A Journey - Day 2
Everything Has Purpose
I know, it’s hard to think that something as awful as your illness could have a good purpose. I remember when God started speaking to me about how He wanted to use my struggles with my illness. At first, I was like, “well God, maybe You could’ve picked something a little less dramatic”!? But being honest with myself, I knew that what He wanted to do couldn’t possibly be done without enduring the pain and going through faith struggle while navigating life with an illness.
One day early on in my journey when I was reading the Bible I came across Romans 8:28:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Many of us are pretty familiar with that verse. But the commentary on that verse immediately shifted my whole perspective on what God was trying to do in my life. This commentary (Zondervan’s NIV Study Bible) said “‘The good’ is not necessarily what believers might think is good but is what God deems will be best to assist their growth into the image of Christ and bring them to final glory.” My illness has never felt good, but I understand now that it is good.
God is our sovereign creator. Proverbs 16:4a tells us The Lord has made everything for its purpose. God is also our loving Father. He wants to see us grow and be that shining light in the midst of darkness. He longs to see us fulfill His purpose for us. And so, He’s going to use whatever He can in order to make sure we get there. That means that He is going to use even our illnesses - even our worst days, even our greatest pain, even our mundane doctor appointments - to continue to mold and shape us into better people.
If you look back over your journey, I wonder if, after sifting through the tears and pain, you can see how God has used it in a positive manner. I wonder if, like me, you can see the growth of patience and shifting of priorities. Perhaps you may see that your circle or community has changed. Maybe you can see that you have undergone the strenuous yet necessary shift from self-reliance to depending solely on God.
The base Scripture for my ministry is 2 Corinthians 12:9:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
One of the greatest outcomes that God created through my illness is ingraining in me the fact that I am weak and am nothing without the power of God. Through that acknowledgment, I have been able to do far greater than I would ever had imagined by leaning on His grace and strength rather than my own.
Your enduring is not in vain. God wastes nothing and is working, even right now, through your illness and circumstances. Even though you may not be able to see it yet, He is working it all out for your good. I encourage you during your prayer time to ask God to reveal to you His purpose for your situation right now. Then ask Him to give you the grace and wisdom to submit to His will so that you can be everything He has created you to be.
Join me here again tomorrow for day 3 of our journey.