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In Psalm 13, David cries out to God with a question: "How long, O Lord?" He feels that his cries for help have gone unanswered. He wrestles with foes too great for him to handle and God's face remains hidden from him. As a Christian who battles a difficult and persistent thorn in the flesh, I, too, have sometimes felt that my prayers have gone unanswered. I prayed asking God to remove my physical ailment so I could be normal. I asked Him why I had to be different from other people. Physical problems can wear my spirit down and tempt me to withdraw.They can raise doubts concerning God's promises of love and care for me. From a very young age, I have fought my thorn. Therapy has been helpful for short periods of time only. Like the Apostle Paul, I have asked for relief.

But God assures me from His word. Like Paul, He tells me that His grace is sufficient for me. His power is made perfect in my weakness for when I am weak, He is strong. (IICor.12:7-10) Each day I am to rely on His power and sufficient grace. I have to ask for strength and trust He will give me exactly what I need, even if the day is hard. How humbling this is because there are days that people can see my physical weakness. I'm told in the first chapter of James to "count it pure joy whenever I face trials...because I know that the testing of my faith develops perseverance. This perseverance will finish its work, so that I may be mature, complete, lacking in nothing." Yes, for some of us, the path is arduous. It seems far from pure joy. We are called to suffer in various ways trusting it glorifies the One who made the ultimate sacrifice.

In Isaiah 55 we are also reminded that God's ways are not our ways. His thoughts and actions are much higher than our own. He has a divine purpose for our suffering, even mine. Like Job, should we accept good from God and not trouble? God knows what our ultimate good is.

David concludes in Psalm 13 with his firm declaration of faith: "But I trust in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me." My prayer is that I might have a similar song in my heart in thankfulness for God's goodness to me. I pray for a firm trust in God's unfailing love. No matter what the circumstances, I cling to His sovereign will for my life, with or without my thorn. I continue to look to Him for the strength to persevere.

Updated February 12, 2010