But I Have a Question

[Christsfreeservant]

James 1:2-4,12 ESV

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”​

I don’t have it all together.

And I don’t have the answers to everything. Sometimes I ask lots of questions. I’m not doubting God. I am not questioning him and what he says he will do or who he is or anything like that. It is a little bit like what Mary said when she was told that she was going to be impregnated by the Spirit of God and that she was going to give birth to the Son of God. She didn’t doubt God. But she had a question.

That is where I am right now. As I have mentioned before, I got sick with a virus from a mice infestation we had in our apartment back in August and I was very sick for eight weeks. But the fatigue and the dizziness never really left me. They still come and go. But then at the end of last month my right knee gave out on me. I can walk with a walker but it is painful. And now I am getting nerve pains down my leg.

Now all throughout this the Lord has assured me what he assured Paul and that is that his grace is enough. My Lord has had me trusting him with my health for at least the past thirteen years and I have been pharmaceutical dependent free for all this time. And I have experienced his healing power in my body and in my spirit so many times over. So, I know that God still heals and I know that I can depend on him fully to get me through this.

But like Mary, I have a question.

She asked, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). But her question was not like Zechariah’s. He said, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). The two questions sound similar, but they are distinctly different. Zechariah doubted God. Mary’s question was not one of doubt, but of practicality. She needed to know how this was going to take place.

And she needed to know that so she could be prepared and so she would know what to do or perhaps even how to explain what was happening to her to her betrothed and to her family and friends and neighbors.

But how do you explain something like that? Who would believe her? Joseph only believed eventually because he was also visited by an angel and he believed the angel. And her cousin Elizabeth believed because the Holy Spirit revealed it to her when her baby leaped in her womb at the sight of pregnant Mary. But that was a tough one, for sure.

But Mary trusted the Lord and she did what he told her to do. And she submitted to his will and purpose for her life. She said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

And this is where I am.

I understand that the Lord is allowing me to go through this trial for a reason. I accept his sovereignty over my life. I believe he is in control over all things and that he could have kept those mice out of our apartment, and he could have prevented me from becoming ill, and he could have prevented my knee from giving way, and he could have healed me by now if it was in his will and purpose for my life.

But he has allowed me to not get better and for the pain now to be a nerve pain going down my leg. And I have been diligent in watching my diet and moving around periodically to keep my blood circulation going and to strengthen my leg and knee with light exercises. And that has been going fairly well, but now I have this nerve pain. But I am still trusting the Lord.

But, I have a question.

And my question is a lot like Mary’s. I need to know how this is all supposed to happen. I understand I am going through a trial. I understand that God is allowing this for my good and for his purposes. I believe in his sovereignty and I trust in his grace. But there is a practical side to all of this. For, I don’t know what is causing all of this, and so I don’t know exactly what I need to do.

So, my question really comes down to this. Should I go see a doctor and get a diagnosis so that I know what I am dealing with and so I know best how to treat it? Now, that may seem like a pretty logical and practical step to take, but I don’t want to ever be in danger of not trusting my Lord and turning to others to help me if that is outside his perfect will for me.

I will not take drugs. I know that. And so surgery is really out of the question, I believe. But physical therapy might be an option. But I really don’t want to close any doors, either, that he may be opening.

So, my question in asking the Lord how this will take place is asking him if his plan is for me to get outside help because he has a purpose in that and that is why he is not healing me right now, or if his purpose is that I just keep trusting him to take care of me without any outside intervention.

Can I be steadfast and keep trusting the Lord and still seek outside help in identifying the root of the pain? Or does steadfastness mean I don’t seek outside help to identify the source of the pain and I just trust the Lord to show me each step of the way what to do next?

What to do next?

I do not in any way want to do anything that would be doubting my Lord, but he has not yet given me clear direction in this matter. I just know so far that his grace is enough for me to see me through this trial and that I am to remain steadfast under this trial so that God’s work he is doing in me will accomplish the purpose for why he has sent this to me.

