One memory that lingers with me to this day, having a profound affect took place one summer during college. It was the wonderful summer after my freshman year; the same summer I learned I had a rare, progressive, and incurable eye disease…Retinitis Pigmentosa. The same summer a doctor informed me I was legally blind due to my peripheral vision.
As I sat at my parents’ home soaking in the news, I decided to write a few friends requesting prayer. Within a week, I received a response from Kathy, a member of the Bible study I attended in the spring. Taking in a deep breath, half afraid of her reaction, I read slowly. You see, she believed in healing. So did I, but I didn’t necessarily believe God chose to heal everyone on this earth. After all, we wouldn’t ever desire to get new bodies and go to heaven to be with Him, would we? Okay, so I don’t think normal, but if you read my blog often, you already know that.
Let me explain. My perception of many in my Bible study was that if you weren’t healed, it was a sign of unbelief…a lack of faith. To feel blamed for my diagnosis when I loved the Lord with all my heart didn’t seem right. That thinking meant God would heal me if I had the right reaction. If not, too bad, too sad. It wouldn’t be a miraculous healing if my faith was the only factor, would it? Through my eyes, I had faith. I believed in healing, but if I went blind, then according to them, I’d learn my faith wasn’t enough. The weight would be more than I could bear, if that was the case.
In the middle of those ponderings, my eyes caught words of compassion, followed by “It’s not the circumstances God looks at as much as the way we react to them.” Relief replaced anxiety and hope returned. Healing wasn’t the focal point this time – my reaction was.
God does care about what happens to us. He does answer prayers and He heals, but no amount of quoting scripture or begging can force Him to manifest it, in my opinion. Disease, sickness, and disasters are part of a fallen world. Are we going to love and trust Him in spite of, or are we going to be selfish and beg like a spoiled child. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve witnessed many miracles, healings included, but the purpose is to glorify God. Healings show unbelievers the power of God to draw them to Him. For Christians, they are a wonderful fringe benefit.
Remember, the saying states God is more interested in our reactions to every problem. We all live with something…physically, emotionally, relationally, financially, intellectually, and spiritually. As these troubles come our way, what will be your reaction?
Have you ever thought about the effects of our reactions on those around us? Do they glorify God? Do they draw people closer to Him or farther away? These are tough questions, I know. They are ones I’ve pondered since that summer long ago. Now you can understand why it lingers so.
Let me give you one more thought. Reactions come automatically from deep within, so it’s important to put in what you want to come out. It won’t change on its own. And, even more importantly, your reaction is teaching others how to react.
How did this post change your perception? Do you need to work on your reactions? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
If you got something out of this, please take time to share it with your friends to benefit them as well. Thanks. Have you checked out my new “Freebies” section? More to come in time.
© 2016, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
Hi Jena!
To me…..this is one of your most powerful blogs you have written. This is a topic that most people hesitate to talk about because of the nature of sensitivity that can come with the subject of healing. We know that God is sovereign, yet many people get bitter when either they themselves or their loved one doesn’t receive healing as we see fit. We know that healing has been provided for because in 1 Peter 2:24 God’s word states, “Who his own self bare our sins in HIS own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye WERE healed. That is an incredibly powerful scripture that I believe with all of my heart. Never the less, we see many people every day that have not received their healing. My own father was one of those people…..he died of an unexplained lung disease at the age of 62. My family prayed day and night and day and night! Our family had been taught in the faith that we belonged to that that if you only have enough faith……what you are believing for will happen. It didn’t! As I have matured and continued to grow in the Lord, I have chosen to have the right reaction as you have stated in your blog and to God be the glory for his sovereign decisions beyond my comprehension. For HIS ways are higher than my ways and HIS thought, than my thoughts.
No matter what….I will praise him for ever and for always.
Pastor Robin
Hi Robin. Thank you for summarizing my views so eloquently, and for sharing your story as well. My intention wasn’t to bring up a hot topic, but rather, an example of my thoughts leading up to reading that profound saying. Of course, no saying is more important than God’s Word. Healing could be a book in itself. Many turn from God when not healed, not realizing His sovereignty.