Walking With Christ

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (7)So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (8)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (9)But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10)For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(ESV)

This is a good reminder for me. I’m not alone in affliction, but the impact of such afflictions is often not determined by what the actual problem is, but by how long it lasts. A momentary affliction, such as an itch on the tip of your nose, if often soon forgotten shortly after it is gone. A long-term illness or lengthy bout of chronic pain? That leaves a mark that doesn’t go away any time soon.

What we have to remember in these times is that how we respond to the affliction speaks to the truth of our faith just as much as the testimony of God taking the affliction away. To keep moving forward despite the problems we face, and to do so with joy that can only come from the Lord, is a testament to the strength of our faith, the depth of our belief that God is with us and will use the situation for good. It’s about knowing that even if we don’t ever come out from under that affliction that God will still use that situation to reach others in ways that we may never be aware of.

Our situation and how we approach it, how we live through it, shows others in the same or similar situations that the situation does not own us, it does not define us, and does not have to limit us. The fact that we can still carry our heads high, smile, and truly be joyful in the face of uncertainty, pain, and even death ultimately gives others permission to do the same. When others see us and begin to seek out what we have, they will universally be led back to our loving Father who holds us close to His heart.

When they discover the source of our joy for themselves and decide that they, too, are in need of being filled with such joy then they will also be saved and heaven and it’s host will rejoice.

We are joyful, in part, because we know that this life is really very short and whether it’s in this life or not, we will be healed. We will rise again and be made better than the best we’ve ever known. We know that our voices will soon join that celestial choir singing praises to God on high in celebration of the good works He has done on our behalf for the glory of His kingdom. The only tears in heaven will be the tears of joy as we look upon the face of the one who formed us in the womb.

This, too, shall pass and no matter how good or bad this life gets, heaven will be so unimaginably better. I, for one, am looking forward to it.