When my friend Jimmy’s cancer returned for the fourth time, he made a choice. Though he knew the path ahead would be difficult (another invasive, painful surgery inside his lung), he strove to bring glory to God. So during his week-long, post-operative stay in the hospital, he greeted the doctors and nurses (and anyone who entered his room) with a smile and ever-ready discussions of God and faith. Then, when he began to mend, he walked the halls and poked his head into patients’ rooms, ministering to them. He spread “Jimmy joy” wherever he went.
Jimmy’s journey through cancer has been inspiring to me. He’s lived out what Jesus taught us through the sickness of one of his friends. Although Lazarus was “very sick,” Jesus told those near to Him that some good would come from the illness. There was purpose in His friend’s pain. In fact, Jesus said, “[Lazarus’ sickness] happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this” (John 11:4).
When Jesus later entered Bethany (John 11:17), the people were grieving. But Jesus pushed them toward believing. He asked Lazarus’ sister Martha if she truly believed that He had power to raise her brother back to life and to provide eternal life to those who trust in Him (John 11:23-26). She replied, “Lord, I have always believed You.”
Then, just moments before raising Lazarus back to life, Jesus proclaimed, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” (John 11:40). It takes true belief to bring glory to God in your sickness and pain.
Will you choose to spread some “Jimmy joy” as you deal with the difficult things God is allowing you to go through? If so, you’ll bring glory to Him and be a blessing to others!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 1:57-80
More:
Check out Philippians 2:6-11 to see the glory that Jesus received due to His pain and suffering on the cross.
Next:
What makes it hard to bring God glory when you’re dealing with personal pain and sickness? How will you strive to glorify God through a current trial in your life?
eppistle on June 8, 2011 at 6:47 am
We can’t choose whether to have trials or not. But we can choose how we will respond to them. If we respond with rejoicing in the Lord in spite of our trials we will become better people. If we don’t we will become bitter people.
woody on June 8, 2011 at 6:00 pm
In all things we give God the glory,
in the good and the bad no matter what,
He will watch over us.
Praise Him
ecieun on June 8, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Thank you so much for this passage. Really encouraged me.
Sometimes, God brings delay to our life the way He delayed the healing of Lazarus. Everyone was looking for a healing but Jesus was looking for a resurrection. I guess in trials, we need to look beyond the normal circumstances and look to God’s divine purpose for His ways are higher than our ways.
James 1:2-3
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
lots of love and blessing
Lilian on June 13, 2011 at 6:46 pm
It is in our weaknesses that God comes out strong in our lives to remind us that all the glory is to him and him alone, as humans we tend to forget that.
As his word say in (2 Corinthians 12:10)”Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” God is teaching me this with the sickness that I am going through right now. I’m claiming his word Psalm 103:3 & Isaiah 53:5 and believing him for my complete healing and I have learnt to thank him in advance for he has already healed all manner of sickness and diseases at Calvary. Thank you Lord that I am healed in the name of JESUS…