Good morning,
Sleep is a wonderful thing. Sometimes pain causes us to lose a good night’s sleep. My sore shoulders are an example. If we have lived for any length of time, we are prone to acquire pain. It could be back, shoulder, knees, hips, or feet. It affects our lives.
So how do we deal with it? Do we whine and complain and quit serving God? NO! This was not the example of Jacob and Paul.
Genesis 32:24-28 tells the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Jacob prevails. “And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.” So Jacob walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Was God through with him? NO! Verses 26-28 tell us “And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” God was going to use Israel (Jacob) and his offspring to do great and mighty things.
2 Corinthians 12:7 tells us, “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.” Paul also had a disability. The Bible never tells us what it was, but it was serious enough that Paul requested God three times to take it away. God chose not to. Was Paul put on the shelf? Did he quit because he was hurting? NO! He continued to preach the word of God. Churches were started, souls were saved, and disciples for Christ were made. Not to mention that he wrote much of the New Testament.
So what about us? Do we allow our different aches and pains to prevent us from serving God? It is in these afflictions that God will make us humble and usable to Him. Are we willing to be used of God? He has something for each of us to do.
Let’s get started!
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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