At some time or another in our lives, we’ve all experienced something that has” rattled our cages.” Sometimes the nettling thing is a person, maybe a class that we’re forced to take, or maybe financial hardship. But what if the thing that annoys us is a physical ailment or medical condition?
Two things immediately came to my mind involving saved individuals: 1) I have an immediate family member who was diagnosed with cancer more than 8 years ago. He lives with the disease and I’ve gone through a gamut of emotions as both a participant in his health issue and as a spectator observing how he deals with it. 2) I’ve had water on my knee for 3 weeks. I worked and did all the daily things that I was required to do, but did them painfully. I hadn’t over exercised but did bump the knee twice in a two week period of time. It was during this period that I thought back to 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10.
This passage sheds light on a problem that Paul experienced – having a thorn in his flesh (Figuratively, not literally). 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Pain is a part of the human condition. We don’t like it. We may even ask God to take the thing that hurts us away, God being the sovereign ruler of the universe sometimes allows something in our lives to bother us – not because He enjoys it, but because He may want us to slow down and listen to His voice. Quite possibly, there is something that He wants us to understand and the only way to get our attention is to allow an affliction in the form of a physical ailment/medical condition to bring us to our knees. That position is prayer posture.
When we come to the end of ourselves and are so frustrated that we can do nothing but cry out to God – real dialogue with Him happens through prayer. We are forced to depend on Him to bring relief or at least answers to help us to better deal with the situation we are in.
As we grow in our walk with the Lord, remember that no matter what we go through in this life, God promised to never leave us or forsake us and to never give us more than we can bear. His grace is sufficient and His mercy endures.