing with major wars and economic issues.  It is easy to look back on past times and forget that they had their problems too.

The same is true in my personal life.  I look back over those 30 years with some longing, but they were not easy either.  My health problems were beginning, and we had financial and child rearing challenges.

God has a purpose and plan through every season of life. Without experiencing winter, I would not appreciate spring and summer.  Without experiencing the exhaustion, frustration, and joys of motherhood, I would not have the blessing of my daughters.  Without pain, I would not appreciate God-given good days and brief moments of heaven here on earth.  Without death, there is no eternal life.

Looking at those beautiful old cars, I remembered years gone by with thankfulness for God’s sovereignty and blessings of the past.  I look at the present and thank Him for all He is accomplishing now even through my pain, conforming me to His image.  I look to the future for all He has yet to do in His divine plan, for me and for the entire world. Praise God for His purposes and seasons, for His presence and provision are with me through them all.

Prayer:  O Lord, sometimes I don’t understand Your purposes in my life and some seasons are harder than others.  Give me eyes of faith to see glimpses of You in every season, knowing that Your purposes and plans are moving all of creation toward our glorious eternal life with you.  Amen.

 

 

Even When My World Changes, God Remains the Same

“I the Lord do no change”

(Malachi 3:6).

I know many changes are good and keep life from becoming monotonous, but I usually don’t handle them too well. 

One of my favorite department stores has been completely remodeled, moving different sections around and displaying an ultramodern look.  It may be more up-to-date, but I don’t like it – at least not yet!  My nearest grocery store no longer carries many food items that I buy, which means more trips to other stores.  Fall is here and that’s a mixed change for me as well.  The weather and colors are lovely but I can become down about the upcoming bleakness and coldness of winter.

Of course these changes don’t compare to the physical ones experienced through ongoing pain and illness.  Chronic health problems require major life changes and are difficult to face.  Even though I have lived with my problems long enough to have adapted, I still have moments each season when I struggle with changes.  Many of them revolve around physical activities but some are also based on my environment and relationships.

The one constant in my life that is always positive and never monotonous is God.  His character is eternally consistent and amazing.  Although He experiences emotions, He is not controlled by them.  He is the One I can always run to when sorrow or emptiness overtake me.  And just as He is faithful in being there to love and listen, He is also there to lift me up and help me become more flexible and positive about new situations.

There are some things about my pain that will always be difficult for me on earth.  Yet God’s unchanging compassion, grace, strength, mercy, love, and forgiveness will always be there to carry me through.  And I have the hope and certainty of knowing that whatever changes I experience throughout eternity will be good ones, praise God!

Prayer:  Dear Lord, what a comfort it is to know that no matter how unstable my life or this world becomes, You remain unchanging.  As I learn to adapt to difficult changes help me see the positive aspects of them, knowing that all change is under Your constant, divine control. Amen.

 

We Are the Apple of God's Eye

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8).
I love apples – the taste, smell, and feel of them.  Although I eat them year round, I especially connect them with late summer and early fall because of various apple-related events here in Virginia.

What does it mean to be the apple of God’s eye?  A few possible meanings are to be cherished above all others, to be very dear to someone, or to be the focus of someone (since the pupil is the center of the eye and focuses on objects).  It means we are very special and precious to God.

Many times I feel that to be true, but other times my pain and trials cause me to doubt. It is interesting to note the contexts in which God says we are the apple of His eye.  In Zechariah 2:8,  Israel had been plundered by enemies because of their faithlessness, yet God said He would be merciful to them and rebuild them (Zechariah 1:17).  They were “His most precious possession” (New Living Translation).

In Deuteronomy 32:10, Moses was recounting Israel’s wilderness wanderings because of their faithlessness, yet God found them in their barren and howling waste and cared for them.  In Psalm 17:8, David believed He was the apple of God’s eye despite his life-threatening experiences not only with pagans but Israelites as well (King Saul).

Being precious and greatly loved by God may not keep us from unpleasant, difficult, or even dangerous circumstances.  But regardless of how our lives and struggles appear to us, we must keep believing in faith that God’s loving and watchful focus is always on us, working out His perfect plan for us.

The next time I bite into an apple, not only can I thank God that I am the apple of His eye, but also pray that I will maintain faith in Him and His commands as the apple of my eye (Proverbs 7:2).  Then I will enjoy physical fruit as well as spiritual fruit!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, how comforting it is to know that I am so precious to You.  May my earthly sufferings not cause me to doubt this wonderful truth.  Amen.

Even through Pain and Suffering, God’s Eyes Are Always on Us and His Strength Is Always with Us

"The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (II Chronicles 16:9).

