“Where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” Proverbs 29:18 KJV).
I have heard this verse quoted many times and applied to many circumstances. I recently realized how applicable this verse is to those of us with health conditions.
Living with limitations, it is easy to lose vision for our lives. Having to give up a job, career, ministry, or daily household tasks, we can feel useless and unnecessary. It becomes easy to fall into depression and isolation, and we can indeed begin to “perish”. I found that happening to myself at one point. The more depressed and isolated I became, the more difficulty I had bringing myself back in to contact with others. I was denying the truth of God’s Word which says that He has a plan and purpose for my life, regardless of my physical condition.
The Lord has a vision and purpose for each of us at this point in time. Before my health decline, my only writing consisted of college term papers written years ago. Yet God had a vision for my life which I would not have thought possible – writing devotionals. The same is true for each of us. We may not all be called to write, but we can intercede for, encourage, and support others to the glory of God in various ways.
Although health problems may seem to limit our earthly usefulness, they do not limit our usefulness in God’s kingdom. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8), and He will bring about all that He has planned (Isaiah 46:11). As we seek the Lord’s face, His light will guide and direct us in to the purposes He has for us, even in our infirmities. Every day, may we ask the Lord to see our lives with a thriving heavenly vision rather than a perishing earthly one.
Prayer: Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; nought be all else to me, save that Thou art -Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light (Irish hymn). Amen.
I read this blog post from Rest Ministries. It is a good thing to remember about not losing our vision.
ReplyDeleteWe may not have the same vision as when our health was fine, but we do have a vision from the Lord even now when our health is poor.
I miss being part of church ministries and have not been able to even attend church much.
But the Lord has given me a 'church' through believers in a Facebook prayer group and through getting to know people from Rest Ministry groups.
As you, but to a lesser degree I have been writing a blog. And who knows at times who reads it out in the internet stratosphere. God says His word will not return void, so I believe He is using it.
And the Lord has given me other opportunities to minister to others. And of course praying and interceding truly is one of the greatest ministries we can have.