I have a lot of questions and most of them begin with the word WHY?
“If there is a God, why doesn’t He do something?”
“Why is this happening to me?” “Will I be OK?”
Many of us will be sincere in asking these questions.
Many of us will merely be venting our anger at God and anyone else as we cry for help. And yes, anger and bewilderment towards God is natural. He has big shoulders and will love you and me through our fear, pain and doubt.
We all know that our bodies will eventually grow old and die.
But this knowledge needs the compassion and grace that is offered to all who trust in the Love of God. Otherwise, it is just too painful, and God makes no sense.
The Bible can help us here.
According to the bible, God allows not only sickness, but many unexplainable tragedies that occur daily around the world.
This is where the questions “Why does evil exist in the world?” and “Why do good people suffer?” come from
God allows but does not cause evil, pain, death and suffering.
C.S. Lewis commented, “God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong, but I can’t. If a thing is free to be good, it’s also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.”
All pain, suffering and death result from Adam’s fall. Romans 5:12-15
“Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die. Sin was in the world before the Law came. But no record of sin was kept, because there was no Law. Yet death still had power over all who lived from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. This happened, though not everyone disobeyed a direct command from God, as Adam did.
In some ways Adam is like Christ who came later. But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam’s sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God’s gift of kindness to many people.”
The human body begins its journey to death at conception.
There are at least 5,000 species of virus, not to mention germs, bacteria and fungi, and at any time, the human body with its amazing antibody system will be fighting off several simultaneously. This miracle of healing most often goes on without our thankfulness and praise to God for His healing! We can change this oversight with a prayer of thanksgiving each morning we open our eyes.
Give your day away to God, with all its unknowns and future fears. He can give it back with new faith, trust and courage.
“We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day. These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.” II Corinthians 4:16-18
All healing and forgiveness come from God.
No doctor, minister, prayer or pill can heal us or save us.
All these may be helpful, but they merely assist in the process God invented for us.
Not too very long ago, I saw an ad for “the purple pill” claiming to heal the stomach. In just no time, the ad was changed to reflect reality—no mention of “healing”. They probably felt a lawsuit coming on for making false claims.
One look-see on the religious channels and you find charlatans hoping to cash-in on the trials all people suffer. They call it “seed-faith” and it is a scam from the word go. These people, claiming to heal while requiring your money, will have to face God for their sin. If any TV “preacher” (Hinn, Copeland, Popoff, White, Meyer, etc.) will visit the cancer ward at the local hospital with their shenanigans and deceit, then see results of healing verified by medical staff, they may be real after all. But you will never find them there, only in a multimillion-dollar TV studio and flying in multi-million-dollar jets. All because desperate people believe them and send their money to them. It is called the Jesus Lottery. Investment on return.
There is a Real Healer
During our lifetime, God graciously provides healing and comfort for our bodies, but also for our Spirit/Soul.
He says to each of us, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.
Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.
This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.” –Jesus (Matthew 11:28)
Jesus asks us “Can worry make you live longer?”
Jesus tells us “I tell you not to worry about your life.” (Matthew 6:27, 25)
I love those words, but you know, they don’t always stop me from worry and fear. I must stop–take a deep breath, read them carefully and then remind myself of who it is that offers these words to me. It is not just a well-meaning friend or family member, or pastor, or even the kind medical staff. It is Jesus.
These truths found in the bible can help us as we live without all the answers. Look them up in your own bible and highlight them.
– We have a suffering Savior who is acquainted with our grief. Isaiah 53:3
– We all inherited sin and an appointment with death. Hebrews 9:27 Romans 5)
– God is long-suffering towards us II Peter 3:9
– Jesus is a kind Redeemer who conquered death. II Corinthians 5:1-2
– Not all sickness leads to physical death John 11:4
– Not all sickness is caused by personal sin (John 9) (John 11:4)
– As Christians, we understand that this world is not our home
and we have no promise of how long we will dwell here. I Peter 2:11
– Our promised home has no sickness or death Revelation 21:4 John 14:1-14
HAVE FAITH, EXPRESS FAITH, LIVE FAITH
Faith is nothing but a word.
Faith must have an object to have any effect.
Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow,
His heart is touched with your grief and despair;
Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him,
And leave them there, oh, leave them there.
Have faith in God, He’s on His throne,
Have faith in God, He watches over His own;
He cannot fail, He must prevail,
Have faith in God, Have faith in God. —BB McKinney
“Our LORD, we belong to you. We tell you what worries us, and you won’t let us fall.”
Psalm 55:22
At some point in our personal journey, the words of Jesus, along with our faith, may begin to open.
Read such an experience: (from the hymn, “Be Still My Soul”)
“Be still my soul: the Lord is on your side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to your God to order or provide;
In every change God faithful will remain. Be still my soul: Your best, your heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.” — Katharina von Schlegel
While I am sick and hurting, I experience both the megaphone of God and the still small voice of God.
God reveals that my own struggles and sickness are just like those around me. Now I can truly say, “I know how you feel.”
I leave this period in my life much more capable of relating to others in their grief, pain and anxiety, regardless of my personal outcome.
We share in both the sufferings and the comfort He provides.
“Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours. You never disappoint us. You suffered as much as we did, and we know that you will be comforted as we were.” I Corinthians 1:3-7
If you are a Christian, follower of Jesus, then you have the gift of fellow believers.
You and I can pray and call on the Elders of the church. Call on your Elders. (James 5:13-16)
If you have never personally received this Jesus into your life, in your own words, pray to him now: (a suggested prayer)
“God, I know that I am a sinful person and I ask you to forgive me.
I have heard about Jesus, but I want to know Him.
I believe that Jesus died for me and that You raised Him from death.
I invite Him into my life. Make me your child and guide me in your ways, I pray. — In Jesus name—
REMAIN HUMBLE AS YOU FACE WORRY
“Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him. Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord’s followers are suffering just as you are. But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. God will be in control forever! Amen.” I Peter 5:6-11
BE KIND TO YOUR CAREGIVERS
No matter how down, depressed, confused and angry we may become, we must remember that our caregivers are there to help us. They are the hands, feet, mouth and skill of God for us. They hurt as all their patients hurt. They must bear these burdens each day. Pray for them too and offer a kind word of appreciation.
HOPE BEYOND TODAY FOR EACH BORN AGAIN BELIEVER (John 3)
“In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:37-39
“Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.
There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true.
I am going there to prepare a place for each of you.
After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.”
Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”
“I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father.
If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him.” John 14:1-7
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“With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
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