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Many of us are “doers.” We do not enjoy “being.” That translates into our Christian life too. We feel we are more in tune with God’s Plan when we do something for Him.
When we do not do something, we feel useless. But are we useless to God? Is it possible that all that “doing” was really about us and not about Him?
As I have suffered a season of weakness due to health problems, I have had to cut back my activities more and more. My mind still thinks of so many things I want to do, but my body keeps saying, “Not today.”
As I have grappled with these adjustments, I have had the troubling thought of “what if I reach a point where I can’t do anything.” I asked God if He would take me Home then.
He said, “You won’t go Home until I have finished using My Body on earth.”
He reminded me my body belongs to Him.
Paul said,
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of The Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own .. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Since our bodies belong to God, He can use them in any way He chooses to use them. He does not need our permission.
He is not even obligated to sign off on our petitions of what He should do with our bodies.
He does not require us to do anything. In fact our doing may be a hindrance to what He has in mind.
He reminds us again and again,
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10
God has brought to mind the many people through whom He ministered to me, even when their physical bodies were not strong.
Indeed their witness was even more powerful because it was so obvious that The Power was coming not from them, but through them from God Himself.
I followed the writings of an ALS patient for years. His “writings” came from eye blinks to a computer. Each one was a treasure.
Joni Eareckson Tada has blessed me over and over again with her teachings. She is a quadriplegic from a spinal cord injury suffered as a teenager.
I was blessed to be at the bedsides of many transitioning saints during my hospice work. I not only witnessed the full measure of Love flowing out of weak bodies, but I was the grateful recipient of their last lessons.
I saw families and friends give love and care to those whose physical or mental bodies no longer functioned. I saw The Power of God draw people together, both physically and long distance in prayer.
I saw my mother in her last days on earth, immobile in a hospital bed, and yet singing praises to God and praying for each of our family, friends, nurses and doctors by name. The Power of God filled her room.
I asked my student nurses to ask their residents at the nursing home what their plans were for the future. A wonderful lady was over 100 years old and bedfast. Her answer.
“I am going to lie right here in this bed and let you learn on me until The Lord calls me Home.”
God’s Power can flow, even through weak human bodies. Each body is His Body, created to reflect His Glory.
Paul, who wrote over half of our New Testament Bible, appeared to have had physical problems of some kind, but he did not give up. He is the one who shared our bodies are not our own. He knew. He surrendered to The Power within.
He wrote,
“When I am weak, then I am strong!”
2 Corinthians 12:10
That does not make much sense until you reread it and realize God told Moses His Name is I AM.
So Paul is right.
“When I am weak, then I AM (God’s Name) strong!”
2 Corinthians 12:10
