For Better Or Worse...

Sick days are really something, aren't they? You lie in bed all day. Sometimes you're in pain, and other times you may be bored stiff.

Either way, it feels like time with God can come up short because you're so weak that you somehow can't manage it. A guilty conscience can set in very quickly.

It's important to be able to clearly view these times of sickness. When life is interrupted like this, you can start thinking that there's a problem with your relationship with Jesus, or you can enter into rest by recognizing the truth: you're weak. You're sick. Yet through it all, Jesus is holding your hand!

What would you do for a loved one who's sick? You would likely sit by the bedside, kiss the person's forehead, hold his/her hand, wipe away the tears now and then, and speak words of encouragement.

You'd never say, "Oh, I'm really disappointed. You don't really even talk to me anymore! I'm sitting by your bed and taking care of you…but what about you? You're just lying here." Surely not!

Jesus is the One sitting beside you, wiping away your tears, speaking encouragement into your heart. That's exactly how I believe we should see Him, even if it feels like we can't give Him much of ourselves during times of sickness.

I read this verse when I was weak and sick in bed:

"'...tell His people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.'" (Luke 1:76-79, NLT, bold added)

His light is from above. He doesn't think as we humans on Earth do! His thoughts are higher! (see Isaiah 55:9) He also doesn't condemn like we do.

Jesus loves you. Jesus carries you. Jesus heals you: body, soul, spirit. Period.

Trust the giver of light, the One who pulls you from the deep!

Jesus has definitely said YES to you…for better or for worse. Is this also true for you? Does your "yes" apply in both good times and bad?

You're a miracle!

Dèborah Rosenkrantz