On Monday I contracted a cold. Since then I have suffered some sleep loss, fatigue, muscle weakness, and a raw nose. Coming on the heels of graduation and an intensely busy schedule, this cold took me by surprise. For several months I have enjoyed vibrant health and have exercised frequently and eaten consiously. So why did God send me a cold to complicate things? Though I do not know all the reasons, I think I can guess some, thanks to His Spirit convicting me and speaking in my thoughts.
#1 I was depending on my own strength and my own methods of prevention. Running will not save me. Eating well will not save me. Jesus alone can save me.
#2 I was fabricating joy on my own terms. We all seek joy, but our objects of joy vary. Only one object of joy will truly fulfill our desire. John Piper, in his dvd series, "When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy," says that "the opposite of joy is not suffering. The opposite of joy is despair. " I can still have joy through suffering.
By disabling my strength the past few days God gave me an opportunity to evaluate my heart through my reflecting attitude in the face of suffering. Even comparing my sickness to others' did not convict me as much as the simple search within my heart. Would I rejoice in my trial, or would I bemoan God's will? No one but God and I can know the temperature of my attitude: on fire for God, cold in despair, or lukewarm.
6 comments:
Neat now I can post on here too! Enjoy the new blog! Are you going to totally get rid of the other? Love ya. Hope you keep feeling better. : )
~rissie d: )
I think that is a wise choice. I too dislike the banner ads (that is one reason I moved to .mac). Trying to be a Christian in the world and not of it is very difficult.
BTW, I think it is neat how you came up with not only an interesting name, but a name that means something. Its much more creative than some people I know *thinks of the URL of his own site*.
Yay, this is a better place than Xanga, I do believe. Congrats on the move. More importantly, congratulations on graduating! Wow, how on earth did you change from that twelve-year old to this so quickly? I'm going to turn around and be forty soon... the time goes so fast. Hope to see you soon in the summer!
Good reasoning. I've been bothered by banner ads too. I've got a Google account - is that all that's needed to create a Blogger account? I might just decide to join you.
Heather: yes, that's all that you need.
Post a Comment