Finding Hope in Illness With Amy CarmichaelChikamu

In His care

Life is a battle and always will be; we wouldn’t wish it to be otherwise. But I don’t like pain for you or overtiredness. I can only ask Him to fill your cup so full of joy that it will overflow over the tiredness, even as it did for Him when He sat by the well.

I understand your perplexity. Why was Paul recaptured after being set free? Surely the Church needed him? I often wonder why so little is said of what must have been so disappointing and perplexing.

But all our problems are open to Him and all will fit into His plan. In the end, we shall see that what seems so hindering does not hinder but helps.

Trials are not “chastisement.” No earthly father goes on chastising a loving child. That is a common thought about suffering, but I am quite sure it is a wrong thought. Paul’s sufferings were not that, nor are yours. They are battle wounds. They are signs of high confidence—honors. The Father holds His children very close to His heart when they are going through such rough places as this.

“Thy care hath preserved my spirit”—a lovely Revised Version Margin which helped me a few days ago—is my word for you (Job 10:12). Think of it; all day long you are being cared for, you are in His care.

Now be at rest. This illness is not your doing. It is Sa­tan’s, and Satan can’t chain the least of us without a word of permission from Him, and why He gives it we shall know one day (Job 1:9–12, Luke 22:31–32). So let us claim again the blessing of the unoffended.