The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Rom 8:19
18 years ago Dani was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Her bravery in the face of growing disability has inspired many of us to greater faith in how God can strengthen the inner person. Last week she underwent another MRI and the doctor called to discuss the results. There was now no sign of the disease as recorded on previous tests. The copy of the report mailed to us confirmed what the doctor said. We were torn between celebration and confusion over the continuing symptoms. About three days later a second report arrived. It turned out the first result applied only to the scan of her neck and the second applied to the brain where the disease showed itself plainly. There is a lesson in this experience.
It is foolish to let our joy yoyo with physical circumstances. I tend to fixate on the current events in my life and miss the much larger picture. God is forever trying to enlarge my perspective to not be so shallow, frail, and stuck on the temporal. "You are consumed by the struggle," He challenges, "and forget the struggle is only the springboard to eternal glory."
An accusation many of us have hurled at Heaven is, 'How can a God of love allow suffering?' The plain answer is He agrees with us and has stepped in with a plan to end death, illness, evil, injustice, disunity, heartache, Multiple Sclerosis, and every other tragedy mankind brought on himself. The question is not where is God when there is suffering but where is man when there is a remedy? Am I so busy with my self important finger pointing that I will be left out of the solution? Our Heavenly Father has never been able to stomach the corruption of His creation. However in His perspective enduring a crushed body for a few years is more than worth the eternal joy, celebration, and praise that will be ours if we bear up with His strength. There is a stadium-wide bowl filled to the brim with golden reward. Sure there is a gnat flailing in our treasure but already the Mighty Hand is moving to remove it. Shall I choose to obsess with my tiny present sufferings to the exclusion of the overflowing bowl? I think not.
Prayer: Holy Father, let me see life with Your eyes.
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