So, until I have clear direction regarding any outside assistance, I will keep doing what I have been doing for I never want to go ahead of God or feel as though I need to help him out. But this is definitely a trial in so many different ways, and my faith is being tested. Yet, I want steadfastness to have its full effect in my life so that I may be mature and complete in Christ, lacking in nothing.

So, if you think about it, would you pray for me that I would know “how” God wants to do this? I don’t want to go ahead of him nor lag behind him. I want to remain in step with him every step of the way through the course of this trial and through whatever lessons I need to learn through it.

I Stand in Awe

By Mark Altrogge

You are beautiful
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

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[bèlla]

Sue,

I’m sorry to hear you’re hurting and pray the Lord comforts and strengthens you during this season. I had a similar experience which may encourage you.

God bless.

~bella

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Sue,

I’m sorry to hear you’re hurting and pray the Lord comforts and strengthens you during this season. I had a similar experience which may encourage you.

God bless.

~bella

Bella, thank you.

 

[jacks]

So, if you think about it, would you pray for me that I would know “how” God wants to do this?

Great post with many thoughtful points. As far as your knee perhaps seeing a doctor is "how" the Lord will heal you. He has provided us with many avenues for help, choosing one is not doubting His sovereignty, it is utilizing all He has to offer. Praying for you.

 

[ldonjohn]

Seeing a doctor is not doubting God.

 

[bèlla]

Bella, thank you.

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.”

This is another rung. A deeper measure of knowing. Embrace it. I needn’t tell you that stand is a verb. We’re immovable in the spirit. The natural is subject to His directives.

And here’s your arrow…

<—How is the Lord glorified in your experience? | How are you sanctified? —>

Two aims; one purpose.

~bella

 

[mikeforjesus]

Your concern is valid because God sometimes wants to heal for His glory by seeking Him but sometimes it is not the case God gave us doctors to heal us for not every time we should be seeking miracles and signs so in bible it was also mentioned is there no balm in Gilead for healing is not always to come from Lord but in their case they still could not be healed because of their sin God normally uses medicine but sometimes it still will not help if person is not repenting and we see Luke was still a physician after following christ it seems it says Paul said in letter Luke the beloved physician greets you so he was still mentioned as physician

In Old Testament God used remedy of earth to heal person even if from God and it should not be rejected as Paul also said to Timothy to not use only water but also wine as we should not test the Lord to always want miracles but God wants us to look after our bodies to be responsible not to damage it and always expect healing from Him.

and Solomon said give strong drink to those who are perishing he meant pain killers

when it says bless the Lord who heals all your diseases He does for all who fear God but sometimes it is through medicine as one is not to test the Lord

2 Chronicles 16:12
12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Great post with many thoughtful points. As far as your knee perhaps seeing a doctor is "how" the Lord will heal you. He has provided us with many avenues for help, choosing one is not doubting His sovereignty, it is utilizing all He has to offer. Praying for you.

Thank you.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

James 1:2-4,12 ESV

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”​

I don’t have it all together.

And I don’t have the answers to everything. Sometimes I ask lots of questions. I’m not doubting God. I am not questioning him and what he says he will do or who he is or anything like that. It is a little bit like what Mary said when she was told that she was going to be impregnated by the Spirit of God and that she was going to give birth to the Son of God. She didn’t doubt God. But she had a question.

That is where I am right now. As I have mentioned before, I got sick with a virus from a mice infestation we had in our apartment back in August and I was very sick for eight weeks. But the fatigue and the dizziness never really left me. They still come and go. But then at the end of last month my right knee gave out on me. I can walk with a walker but it is painful. And now I am getting nerve pains down my leg.

Now all throughout this the Lord has assured me what he assured Paul and that is that his grace is enough. My Lord has had me trusting him with my health for at least the past thirteen years and I have been pharmaceutical dependent free for all this time. And I have experienced his healing power in my body and in my spirit so many times over. So, I know that God still heals and I know that I can depend on him fully to get me through this.

But like Mary, I have a question.

She asked, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). But her question was not like Zechariah’s. He said, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). The two questions sound similar, but they are distinctly different. Zechariah doubted God. Mary’s question was not one of doubt, but of practicality. She needed to know how this was going to take place.

