“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning; Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” (Romans 12:3 NLT)
The closer I get to Jesus the more honest an evaluation I can give of myself. We, even as believers in Jesus, are so prone to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Admittedly, there are things that happen in the lives of people we love, and we wonder why the Lord chose them to allow this cancer, or accident, or ______________.
There are a couple of things I’m learning in this season of my life that will likely come as no surprise to you. First, no one is exempt from bad things happening in their life. Often, I believe people come to the Lord because they think He will shield them from tragedy and heartache. That’s a lie from the devil. No one suffered more than the Lord Jesus, the only perfect man who has lived or ever will live.
If God was going to prevent evil and hardship from happening to anyone it would surely have been His only sinless Son. Jesus didn’t model a life devoid of pain, heartache or evil attacks, He modeled a life that overcame those things through faith in the living God of the Bible.
When my diagnosis of Alzheimer’s was confirmed, of course it was disturbing and frightening, but it was also encouraging, not because I want to lose my mind and memory, but because I know God loves me and will work this for my good and His glory. Please don’t feel bad or sorry for me, rejoice with me that the Lord counts me worthy to carry this burden to His honor.
Think of the people with whom I’ll now have an audience who are suffering. If we can’t rejoice in hardship and suffering, where can we rejoice? EVERYONE rejoices when things are going well – when the doctor’s report is good, when the promotion comes through, when our children are smart and healthy, when the accident was a near miss, not a collision, and on and on it goes.
But not many, even believers, will rejoice in their suffering and pain. I think of Paul’s words in Philippians 2:17-18: “But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.”
So, secondly, not only will bad things happen to us, but we have the privilege of rejoicing when they do. Why is that important? First, because not many people do. We have an opportunity to exalt Jesus in our faithful endurance of the pain, heartache, suffering, and victories we’ll experience through tragedy and loss from the “platform” our infirmity will give us.
If my health is great and I’m trying to comfort someone who is suffering, our intentions may be right and good, but who’s going to have more credence, a well person or another person who shares their infirmity but is rejoicing in Jesus’ goodness and kindness in allowing them to bear this sickness or tragedy to His honor and fame. Having Alzheimer’s hasn’t pushed me away from the Lord, it’s drawn me closer in ever increasing measure. Please pray l’ll have open doors of opportunity that will allow me to share His goodness with anyone who will listen.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 