Do you ever have Ah-Ha moments when studying your bible?? I sure hope you do cause they ROCK! And you so know that God is speaking to you through HIS Word! Yesterday I was almost positively diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I have been struggling with severe pain for a few weeks again as I did in the past since I started this Blog. To say I was bummed is correct but also relieved that I wasnt losing my mind with this nerve pain that is showing up in a bunch of areas in my body instead of just one leg like it used to be after my back surgery. For those that dont know I had a full fusion at my lower vertabrae to my S-1 joint in 2006 and it has been a long road. Today I am reminded of why I named this Blog Learning to Live for God Day by Day~! I have struggled with pain since before my surgery and after. Today in my journaling I was in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 and I had a lightbulb moment between reading the scripture and the study notes in my bible.
2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The notes from my Life Application study bible say this
12:7-8 We do not know what paul's thron in the flesh was, because he doesn't tell us. soe have suggested that it was malaria, epilepsy, or a disease of the eyes Whatever the case it was a chronic and debilitating problem, which at times kept him from working. this thorn was a hinderance to his ministry, and he prayed for its removal; but God refused. Paul was a very self-sufficient person, so this thorn must have been difficult for him. Three times paul prayed for healing but did not receive it. He recieved however, things far greater because he received greater grace from God, a Stronger character, humility, and an ability to empathize with others. In addition, it benefited those around him when they saw God at work in his life. God, according to his sovereign plan, doesnt heal some believers of their physical ailments. We don't know why some are spared and others aren't. God chooses according to his divine purposes. Our task is to PRAY, TO BELIEVE, AND TO TRUST. Paul is living proof that holy living and courageous faith do not ensure instant physical healing. When we pray for healing we must trust our bodies to God's care. We must recognize that nothing separates us from his love and that our spiritual condition is always more important than our physical condition. 12:9 Notes: Although God did not remove Paul's physical affliction he promised to demonstrate his power in Paul. The face that God's power is displayed in weak people should give us courage. though we recognize our limitations, we will not congratulate ourselves and rest at that. Instead we will turn to Giod to seek pathways for effectiveness. We must rely on Giod for out effectiveness rather than simply our own energy, effort or talent. Our weakness not only hlpes develop Christian Character, it also deepens our worship because in admitting our weekness we affirm God's strength. 12:10 notes, When we are strong in our abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God's work on our own, and that can lead to pride. When we are weak, allowing God to fill us with his power, then we are stronger than we could ever be on our own. God does not intend for us to seek to be weak, passive or ineffective- life provides enough hindrances and setbacks without us gcreating them. when those obstacles come, we must depend on God. Only his power will make us effective for him and will help us do work that has lasting value.
WOW!!! That is all I can say right now I have an excitedness inside that just woke up! I was beginning to be sad about my pain (yet again) and down that even though we have prayed and prayed and others have laid hands on me that the pain is returning. However this morning I feel God telling me that His Grace is enough...enough to get me through this and more if needed and that My pain will be used to minister somehow. I just know it with ever fiber of my being my pain has a purpose! Thank You God!!! Have a blessed day everyone!
