I’m traveling through an uncomfortable season. After a significant fall a few months ago, my back is a mess. Turns out my old bones are not happy when they slam backward against a cement block wall. What I thought originally would just be a massive nasty bruise has turned into a very angry spinal column. Restorative sleep is fleeting. The pain marches to its own drummer. Some days are not too bad. Others are agony.
A DIFFERENT SUMMER
Months ago I began planning what I would do this summer. God has nixed most of it. The other day as I sat on my back porch (usually my happy place), I realized that this summer will be different than what I envisioned. I sat there arguing with God (yes, I do argue with God).
THE HARDER WE LEARN, THE STRONGER WE GROW
Then I read this quote from J.I. Packer: “God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. To live with your ‘thorn’ uncomplainingly—that is, sweet, patient, and free in heart to love and help others, even though every day you feel weak—is true sanctification. It is true healing for the spirit. It is a supreme victory of grace.”
REACH FORWARD
What does God say about leaning? “Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14)
God, You definitely have my attention. I’m leaning forward and leaning hard.
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