And she needed to know that so she could be prepared and so she would know what to do or perhaps even how to explain what was happening to her to her betrothed and to her family and friends and neighbors.

But how do you explain something like that? Who would believe her? Joseph only believed eventually because he was also visited by an angel and he believed the angel. And her cousin Elizabeth believed because the Holy Spirit revealed it to her when her baby leaped in her womb at the sight of pregnant Mary. But that was a tough one, for sure.

But Mary trusted the Lord and she did what he told her to do. And she submitted to his will and purpose for her life. She said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

And this is where I am.

I understand that the Lord is allowing me to go through this trial for a reason. I accept his sovereignty over my life. I believe he is in control over all things and that he could have kept those mice out of our apartment, and he could have prevented me from becoming ill, and he could have prevented my knee from giving way, and he could have healed me by now if it was in his will and purpose for my life.

But he has allowed me to not get better and for the pain now to be a nerve pain going down my leg. And I have been diligent in watching my diet and moving around periodically to keep my blood circulation going and to strengthen my leg and knee with light exercises. And that has been going fairly well, but now I have this nerve pain. But I am still trusting the Lord.

But, I have a question.

And my question is a lot like Mary’s. I need to know how this is all supposed to happen. I understand I am going through a trial. I understand that God is allowing this for my good and for his purposes. I believe in his sovereignty and I trust in his grace. But there is a practical side to all of this. For, I don’t know what is causing all of this, and so I don’t know exactly what I need to do.

So, my question really comes down to this. Should I go see a doctor and get a diagnosis so that I know what I am dealing with and so I know best how to treat it? Now, that may seem like a pretty logical and practical step to take, but I don’t want to ever be in danger of not trusting my Lord and turning to others to help me if that is outside his perfect will for me.

I will not take drugs. I know that. And so surgery is really out of the question, I believe. But physical therapy might be an option. But I really don’t want to close any doors, either, that he may be opening.

So, my question in asking the Lord how this will take place is asking him if his plan is for me to get outside help because he has a purpose in that and that is why he is not healing me right now, or if his purpose is that I just keep trusting him to take care of me without any outside intervention.

Can I be steadfast and keep trusting the Lord and still seek outside help in identifying the root of the pain? Or does steadfastness mean I don’t seek outside help to identify the source of the pain and I just trust the Lord to show me each step of the way what to do next?

What to do next?

I do not in any way want to do anything that would be doubting my Lord, but he has not yet given me clear direction in this matter. I just know so far that his grace is enough for me to see me through this trial and that I am to remain steadfast under this trial so that God’s work he is doing in me will accomplish the purpose for why he has sent this to me.

So, until I have clear direction regarding any outside assistance, I will keep doing what I have been doing for I never want to go ahead of God or feel as though I need to help him out. But this is definitely a trial in so many different ways, and my faith is being tested. Yet, I want steadfastness to have its full effect in my life so that I may be mature and complete in Christ, lacking in nothing.

So, if you think about it, would you pray for me that I would know “how” God wants to do this? I don’t want to go ahead of him nor lag behind him. I want to remain in step with him every step of the way through the course of this trial and through whatever lessons I need to learn through it.

I Stand in Awe

By Mark Altrogge

You are beautiful
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

Caution: This link may contain ads

I recently saw an excellent video and bible study on this very OP on tests and trials and the trying of our faith that might be helpful here...

It will not have all your direct answers but will help you to understand many things from the bible as to why we have trials in our lives. If you take the time to watch it, I am sure it will answer many of your questions and be a blessing for you.

God bless.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

I recently saw an excellent video and bible study on this very OP on tests and trials and the trying of our faith that might be helpful here...

It will not have all your direct answers but will help you to understand many things from the bible as to why we have trials in our lives. If you take the time to watch it, I am sure it will answer many of your questions and be a blessing for you.

God bless.

Thank you.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Great post with many thoughtful points. As far as your knee perhaps seeing a doctor is "how" the Lord will heal you. He has provided us with many avenues for help, choosing one is not doubting His sovereignty, it is utilizing all He has to offer. Praying for you.