Modern technology is quite amazing.  Have you ever used a search engine on the computer that can find any location on the planet and show you pictures of that location?  You can begin by viewing the entire earth and continually zoom in until you reach your desired destination. 

Satellites may be able to see many things, but they can never compare to the eyes of God.  In Scripture passages such as Ezekiel 1, visions of God’s glory include many eyes, symbolic of His omnipresence and omniscience.  Our human minds cannot comprehend the ability to see everything and everyone at all times, but our great God does just that.

God is always completely aware of our every move.  Not only does He see us but He also knows what we are feeling and experiencing.  He knows the times when we need His strength simply to lie in bed, enduring physical pain.  He knows when we need His strength to accomplish things we must do as a part of our earthly lives.  He knows when we need strength to keep going even when oppression and depression weigh us down.  He knows when we need His strength to serve others, even when it seems physically impossible.

The Revised Standard Version of this verse says that God’s eyes run throughout the whole earth to show His might on our behalf when our hearts are perfect toward Him.  In our own strength we can do nothing, especially when we live with consistent health problems.  Yet if we fully commit our days to Him, trusting and believing that His all-seeing eyes are continually on us and His all-sufficient strength is continually working within us, we truly can do all things.  Great is the Lord; His greatness no one can fathom! (Psalm 145:3).

Prayer:  O Lord, how we thank you that we have the assurance of knowing that Your eyes are always on us – protecting us, loving us, and sustaining us with Your strength.  Let that assurance bring us comfort and victory as we go through each day.  Amen.

The Encouragement of Prayer - Being Prayed For As Well As Praying For Others

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints”
(Ephesians 6:18).

Recently I had a particularly grueling time battling a migraine for four days. I had been trying to remain faithful and focused on the positive but was losing ground.  Then God blessed me with some wonderful encouragement from other believers.

I received a text message from someone I had not heard from in a while, saying she was praying for me.  I received an email from someone else I had not heard from recently, updating me on her life and saying she was praying for me, and I received a phone call from another friend. This support gave me the strength I needed to keep fighting the good fight until that particular battle was over.  Of course this does not happen every time I am in a crisis, but knowing that others are lifting me up in prayer, even occasionally, is a great encouragement and reminds me I am not alone in my struggles.

A few people have told me that they want to pray for others but they have difficulty staying focused. I face the same problem and was becoming frustrated, but I realized I needed to be realistic in my expectations.  Although it would be wonderful to have in-depth prayer times for others, including praying specific Scriptures for their needs, that may not be possible for me.  Yet whenever the Holy Spirit brings someone to mind, I can take a minute or two and lift them up in prayer. God already knows their needs and He knows my mental and physical limitations as well. 

We may never know the total impact of our prayers until eternity, but we can be sure that as we pray for one another, we are participating with God in accomplishing His divine purposes - in their lives as well as ours.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you that we can freely come before Your throne in prayer.  Lord Jesus, just as You are interceding for us before the Father, strengthen us to intercede for others even in our own weaknesses.  Amen.

Traveling through Life with God’s New Luggage instead of Our Old Baggage

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self. .  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”
 (Ephesians 4:22,24).

I don’t do a tremendous amount of traveling and most of what I do is done by car, but I have traveled by plane in the past.  Fortunately I never had the experience of  losing my luggage. Retrieving and holding on to my physical baggage is a good thing when traveling.

There is another kind of baggage that is not such a good thing, particularly if it impacts the way we handle our pain and problems.  Most of us carry around some mental and emotional baggage that we would do better to let go of.  This might include views and beliefs about others, ourselves, and God. We may be carrying the baggage of beliefs that God doesn’t care about suffering, is not hearing our pleas for help, and His strength will not be enough to carry us through our pain.  We may have a suitcase of lies about ourselves – we are useless, we can’t do this anymore, or we are unimportant and insignificant.  Our baggage may include fear, worry, and many other negative emotions and beliefs.

As new creations in Christ this baggage is not something we have to claim anymore.  At least some of the people Paul was addressing in the above passage had been caught up in many negative behaviors  (II Corinthians 4:1), yet they were able to change because of God’s renewing power.

We have that same power within us.  We can let go of our old baggage and respond differently to our trials.  When we are tempted to reclaim that old baggage, we need to let it pass by and claim the new wardrobe God has given us.  What’s inside – a garment of praise and salvation, a robe of righteousness, and other blessings – is a much better fit.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I want to let go of the baggage of negative and faithless beliefs belonging to my old self .  Thank you for the power You give me to change and let me appropriate that power today. Amen.