Gift of a Handicap

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 30. Here is what I learned.

Lord, my God, I ·prayed to you [cried to you for help], and you healed me. Psalm 30:2 (EXB)

Eternal One, my True God, I cried out to You for help; You mended the shattered pieces of my life.  Psalm 30:2 (VOICE) 

"Thou hast healed me." The verb is used, either for the healing of bodily disorders, or to denote the happy alteration of any person's affairs, either in private or public life, by the removal of any kind of distress, personal or national. So in the place before us: "Thou hast healed me," means, Thou hast brought me out of my distresses, hast restored my health, and rendered me safe and prosperous. Samuel Chandler

One question I’m often asked is “Why doesn’t God heal you?” And most often, the person asking has some reason that it is “my fault” that I’m not healed, such as sin, not enough faith, etc. I’m written many times that God CAN heal me, but He has chosen not to. God is capable of doing whatever He wants. He can heal me—and that is not dependent upon me or what I do. 

As David gives praise and glory to Lord, my God, for his healing, I think the thing to remember here is the job God had designed for David. David was to be King of Israel. God wanted him healthy to guide His chosen people. 

There are others in Scripture who had illnesses or afflictions but God decided NOT to heal. Paul had an problems with his eyes. But God chose not the heal Paul because He wanted to remind Paul to rely God’s grace and strength... and not a get a “big head” because the work God chose Paul to do. 

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (MSG)

“You healed me.” I have to say that I do think that God has healed me. Not from the physical pain, but from the soul pain of “why am I not healed?” I continue to learn that God has different ways to heal, and He heals in accordance to His plan. For me, He allows the physical pain, but has given me overwhelming peace knowing that God is working to accomplish His will through me. I have a constant reminder that God is at work, and that He loves me and cares for me. Yes, my pain is a reminder of God’s love. For I know that He gave me this “gift of a handicap” to remind me of my limitations, and rely on God’s grace and strength! 

To create a positive day, I need to thank God for His gift of a handicap, and to use it to share His amazing love with others.

God's Grace

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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Just finished a Bible Study on God's Grace. Learned some amazing things, however, one thing which stood out to me was the verse above.

As I did some word studies on 2 Corinthians 12:9, here is what I learned.

He has said: originally, “lay down to sleep,” used of laying an argument to rest, moving to a conclusion 
sufficient: be content, be enough, suffice,
power: ability to perform; power through God’s ability
perfected: reaching the end (aim); it is well-illustrated with the old pirate’s telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness); reaching the capacity effectiveness
weakness: without strength; refers to an ailment that deprives someone of enjoying or accomplishing what they would like to do, focuses on the handicaps that go with the weakness
may dwell: to dwell in a pitched tent; to pitch (live in) a tent (residence!)

 Here's my translation of the verse:

God ended all questioning or arguments. Nothing more needs to be said, period—His grace is enough so that I can be content. God is the source of power which allows me to reach true and full effectiveness through my weakness  (and all it keeps me from doing); so that God's ability will take up residence within me. 

Living with chronic pain, I fully understand "weakness". However, as I studied the meaning of that word, I learned it meant more than "without strength". It takes into account all handicaps that go with my weakness. God fully understands that when there is weakness, there are things which can't be done.

However, God gives me His grace so that I'll be satisfied and content, knowing that God provides all the ability necessary for me to reach my full capacity of effectiveness. WOW! 

There are many things which my chronic pain prevents me from doing, however, God's grace and power are much greater than my weakness, and He supplies the power to accomplish His will.

Even with the limits my pain creates, I can still be effective—because of God's power and grace!

My limitations only make God's grace and power more evident, because there is NO WAY I could do it on my own! 

As I go about my day, if I continue to rely on God's grace letting His power take up full residence in me, I will create a positive day—as I will be fully effective for Him! WOW!