The Lord chided his people often in the Scriptures for going to humans for help when he told them that he would be their help. Jesus is our healer, so he should always be the one we go to first and we should seek his counsel. Yes, sometimes he leads us to doctors and sometimes he doesn't. I have had many bad experiences with doctors who were no help to me at all and in some cases caused me more suffering, or could have if I had yielded to them. So going to a doctor is not always the best answer.

But there have been times when I have felt the Lord leading me that direction, and although they weren't always helpful, I do believe God used it for his purposes. So, anyway, whatever I do I just want to make sure it is the will of God before I do it.

Thank you for your concern and for your counsel. I appreciate it very much. I am taking all the suggestions to the Lord in prayer and will see where he leads me.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

The encouragement the Lord Jesus is giving me today:

The Rock of My Heart

Lyricist: Bassford, Matthew W.; Psalm 73
Composer: Schales, Glenda Barnhart

My Lord, I need nothing beside You;
Without You, I could not have stood.
Your promise is my hope and my refuge;
Your nearness, my strength and my good.

When I was distressed and embittered,
By things I could not understand,
Your presence was continually with me;
You always took hold of my hand.

I know that Your counsel will guide me
In wisdom, devotion, and love,
And afterward You’ll call me to glory
To dwell in Your presence above.

My heart may be broken within me;
My earthly strength may depart.
But You are my portion forever,
You are the Rock of my heart.
You are the Rock of my heart.

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[eleos1954]

James 1:2-4,12 ESV

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”​

I don’t have it all together.

And I don’t have the answers to everything. Sometimes I ask lots of questions. I’m not doubting God. I am not questioning him and what he says he will do or who he is or anything like that. It is a little bit like what Mary said when she was told that she was going to be impregnated by the Spirit of God and that she was going to give birth to the Son of God. She didn’t doubt God. But she had a question.

That is where I am right now. As I have mentioned before, I got sick with a virus from a mice infestation we had in our apartment back in August and I was very sick for eight weeks. But the fatigue and the dizziness never really left me. They still come and go. But then at the end of last month my right knee gave out on me. I can walk with a walker but it is painful. And now I am getting nerve pains down my leg.

Now all throughout this the Lord has assured me what he assured Paul and that is that his grace is enough. My Lord has had me trusting him with my health for at least the past thirteen years and I have been pharmaceutical dependent free for all this time. And I have experienced his healing power in my body and in my spirit so many times over. So, I know that God still heals and I know that I can depend on him fully to get me through this.

But like Mary, I have a question.

She asked, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). But her question was not like Zechariah’s. He said, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). The two questions sound similar, but they are distinctly different. Zechariah doubted God. Mary’s question was not one of doubt, but of practicality. She needed to know how this was going to take place.

And she needed to know that so she could be prepared and so she would know what to do or perhaps even how to explain what was happening to her to her betrothed and to her family and friends and neighbors.

But how do you explain something like that? Who would believe her? Joseph only believed eventually because he was also visited by an angel and he believed the angel. And her cousin Elizabeth believed because the Holy Spirit revealed it to her when her baby leaped in her womb at the sight of pregnant Mary. But that was a tough one, for sure.

But Mary trusted the Lord and she did what he told her to do. And she submitted to his will and purpose for her life. She said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

And this is where I am.

I understand that the Lord is allowing me to go through this trial for a reason. I accept his sovereignty over my life. I believe he is in control over all things and that he could have kept those mice out of our apartment, and he could have prevented me from becoming ill, and he could have prevented my knee from giving way, and he could have healed me by now if it was in his will and purpose for my life.

But he has allowed me to not get better and for the pain now to be a nerve pain going down my leg. And I have been diligent in watching my diet and moving around periodically to keep my blood circulation going and to strengthen my leg and knee with light exercises. And that has been going fairly well, but now I have this nerve pain. But I am still trusting the Lord.

But, I have a question.

And my question is a lot like Mary’s. I need to know how this is all supposed to happen. I understand I am going through a trial. I understand that God is allowing this for my good and for his purposes. I believe in his sovereignty and I trust in his grace. But there is a practical side to all of this. For, I don’t know what is causing all of this, and so I don’t know exactly what I need to do.

