Psalm 30:2
“O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.”
I am overcome today with praise for my Jehovah Rapha, the LORD Who heals me. This morning when I awoke I realized I did not have the normal pain that has been my close companion for years. Actually, the pain has been dissipating the past couple of weeks and I wondered if God could be removing the physical burdens I bear daily.
Diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases, I have learned to live within the confines of the illnesses that hold me captive. When I go outside of those boundaries, I hurt. My sweet son sees when I am in pain and we have a routine where he tries to help me get going in the morning. Daily living has been difficult, but I press on. In moments when I have felt I could not bear the burden any longer, God’s strength carried me.
The LORD has healed me many times over the years and with each affliction I only drew nearer to my God. While my flesh was beaten, my inner man clung to God and His promises. Physical suffering is discouraging and greatly affects our ability to be effective. Like walking in mud, progress seems insurmountable. The lessons learned in each struggle, however, produce a treasure of a closer walk with God, even if they leave us with a lasting wound like Jacob when He wrestled with God.
I confess that I was afraid to even hope that He might be healing me. I often did not see that He had already been healing me spiritually. The thought of being delivered from the prison of pain I have lived through seemed to be too good to be true. Surrendering my life to His hands, I rested in the truth that whatever God allowed into my life would serve to bring Him glory and fulfill His purposes through me. Whether He wants to heal me for a day or for years, I thank Him and trust His decision.
It is a humbling experience to be physically afflicted and we can feel forgotten. But if we had never experienced the pain, we would not have the gratitude for God’s deliverance. We tend to take things for granted until what we assume is ours is taken away. God in His wisdom knows what we need – both blessings and burdens. Perhaps the most beautiful lesson learned through my health ordeals has been to be surrendered to whatever the LORD’s will is. Whether sick or healthy, it is all about His glory in every circumstance. Either way, He is our Healer – healing us inwardly or outwardly through it all.
Lord, I am overcome by Your faithfulness. Who are we, that You should notice us at all? And yet You want to heal us and draw us nearer to You to help others be healed, too. Thank You, God!
Reblogged this on The After-Oakdale Chronicles and commented:
I follow Denise’s blog and there is always something there I find edifying, encouraging, and helpful. This particular post struck me as fitting quite well into my series on “Surviving Our Suffering”
Thank you, Tony. We can let suffering create a disillusionment in us or a desire for more of God. What a wise God! Have a blessed day!
Thank you for this testimony, Denise! I’ve got multiple afflictions going on and have been going on for over 10 years. I’ve been dealing with IBS for years, ulcerative colitis for years but that is in remission now, a pinched nerve in my left hip that leaves me in pain if I move wrong, and two vertebrae in my neck that gives me excruciating headaches if I move my head too much. I pray for God’s healing and I look for it. I wait on Him and trust in His will. There are days where I barely sleep because of all three bothering me at the same time. I get so worn down, but then God gives me the strength to keep moving. I don’t know what His plan is, but I want to trust Him.