He Will Strengthen Us

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

There’s nothing worse than constant pain. The continual grinding, aching, and throbbing never really goes away, and the hurt becomes something we resolve to live with. One can’t sleep soundly at night for sharpness of the irritation. I have been nursing a torn tendon in my shoulder for the past four months. It began as an occasional sharp pain, but as time passed worsened into agony.

Regardless of how I move the pain only redirects from stinging to searing. The doctor sent me to physical therapy where I had a picture of some sort of instant healing. I thought these people would have me up and running in a couple of weeks. Boy was I wrong. I have to work hard at the simple exercises the therapist gives me. Little things I thought would be easy are massive. I realized as I began this process of strengthening and healing just how weak I am and exactly how much I take for granted.

As I stood repetitively stretching a band to strengthen my shoulder I began to realize how very ill-equipped I am spiritually. I love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind, but still I am weak in so many ways. With each pull of the band, I counted the times I have failed my Heavenly Father. I don’t fail Him in the big responsibilities of being a Christian, but I fail Him frequently in the small things. How much of His word do I know by heart? How many individuals do I touch by my example? Do I carry His gentleness, and forgiveness?

Often we pray for God to provide for us, to heal us, and to help us but rarely do we pray for Him to truly give us strength to turn from our wickedness. Wicked sounds so mean and evil, but in fact, wickedness is simply sin. We all sin – after all we’re human and though that’s not a valid excuse, it is indigenous of our species. We sin because we are weak. And to think, it took my physical therapist to show me just how weak I am. It just goes to show, God has a plan and He uses whom ever necessary to make His plan complete - even when those individuals don't realize it.

In every situation we can learn – even through our physical weakness and pain, we can search for the lessons God may ask us to learn. When we learn humility, admit our weaknesses, and pray, God will heal us. It may not be the torn tendon, but there will be healing from within. Okay, so I’ll do two more sets of twenty. One, two, three…..

Prayer: Father, we lift our hands before You, reaching for Your redeeming love and strength. Forgive us when we fail.