"NOT YOUR NORMAL, HAPPY SELF!"

This hasn’t been one of my better weeks as far as my physical health. Please don’t view this as complaining because this isn’t anything major. I have dear Christian friends who live with cancer, heart problems, and other serious illnesses every day for years. But I’ve been sicker than I can ever remember being. My sickness caused me to have to miss two appointments and I desperately wanted to be a part of both of them.

Finally got into the doctor late Monday afternoon and learned that I had strep throat. Probably also have the flu. Just about completely lost my voice and had a temp of 102. When the nurse came in to take my vitals she said, “It is obvious that you feel really bad, you are not your normal happy self.”  I’ve thought a lot about her statement while sitting in my chair not feeling like doing much of anything.

There are times in the life of every child of God when we don’t feel well. Some days we will not feel well physically, at times we will not feel well emotionally, and there will be times that we will not feel well spiritually.  So, what do we do when we don’t feel well?

REMEMBER THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF THE KING. Just because we don’t feel well doesn’t mean we can take a break from acting like a Christian. We still need to allow the glory of Jesus to be seen in us.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

REMEMBER TO SPEND TIME IN PRAYER TO THE FATHER. Those of us who preach are often called on to pray for others. We should always consider it an honor and a privilege to do so.

Yet, it is good and right for us to approach God’s throne when we have needs in our own life. (Hebrews 4:14-16) The Apostle Paul reminds us, “…not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE BETTER DAYS AHEAD. For those who are Christians, with every concern there is the hope that we will have better days ahead. If the worse happens we can say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Paul also reminds us that whatever difficulties God’s people endure in this life is insignificant compared to the eternal glory that shall someday be ours. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Dear Father in Heaven, we thank You for always taking care of us. We thank you for helping us get through difficult days in our lives, and we thank You for the promise of a brighter day. In the Name of our savior who makes life possible we pray, Amen.