Earlier this year, when I first started out on the World Race I was reading 1 Corinthians 13. “The Love Chapter” as many refer to it. As I was reading the beginning, the most well known of verses, because it’s so widely used; I had a “light bulb” moment, or an “Ah-ha” moment. It was a truth that had been there the whole time, that I suddenly saw in a new light… I’m sure you know what I mean. The truth however, didn’t shift from head to heart knowledge until this month.
Let me rewind first and share this: Since coming on the Race in January the Lord has been doing amazing things in my life. A lot of it is processing through hurts, working on changing attitudes, changing the way I’ve done things… you know… the fun stuff! 🙂 I’ve also seen God do amazing things in the lives of others; changing hearts, bringing healing to sick bodies, providing electricity and water to remote villages.
But since I arrived in Africa I’ve had health problems. A couple of incidents have been minor, you know, eat something new, it doesn’t agree… this is Africa! But then there have been other things like my recurring gallbladder and inner ear issues. My gallbladder was something I dealt with last year but thought I had under control. So that was a bit of a surprise. I saw a doctor for that and got things situated. The ear though… that was a totally different ball game. Since landing in Africa I have been having ringing in my ear. Just my left ear. I thought that perhaps it just needed time to pop back after our 15 or so hours in flight. But days kept on going and the so did the ringing.
Well after a month of ringing, the ringing turned into vertigo and the vertigo decided it was here to stay as well. So, in the midst of my ringing, dizzy spells and vomiting I went back to 1 Corinthians 13. The chapter goes something like this (starting at vs 4):
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Verse 7 was the kicker: Love ALWAYS protects, ALWAYS trusts, ALWAYS hopes, ALWAYS perseveres. His perfect love casts out fear and His love ALWAYS does these things for us. But, if we truly LOVE the Lord, then we should ALWAYS protect our relationship with Him, ALWAYS trust Him, ALWAYS put our hope in Him, and ALWAYS persevere with Him. What an amazing relationship Jesus calls us into with Him. Even in the face of sickness, even in the face of the unknown, of the frustration of not seeing healing in my own body; we are to/I am to reciprocate His love for us/me. (P.S. Did you know that perseverance means: continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.)
The past several days, as my health has been quite a nuisance, I have had to remind myself to trust the Lord, to put my hope in Him, to remember that He is protecting me, and to walk in perseverance with Him. (And for all of you who are curious or worried, I am seeing a doctor!)
The Bible also says that He works all things together; Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” The Lord will work this situation for His good AND mine. I believe, I trust, even if I can’t see it right now, there is purpose in all that I am going through. I believe that even though I have questions and I am confused, and I hate being sick, He will use it. Am I saying the Lord caused it? No. But I am saying that somehow, some way, He will use it. So, in the midst of my discomfort, my frustration, my waiting, I choose joy. I choose to walk through this knowing that Jesus is by my side and that He will never leave me or forsake me. (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5) He loves me! He is persevering with me! I put my trust in Him because of my love for Him. For those of you who are married, wouldn’t you say the same? Don’t you persevere together, protect each other and trust one another because of your love?
Today, if you are going through something difficult, ponder on these words. Find ways to see the Lord loving you, protecting you, whatever the case may be, and ask Him to help you reciprocate it. I’ll be praying for each of you and would love you to pray for me as well!
*update to come once I see the doctor!
