Can illness/disability teach us?

[JimB]

I know this is anecdotal, but I offer it just the same.

A recent conversation outside the door of my office is revealing. J., a member of our church who is very independent and self-sufficient, was talking to a lady about her recent surgery. For years she had suffered from a compressed disc that gave her excruciating pain. She had, of course, sought prayer for it and wanted God to heal her, but it grew worse. She waited on God for her healing, refusing to go to the doctor until she became incapacitated and could not work. Since she was a hospital employee, her boss insisted she get medical treatment and she was admitted to the hospital. Her condition required surgery that would lay her up for weeks. She complied and had surgery and when released from the hospital was bedfast for a number of weeks.

Since J. is a single woman, she had to rely on friends to help her during her recovery. They rallied, bringing her meals, helping her with therapy, running her errands. She was humbled and had to allow them to help her. Her mother, who lived nearby but from whom she had been estranged for a number of years, realizing her daughter needed her help, also responded and took over the lion’s share of the care for her daughter. During this time, both confronted the problem that had alienated them from one another, made amends with tears, begged each others’ forgiveness and restore a years’ long breach int their relationship.

The conversation outside the door of my office had J. telling her friend something like this (I am remembering it as best I can), “I thank God for putting me on my back. If He had not done that I may never have repaired my relationship with my mother or learned the wonderful grace of allowing others to care for me. The whole thing humbled me and I am a better person because of it. It was a wonderful lesson (discipline) for me.”

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12.11

~Jim

God feeds the sparrows, but He doesn’t drop the worms in their nest.​

 

[JimfromOhio]

I have posted my experiences and thoughts on this topic. There's no point dicussing this with Word of Faith followers. I am done.

 

[JimB]

I have posted my experiences and thoughts on this topic. There's no point dicussing this with Word of Faith followers. I am done.

Can’t blame you there. I would like to hear, though, from others who have been taught through illness/disability.

~Jim

God feeds the sparrows, but He doesn’t drop the worms in their nest.​

 

[probinson]

Can illness/disability teach us?

No.

Can God teach us in the midst of our illness/disability?

Yes.

 

[JustAFadedMemory]

For many reasons I was out of sorts with certain members of my family... for a number of years.
God convicted me of the situation and I obeyed Him and took steps to resolve. I had to forgive and repent... both at the same time.
I suppose if I had not obeyed Him I would have reaped in the flesh the disobediance I was sowing....

I will leave it to you to decide if this is the correct method by which God corrects us.

You can get as mad at me as you want...
But I did not spead a single minute in a hospital bed or wheelchair.

 

[msbojingles]

Can illness/disability teach us?

Yes.

Please do not lump all WoFers into one pile. It is very rude, and causes the "strife and divisions" that someone here supposedly had a recent revelation about.

 

[JimB]

If God can’t teach you through an illness, then you are right, He can’t. But if He can, He can.

~Jim

God feeds the sparrows, but He doesn’t drop the worms in their nest.​

 

[probinson]

If God can’t teach you through an illness,.....

But that wasn't your question. Your question was can ILLNESS teach us. An important distinction.

 

[msbojingles]

illness instructs people all the time - we can see this plainly in the secular world.

Someone becomes ill - many times they learn to manage their lives a little better, value each moment instead of wasting their time, they learn to take care of their bodies better...and the list goes on.

You know, these "healing debates" are truly sickening.

Just because something happens to me that is not God's will, does not mean God can't USE the experience to teach me.

I was molested for several years of my life growing up - that was NOT God's will. But THROUGH it I have learned much, much that I probably wouldn't have learned otherwise.

 

[msbojingles]

I have posted my experiences and thoughts on this topic. There's no point dicussing this with Word of Faith followers. I am done.

Statements like this are truly sickening as well.

 

[JimB]

But that wasn't your question. Your question was can ILLNESS teach us. An important distinction.

Okay, busted on semantics. I will restate the question: Can God teach us through illness/disability?

~Jim

God feeds the sparrows, but He doesn’t drop the worms in their nest.​

 

[Diatheke]

True story - no semantics.

My father and my uncle were estranged for more than 20 years, they would not even speak to one another.

My uncle got cancer and was very sick so my dad finally went and visited him and they made amends, then about an hour later my uncle died.

I praise God for giving my uncle cancer and a horribly painful and lingering death so my dad and my uncle could learn from their mistake and make up.

