I can't help but notice that some people think that if you're a Christian and truly know God that it means you should be healed of any sickness or disease. I just can't buy into that. I'm not saying that you can't be healed, we all know God has the power to do such things, and he does. But there's also many reasons he might not heal someone, but that's something that's much harder for our eyes to see, or for our minds to even comprehend.
Now some of you may already know, that the Lord is preparing to take my father. I know not when this will happen, although I do feel it will be very soon. But I do have a certain amount of understanding as to why it needs to happen, but that's another post in itself. The reason for this post is to show that sometimes there are hidden lessons, etc. that we learn through the afflictions of our loved ones. That maybe God has other reasons for allowing someone to have a disease, or illness that wont be healed. So I will tell you about my own earthly father, and what I have learned through him, and the inflictions he has suffered in his life.
I think back to a time when I felt I was robbed of a father. While other kids had a father who could drive them around to different places, and do things with them. My father couldn't because he's been bound to a wheelchair since my early childhood, and there have always been many things he couldn't do physically.
I see things in a different light now, I no longer wonder about why God never healed him, or even question it. I think back to what my father taught me, he taught me many things possibly without even knowing it. Nor did I know I was learning anything at the time. But now the Lord has helped open my eyes, and I can see it more clearly.
So here are a few things I have learned, and things I have seen. Things I might not have learned at all if my father was healthy.
I saw how God provided for our family. We had all that we needed, even though neither of my parents worked. We never had to go beg, borrow, or steal. God provided us with all that we needed.
I learned to be independent. While other kids were being driven here or there, or relying on their fathers to do things for them. I learned to do more for myself, because my father couldn't do them for me.
I was able to learn about perseverance. Even though my father only had the use of one hand, and couldn't walk. He did many things that amazed me. When he started a project he always stuck to it, and finished it. He never let the fact that things were harder for him to accomplish stand in his way. I never heard him complain, he faces each day one at a time, and simply accepts whatever new struggle he might have to face, and sees it through.
I learned about patience. Simple things that might take us a couple minutes to do take my father much longer, but he never let that make him angry, he just takes his time and gets them done anyway, without one single complaint.
I learned that you should never judge someone by their apperance. Just because someone might be different, or have some disability doesn't make them any less of a person, or any different in the eyes of God. God only sees what's in our hearts, we should always see others in the same way.
These are just a few of the things I learned from watching my father. Things I might not have ever learned, had he been healthy. Lessons that could only come from someone who trusts in God. I also know that he could have never faced things the way he has, without having God in his life.
When I went to the hospital to visit my Dad, I prayed about if I needed to talk with him about God. And the answer I got was... No he already knows the way. Just be with him.
So I do not question my fathers salvation one bit. Although it seems some people think that I should. I feel it needs to be said, that if someone tries to convince you, that if someone isn't physically healed that they aren't truly saved, that just isn't true. I'm reminded of not only Job, but also of Lazarus.
Someone with physical limitations face greater hurdles than those who don't. And even when darkness surrounds them, they still have faith in Jesus. They have a light that shines brighter than all the rest. It cuts right through all the darkness, and serves as a tool to teach, and reach others. How they to can overcome the darkness, how when trouble comes our way, no matter how great it is, or how powerless we may be against it. There is still one thing we can always put our faith in, and that is Jesus Christ, because he will see us through all the trials we may come up against in this world. I think there's much to be said for someone who when faced with disease and illness, still clings to their faith in Christ. How great their faith must be, to keep trusting in him for all things. I don't think they lack faith at all, I think they clearly show that they have an even greater faith, than some of us can even begin to understand.
Now some of you may already know, that the Lord is preparing to take my father. I know not when this will happen, although I do feel it will be very soon. But I do have a certain amount of understanding as to why it needs to happen, but that's another post in itself. The reason for this post is to show that sometimes there are hidden lessons, etc. that we learn through the afflictions of our loved ones. That maybe God has other reasons for allowing someone to have a disease, or illness that wont be healed. So I will tell you about my own earthly father, and what I have learned through him, and the inflictions he has suffered in his life.
I think back to a time when I felt I was robbed of a father. While other kids had a father who could drive them around to different places, and do things with them. My father couldn't because he's been bound to a wheelchair since my early childhood, and there have always been many things he couldn't do physically.
I see things in a different light now, I no longer wonder about why God never healed him, or even question it. I think back to what my father taught me, he taught me many things possibly without even knowing it. Nor did I know I was learning anything at the time. But now the Lord has helped open my eyes, and I can see it more clearly.
So here are a few things I have learned, and things I have seen. Things I might not have learned at all if my father was healthy.
I saw how God provided for our family. We had all that we needed, even though neither of my parents worked. We never had to go beg, borrow, or steal. God provided us with all that we needed.
I learned to be independent. While other kids were being driven here or there, or relying on their fathers to do things for them. I learned to do more for myself, because my father couldn't do them for me.
I was able to learn about perseverance. Even though my father only had the use of one hand, and couldn't walk. He did many things that amazed me. When he started a project he always stuck to it, and finished it. He never let the fact that things were harder for him to accomplish stand in his way. I never heard him complain, he faces each day one at a time, and simply accepts whatever new struggle he might have to face, and sees it through.
I learned about patience. Simple things that might take us a couple minutes to do take my father much longer, but he never let that make him angry, he just takes his time and gets them done anyway, without one single complaint.
I learned that you should never judge someone by their apperance. Just because someone might be different, or have some disability doesn't make them any less of a person, or any different in the eyes of God. God only sees what's in our hearts, we should always see others in the same way.
These are just a few of the things I learned from watching my father. Things I might not have ever learned, had he been healthy. Lessons that could only come from someone who trusts in God. I also know that he could have never faced things the way he has, without having God in his life.
When I went to the hospital to visit my Dad, I prayed about if I needed to talk with him about God. And the answer I got was... No he already knows the way. Just be with him.
So I do not question my fathers salvation one bit. Although it seems some people think that I should. I feel it needs to be said, that if someone tries to convince you, that if someone isn't physically healed that they aren't truly saved, that just isn't true. I'm reminded of not only Job, but also of Lazarus.
Someone with physical limitations face greater hurdles than those who don't. And even when darkness surrounds them, they still have faith in Jesus. They have a light that shines brighter than all the rest. It cuts right through all the darkness, and serves as a tool to teach, and reach others. How they to can overcome the darkness, how when trouble comes our way, no matter how great it is, or how powerless we may be against it. There is still one thing we can always put our faith in, and that is Jesus Christ, because he will see us through all the trials we may come up against in this world. I think there's much to be said for someone who when faced with disease and illness, still clings to their faith in Christ. How great their faith must be, to keep trusting in him for all things. I don't think they lack faith at all, I think they clearly show that they have an even greater faith, than some of us can even begin to understand.