Heaven · trials

Former Things

RefreshHer
peppermint tea
Flu, sinus infection, broken limb, pneumonia, gall bladder attacks, migraines, fever, back ache, joint pain, cataracts, heart attack and a million other maladies are all a part of people’s lives every day.  Some people live with chronic pain for years.  Others deal with periodic illness.  Most all of us surely have had our share of sickness.  Even when you read the Scriptures you read about leprosy, fever, blindness, blood issues, lame legs, and so on.

During a recent recurrence of a migraine, I was awakened after midnight with the nausea it caused.  I rose to fix myself a cup of hot peppermint tea to ease the discomfort in my stomach.  While sipping the steaming liquid in the dim nightlight I’d turned on, I reached for my pad of paper and pen and wrote down some thoughts I’d been thinking during the night.  I wrote: Why God allows us to be sick:

  1. It reminds us how weak our flesh is.
  2. It makes us run to the Lord.  (Remember the woman with the issue of blood who came to find Jesus and touch the hem of his robe?)
  3. It enables us to sympathize and be compassionate with others.
  4. It makes us thankful for days when we feel well.
  5. It reminds us we’re not home yet.

We may not enjoy being sick, but, as funny as it sounds, it is good for us.

Revelation 21:4 says,

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  

What a wonderful promise this verse is; I remind myself of it whenever I have a migraine.

Whatever discomfort you or someone you care about is dealing with today, remind yourself of the truth – One Day all these illnesses will be “former things!”

With love (and a cup of peppermint tea),

Published by RefreshHer

4 thoughts on “Former Things”

  2. I have experienced an outbreak of poison ivy this week–not sure how or where I came in contact with it–and have been crazy with itching. So thankful for relief that is coming thanks to a trip to the 24-hour care clinic. I agree—illness helps us to realize our many blessings we often take for granted. To my list of gratitude, I can add: Not itching, being able to wear a sleeve without it irritating my arm, medicines and lotions that bring comfort, a husband who is caring and sympathetic, clinics, and Benadryl. Thankful, as you mentioned and I read today, that we aren’t home yet. Our bodies now groan but one day, we will be home with the Lord!

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