“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Isaiah 40:29
How gracious God is to give us the strength we need when we need it. Have you ever fainted? What did God do for you? Was someone there to pick you up? I have fainted, and God saw to it that “someone” was there to pick me up at just the right time. Have you been sick and needed the strength to get out of the bed? Did someone help you? I have had a number of strokes in my life and every time, God has had someone with me to keep me from falling.
Right now, I am trying to recover from a mini-stroke and need physical therapy to give me strength to walk again. God, in his mercy, has given me what I need at no cost to me!
However, there are times when God takes away physical strength so he can give spiritual strength. Paul says that “When I am weak, then I am strong” 1 Corinthians 12:10. That is because when we are weak, we must depend on God. We know we cannot manage for ourselves, so we say, “Lord, please help me.”
Another gracious thing God does when we are weak is to give others an opportunity to help us. My children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have been giving me help as I recover from my stroke. I’m not sure how great an “opportunity” they think this is! But they do it anyway.
Sometimes God makes us weak to make us more sympathetic with others.
I used to say to my doctor husband that I wish he could be a patient for a while!
Right now, I’m trying to learn that God knows what I need when I need it, so I can relax, but for me that’s hard!
How are you doing?
Dear Rosemary - I am so sorry to hear that you had another mini stroke that has left you weakened. I am very glad that you have family who helps you right now. What an invaluable gift that is. I have fainted in my life, physically and also emotionally, through hard trials. No one was there to help me during the physical fainting, and that's ok. Some were there sometimes to help during the emotional fainting. Most of the time I was alone. But Jesus was always there for me then, and He was sweeter, more beautiful than any human help would have or could have been. He has become my All because of this. I am so grateful.
ReplyDeleteAs for others helping you, let me say from personal experience of helping my own mother after her strokes, it was a sweet privilege to do so. I am sure that your family members treasure the moments that they have with you and are very glad to help in any way you need it. It is during those times that we get to see your courage, vulnerability, and the Lord tenderly there giving the grace you need to bear it. As we age, we can be the pathfinders who show our dear ones how to ebb graciously, with hope never dying even as our body parts continue to weaken. We get to demonstrate that while our bodies are passing away, inwardly we are being renewed every day. Every day we get closer to glory - and people desperately need to see the reality of this. So keep the joy in your heart and on your face, Rosemary, so all can see the reality of Christ in you - the only hope of glory. You will help them face their own ebbing with courage, instead of fear. You will teach them without saying anything that it is Jesus Who gives courage and grace and is with you during the fearful moments. Thank you very much for making the effort and taking the time to continue this blog. I know it is not easy for you to do this. But we appreciate this so much. I look here each week to know you are still able, still there serving the Lord and will be until your last breath. You have impacted many throughout your life, and you are still having impact as you ebb. That is a big thing for me. And I am sure that I am not alone in this. It is a great thing. Thank you dear servant of The Most High God.