What makes us well with our soul?
Matt 9:22 "Woman, your faith has made you well."
Job 12:5 So what do we do with "contempt for misfortune"?
Our comfortable society doesn't want you to suffer.
If misfortune befalls, we are labeled, diagnosed, frowned upon.
Job 12:9 "The Hand of the LORD has done this."
Why is it so hard for us to reconcile, wrestle, embrace that?
Why does religion want to paint a Good God Who allows no harm?
God is using our suffering to draw us to Himself.
When I prepare my case before Him, Job 13:8,
Oh, my arrogance.
Job 11:5 "Oh, that God would speak."
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!
That God would speak. I tremble.
Our flesh does not want to suffer.
Our society does not want us in trouble.
I have no answers. No solutions for life.
But I have faith. We live by faith not sight,
that makes my weary sin-sick soul well.
It is well. Yes, as Julian wrote, all manner is well.
Yes, as I just glanced up at the red light, and oh my!
A bumper sticker on the car ahead of me reads:
"All is well with my soul." A providential stop.
" She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment."
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, friends! I'm sorry to get a late start. I was having a little block (I will call it) and thought I shouldn't commit to reading with you because I felt I needed the NIV version since it's easier for me to understand. Satan was a little crafty and I didn't even realize it until last night. Anyway, I hope you are all well. I need to read some former posts to get caught up with your lives but unfortunately I don't have time today. I really want to be more present here in 2012.
I am inspired this morning by the woman's faith and determination to touch Jesus' cloak so she could be healed. Oh, and I love how He calls her "daughter." That word makes me feel loved! Have a great weekend.
p.s. I just wanted to tell you that I am going to be doing a Monday post on my personal blog every week (Bev, like we did in the beginning, thanks to you!-loved it and miss it terribly) that will summarize what touched me most and how I hope to apply these readings to my life. Anyone interested in joining me? If not, that's okay. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is well with my soul because He Is - even though there is heartbreak, loss, confusion, sickness and frustration, I can say, sometimes with tears, it is well with my soul.
ReplyDelete“Though he slay me, yet will I trust him;” --Job 13:15 "this is the most sublime utterance of faith in the whole of the Bible."--Oswald Chambers
ReplyDelete“Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” –John 6:68-69
Today, like the woman who touched the hem of His garment, our faith makes us well. Do we believe He alone is the answer to every problem, every crisis? Do we know, whatever comes our way, whatever suffering we endure, where else would we go? He holds the words to Life, the keys to Kingdom living. We can trust Him, even if it kills us, and ultimately, it will. And at that time, only one thing will matter, did we trust Jesus as Lord?
Our compassionate Saviour touched the harassed and helpless.
ReplyDeleteTHE BLEEDING WOMAN WHO SUFFERED FOR 12 YEARS...
"And instantly the woman was made well."
THE RULER'S DEAD DAUGHTER...
"he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose."
THE TWO BLIND MEN...
"And their eyes were opened."
THE MUTE WHO WAS DEMON-OPPRESSED...
"the demon cast out,
the mute man spoke."
I looked a man in the eyes today, he told me he just found out he has lung cancer. I could feel the compassion of Jesus through the Spirit living in me.
Another co-worker walks daily in the bitterness of a wife who just found out she is not her father's daughter by blood. Christ encourages him through me to love her through these dark days.
And another co-worker has been away from work since October caring for his wife suffering with cancer...they are struggling to find out what kind in order to treat it the most aggressively. I write him prayers and send them in emails as the Spirit prompts me.
I see the touch of Jesus in these needs. I can hear the fear in their voice. I can feel the depth of their faith to believe and overcome the darkness.
Matthew 9:37-38
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Who in your life needs the touch of The Master. Let Him labor through you.
Just a few short hours after I wrote this post, I drove to work and stopped at a red light. The bumper sticker on the car in front of me said: All Is Well With My Soul ~ Kind of took my breath away!
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