Inside my body grows an insidious, incurable disease called Cystic Fibrosis. Most people might look at God and blame him for this lifestyle that I have to live. As a Christian, I view it differently. I believe that God has allowed me to walk this path in order to glorify him and grow in my relationship with him. I am very blessed to be healthy and normal 90% of the time; but what about the other 10%? Some days are very gray and difficult to get through. There have been days where I haven’t had the strength to even get out of bed. Trusting God doesn’t always come easily on those days, but I have learned to dig deep and trust in him with every ounce of my being.
We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
How do I give thanks in those moments when I am weak and ill? How do I give thanks when I end up in the hospital again and I feel defeated by this malady, overcome with coughing, a fever, loneliness, weariness, and that exhausting feeling that this could be the beginning of the end? How do I trust God in these circumstances and apply his commands to my life?
I start by trusting that God works for the good of those who love him . . . in every situation (Romans 8:28), and by believing that he who began a good work in me, will complete it (Philippians 1:6). I remember that when I am weak, God’s strength shines through and his grace will be sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I trust God and give thanks by knowing that he is here with me. Even in the wind, God is here. A few months ago, while vacationing in Hawaii, I was struck with a revelation. I was frustrated one day with how windy it was. Everywhere I went, it was windy. All I wanted to do was sit in the sun and enjoy the Hawaiian scenery and get a tan, but it was so windy that this desire became difficult and I was frustrated. While staring at the ocean and venting my frustrations to God, I felt him tell me that he was still there, even in the wind. He reminded me that even the wind had a purpose. God whispered in my ear that wind had a way of moving things and uncovering beauty beneath the surface that would have otherwise been undiscovered.
When I have windy days that seem to be filled with endless suffering and darkness, I can remember to be thankful because I know that when the wind is gone, a new beauty will be exposed. I can be thankful for the storms in my life because God is carrying me through them. I will not be easily moved; I will continue to trust in God knowing that he has called me to stand firm and let nothing move me (1 Corinthians 15:58). I can face the storms of life with confidence, knowing that I serve a God that I can trust, and I will stand firm!
(c) 2008 Mandy Anderson
No comments:
Post a Comment