Talking to my grams the other day she told me about the ways things where when she raised her children. She talked about the difference between sickness & medicine today than back then. How kids were rarely sick because they didn’t count on Walgreens and CVS pharmacies but on the same stuff they grew up on. You know stuff like castor oil for colds, sweet oil for ear aches, warm tea and calamine lotion for chicken pox. When kids were sick, they were at home and if you had a baby you stayed in for 6 weeks. See, grandmas and mommas then had faith that God was the only healer they need. They trusted his word that states “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Like 1:37) They didn’t have the medical bills, copays, prescriptions and all these surgeries that we suffer with today.
Now, we got a pharmacy and doctor’s office on almost every corner. For headaches we take Goody’s, Excedrin and BC’s when God says, I’ll be all you need. For arthritis in the knees, we got bengay and Advil when God says, use your knees to pray and I’ll send relief. For upset stomachs we take Pepto Bismol, Colonoscopies and scopes down our throats when God says have the faith the size of a mustard seed and I’ll send relief. We complain about our shoes, feet hurting and corns but we won’t walk for God. We complain about carpal tunnel in our arms and hands, but won’t wave them to give God praise. We take vitamins for strength when Exodus 15:2 says, “The LORD is my strength and my song.” We cry over a broken heart when Psalm 73:26 says “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” When doctor says disease, we give up but God’s says give it to me! Doctor says you got 2 weeks to live but God says “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”
Why do we depend on anything other than God’s word? Now, I’m not saying to not trust the doctors because God has given them (well some) a gift as well. What I am saying is, trust God first and then what you hear or go through will be that much easier. If you’ve already decided that you’re dying then all you hear from the doctor’s mouth is a death sentence. But, oh, if you go in knowing that you shall live and not die, it doesn’t matter what diagnosis or grim news the doctors deliver because God got it all worked out. Yea, the chemo, radiation, surgery, knee replacements, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart attack or stroke may have a hold on you now but chile, God won’t let it break you. Psalms 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Ain’t that good news and isn’t that enough? You might be sick and your body is weak and aching with pain, but hold on. You might be ready to throw in the towel, but hold on. You may be on your bed of affliction but God can raise you up.
Getting over diseases – That’s God! God is able and he won’t bring you to anything he won’t give you what you need to get over it! Trust God! Believe God! Praise God!
Lakisha, the Author 