I'm sure my four cousins who grew up fatherless from that point on are very impressed with God for teaching my uncle and my dad that important lesson.

 

[desmalia]

Originally Posted by JimfromOhio
I have posted my experiences and thoughts on this topic. There's no point dicussing this with Word of Faith followers. I am done.

Statements like this are truly sickening as well.

Actually if you stop and look again you might find some legitimate frustration and possibly hurt behind that comment. We can choose to respond defensively or we can try and find a way to heal the situation and join in true fellowship. Where does it start? Will anyone step up and take the responsibility? Where is the love and grace?

 

[JustAFadedMemory]

illness instructs people all the time - we can see this plainly in the secular world.

Someone becomes ill - many times they learn to manage their lives a little better, value each moment instead of wasting their time, they learn to take care of their bodies better...and the list goes on.

You know, these "healing debates" are truly sickening.

Just because something happens to me that is not God's will, does not mean God can't USE the experience to teach me.

I was molested for several years of my life growing up - that was NOT God's will. But THROUGH it I have learned much, much that I probably wouldn't have learned otherwise.

I am sorry you were misused.... believe me I can commiserate.
But please rest assured God had nothing to do with bringing that evil upon you.

 

[Diatheke]

No (herniated and deformed back that causes extreme pain and suffering that I gave My child on purpose to teach her a little lesson) seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by (extreme pain, suffering and the slicing open of their spine with a razor followed by weeks and months of painful intensive therapy). Hebrews 12.11

 

[msbojingles]

Actually if you stop and look again you might find some legitimate frustration and possibly hurt behind that comment. We can choose to respond defensively or we can try and find a way to heal the situation and join in true fellowship. Where does it start? Will anyone step up and take the responsibility? Where is the love and grace?

Actually, if ANYONE stops and uses some common sense, blanket statements like that are NEVER "legitimate."

That's like saying..."one white person hurt me, so all white people are bad"

PULEASE

There is hurt and frustration on BOTH sides, and how much moreso, after someone comes on here after stating very clearly that the LORD has been speaking to them about strife and divisions, then come on here and blatantly say something offensive.

 

[JimB]

No (herniated and deformed back that causes extreme pain and suffering that I gave My child on purpose to teach her a little lesson) seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by (extreme pain, suffering and the slicing open of their spine with a razor followed by weeks and months of painful intensive therapy). Hebrews 12.11

Typical response. As though we are models for how God should parent us.

Like I say, if God can't teach you through illness or disablility, He can't. You're the loser for it. But if He can, He can.

~Jim

God feeds the sparrows, but He doesn’t drop the worms in their nest.​

 

[msbojingles]

I am sorry you were misused.... believe me I can commiserate.
But please rest assured God had nothing to do with bringing that evil upon you.

I don't blame God at all, I know He had NOTHING to do with it.

However, I cannot dismiss that I have learned much through it.

 

[Diatheke]

No (herniated and deformed back that causes extreme pain and suffering that I gave My child on purpose to teach her a little lesson) seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by (extreme pain, suffering and the slicing open of their spine with a razor followed by weeks and months of painful intensive therapy). Hebrews 12.11

Typical response. As though we are models for how God should parent us.

Like I say, if God can't teach your through illness or disablility, He can't. You're the loser for it. But if He can, He can.

~Jim

God feeds the sparrows, but He doesn’t drop the worms in their nest.​

Sorry my response seems typical to you Jim but sometimes it helps to personalize the verse in order to see how terribly absurd the line of thought really is.

 

[Tenebrae]

I would have to say yes

Case scenario, in point. I am currently on summer holidays and at the start of the holidays God told me very clearly that He wanted me to have a holiday these holidays. I could work part time, but God was very clear that I had to take time off, to relax and recharge, because I am hitting a really busy year next year. Am going to be doing six papers and the norm is four.

Anyhow, about 2 weeks ago I started sliding into really bad depression, the kind of souls sucking stop the world I want off type depression, I was also experiencing hallucinations etc

For the last two weeks I have also been working like 13 out of the 14 days.

I know that God didnt put this depression on me to teach me, however I believe it was the result of me stepping out of Gods will. When I realised what had happened and took steps to get back in Gods will, the depression stopped and my life returned to normal almost immediately. What did I learn from this lesson? It is important to abide in Gods will for my life. Did God cause the depression and pyschosis, no.