Last summer, I went to Mexico with my good friend Enid. Being that I no longer live in Wichita, we took separate flights and met up at our resort on the Riveria Maya close to Cancun. It was warm, exotic, and picturesque. We were staying in five star accommodations which was a stark contrast from the youth hostels I’m used to. It was great! Well.. until the next day. How I managed to get SO sick in Mexico in less 24 hours is beyond me. Yes, a lot of people get sick when they go to Mexico and I was no exception. Ten days later, after I’d been back home for a little while and was still not feeling better, I went to the Doctor. Of course, they put me on antibiotics. BIG mistake… or was it?
All in all, I was sick for about three months. Sometimes I want to believe that physical pain could not possibly be part of God’s plan. But it is amazing what kind of spiritual and emotional healing and spiritual growth ocurred during this three month period. It’s true that when I moved to Philly I refocused on God and have grown significantly since I moved here, but this time of sickness was a pivotal point in my growth and walk with the Lord.
It is completely logical but yet still unbelieveably surprising to see how when I physically can’t be busy, can’t get up and do things, and I am forced to be still what kind of difference that makes. He says, “Be still and know I am God.” It’s like it all clicked. When I stopped moving so fast that life was a blur, He really revealed Himself to me and began to repair the damages in my heart, soul, and life that I incurred as a result of living in an imperfect world where we all experience hurt and pain as well as the hurts and pains I’d brought on myself during the times in my life that I was not walking with Him, but trying to manage on my own. It was during this period of rest when I was begging God for physical healing that He gave me the healing that He knew I needed much more than what I was asking for. This time of physical pain was a time of restoration for my soul. Praise God for using circumstances that seem so bad and turning them into something so good!
