Christ Will Carry You

I have a friend in Canada, a pen pal, who I have never met but has a kindred spirit to mine. This beautiful lady reached out to me one day and we started conversing online.  Over a period of months, we both felt more and more open to share more vulnerably with each other. We are different but have this God connection that intertwines us together. We are both Sisters in Christ, on the journey of falling in love with the Lord more.

The wisdom she has and the relationship she has with Jesus, our Saviour, is inspiring.

The more I get to know her, the more I admire her and look to her for her wise counsel on things.

She never complains about her debilitating condition, other than saying she often has no energy and seems to sleep so much.  Her love for the Lord bubbles out of her being and her words but she no longer can physically do what she used to do. Leading groups, guiding people with and in prayer, working in her diocese has changed considerably due to her condition but her sharing what the Holy Spirit has been sharing with her, her prayer life —- these have not changed. Actually, it seemed like since being more bed-ridden she has become more developed in listening and praying to the Spirit, of hearing the Lord’s voice.

I so admire her ability to cope with the physical, mental and spiritual pain that has occurred in her life. I do not know the full story of her suffering and abuse, but I know that it has affected her greatly and it is only Jesus who continues to heal her.

She often sends her prayers to me and the Ministry like this:

“when I am lying down in my bed…my body broken with crucifying pains or chronic fatigue and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for the offering I can make so you can raise your voices in the Name of God to share Christ‘s Gospel.”

She sends her suffering to God so that He can use it for his purposes, offering them up for the advancement of the Gospel in the world.

Oh, truly so Christ-like!

I have had to cope with some physical pain from spasms in my muscles and from arthritis over the last year or so, so her courage has truly inspired me. To keep on going. To focus on Christ more in my life and not let my physical medical condition be so debilitating that I give up on what God has for me.

Have you or a family member been so ill that life seems to be all about the disease, the trauma, your health?

There are often seasons in our life when this does occur.

My friend has taught me, we are way more than that. That we can’t let our illness totally define us. That Christ can carry us through this valley if we see this as a time to trust in the Lord, to surrender more to the plan God has for our lives.

It is the Holy Spirit who actively sustains us throughout our lives. Without Him we would cease to exist. Another way of putting it, we would “be there but nobody’s home .”

My friend has taught me to pray this question— Is there a greater purpose to this illness, this disease?

I often reflect upon the story of Lazarus where his sisters tell Jesus when He finally comes to see them, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Both Martha and Mary state these same words to Jesus.

But was Jesus not aware of the situation?

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

John 11:3-4 NIV

There was a higher purpose in Lazarus’ death. Jesus was fully aware of the consequences of delaying his departure to go see Lazarus and his sisters. He had everything under His control. He cared. He came in the right time.

So, don’t you think Jesus is well aware of your situation? That his delay may be for a higher purpose. We need to trust in Him.

I am speaking these words to myself as much as to anyone reading this.

I need, we need to trust in God’s plan.

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Have you or a family member been so ill that life seems to be all about the disease, the trauma, your health? How did it consume your life?

Have you ever asked yourself whether God has a greater purpose for your ill-health? If you did, what do you think God would say? What do you think the purpose is for you?

How are you able to trust in God during a time of illness?