So, my question really comes down to this. Should I go see a doctor and get a diagnosis so that I know what I am dealing with and so I know best how to treat it? Now, that may seem like a pretty logical and practical step to take, but I don’t want to ever be in danger of not trusting my Lord and turning to others to help me if that is outside his perfect will for me.

I will not take drugs. I know that. And so surgery is really out of the question, I believe. But physical therapy might be an option. But I really don’t want to close any doors, either, that he may be opening.

So, my question in asking the Lord how this will take place is asking him if his plan is for me to get outside help because he has a purpose in that and that is why he is not healing me right now, or if his purpose is that I just keep trusting him to take care of me without any outside intervention.

Can I be steadfast and keep trusting the Lord and still seek outside help in identifying the root of the pain? Or does steadfastness mean I don’t seek outside help to identify the source of the pain and I just trust the Lord to show me each step of the way what to do next?

What to do next?

I do not in any way want to do anything that would be doubting my Lord, but he has not yet given me clear direction in this matter. I just know so far that his grace is enough for me to see me through this trial and that I am to remain steadfast under this trial so that God’s work he is doing in me will accomplish the purpose for why he has sent this to me.

So, until I have clear direction regarding any outside assistance, I will keep doing what I have been doing for I never want to go ahead of God or feel as though I need to help him out. But this is definitely a trial in so many different ways, and my faith is being tested. Yet, I want steadfastness to have its full effect in my life so that I may be mature and complete in Christ, lacking in nothing.

So, if you think about it, would you pray for me that I would know “how” God wants to do this? I don’t want to go ahead of him nor lag behind him. I want to remain in step with him every step of the way through the course of this trial and through whatever lessons I need to learn through it.

I Stand in Awe

By Mark Altrogge

You are beautiful
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

Caution: This link may contain ads

So, my question really comes down to this. Should I go see a doctor and get a diagnosis so that I know what I am dealing with and so I know best how to treat it?

Yes you should ... going to a doctor is not meaning you do not trust in the Lord ... the Lord works through human beings ... including doctors.

 

[rocknanchor]

I don’t want to ever be in danger of not trusting my Lord and turning to others to help me if that is outside his perfect will for me, , does steadfastness mean I don’t seek outside help to identify the source of the pain.

Goodness, what brilliant attention sister! May I say, entering His rest does come with a heft of liberality with it. Oh’ but only if it was we, the congregant that had such tenacity for another who suffers (one accord), as when ‘one suffers’, all suffers with it as if it were they themselves were the ones afflicted. Independent ‘branches’ should speak as though we were all of one ‘Vine’.

You have led beautifully, you have spoken the NT narrative for yourself well, but more so an example for us to implore, He remains the same with healing in His wings! He closes and no one opens at times (affliction) having all the keys. Yet He opens and no one shuts with the liberty to use whatever method necessary. For no one can say Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:27) didn’t receive God’s mercy through the hands of some ‘beloved physician’.

All open doors from God are great, and here consecutively both the mercy and liberality. On behalf of what I hope has or will soon occur, we take the same in heart to petition this need by His blood before the throne of grace to find such help by either divine or mortal means. Praying.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Goodness, what brilliant attention sister! May I say, entering His rest does come with a heft of liberality with it. Oh’ but only if it was we, the congregant that had such tenacity for another who suffers (one accord), as when ‘one suffers’, all suffers with it as if it were they themselves were the ones afflicted. Independent ‘branches’ should speak as though we were all of one ‘Vine’.

You have led beautifully, you have spoken the NT narrative for yourself well, but more so an example for us to implore, He remains the same with healing in His wings! He closes and no one opens at times (affliction) having all the keys. Yet He opens and no one shuts with the liberty to use whatever method necessary. For no one can say Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:27) didn’t receive God’s mercy through the hands of some ‘beloved physician’.

All open doors from God are great, and here consecutively both the mercy and liberality. On behalf of what I hope has or will soon occur, we take the same in heart to petition this need by His blood before the throne of grace to find such help by either divine or mortal means. Praying.

Rocknanchor, Thank you for sharing that with me, for your encouragement. All glory to God. God bless you.