"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me! But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you--for My power is made perfect in your weakness!' " 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Many prayers which seem to be unanswered--are really answered. The blessing comes--but in a form we do not recognize. Instead of the very thing we sought--something better is given!
The burden is not lifted away--but we are sustained beneath it.
We are not spared the suffering--but in the suffering we are brought nearer to God, and receive more of His grace.
The sorrow is not taken away--but is changed to joy.
Our ignorant prayers are taken into the hands of the great Intercessor, and are answered in ways far wiser than our thought!
Instead of earthly trifles--heavenly riches!
Instead of things which our poor wisdom sought--things God's infinite wisdom chose for us!
Instead of pleasure for a day--gain for eternity!
J.R. Miller
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I relate much to this devotion. Especially, "The burden is not lifted away--but we are sustained beneath it."
As many of you know I struggle with a body that produces kidney stones. The stones can sometimes pass without trouble and hardly any pain. Other times the pain can be very intense, even if the stone is very small.
At the end of this month I am scheduled to have a 2cm+ sized stone surgically removed from my kidney via a process called nephro-lithotripsy. Nephro-lithotripsy is an evasive surgery that will require a surgeon to make an incision into my back and insert a tube into my kidney directly to the stone. My urologist will then dilate the tube and begin to break up the stone with a laser and then pull the fragments out through the tube. I will be in the hospital one to two days and then spend a week at home taking it real easy if everything goes perfectly.
I said all that to say that God is sovereign and in control of all things.
My burden has not yet been lifted away but I am sustained by Him through this suffering.
Through the suffering of these stones God has brought me closer to Himself by revealing just a fraction more of His holiness through the study of His providence and sovereignty in all things. I am comforted in knowing that all things work together for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.
Why is this happening to me?
Simple; for His glory!
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4 comments:
Amen.
It is interesting that Paul apparently stopped praying to be healed of whatever that was after the 3rd time. He was able to accept God's answer and receive His strength through it.
I was thinking along those lines today - that if God chooses to never heal me, that I'll be content with where He has me and not wrestle with it.
Yeah, Paul wrote about his sufferings once and he never wrote about them again in his letters to the church. I think that is cool. He was satisfied with God's grace.
If I were to write to the churches and I suffered like Paul did, I might be tempted to complain in every letter, haha.
Good post.
I read this this morning on GG also! I was blessed by it. Thank you for sharing your struggle. I will be praying for you.
I, like you, struggle with a burden that I have often prayed to go away. It may seem insignifigant next to your pain but it is still a burden. I have Plantar Fascitis in both feet that has developed into heel spurs, aswell as both my knees are trashed! The biggest problem is that I cant afford health care so I have been suffering from intense pain for 2 years or more.
I have grown sooo much because of it. In ways that people without long term burdens could never experience. His grace IS sufficient!!
Keep us updated on your surgery.
I had no idea about your daily pain Robert. I will put you on my personal prayer list.
God, in His wisdom, has blessed us with these things.
He will continue to use it for His glory.
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