It’s easy to miss today’s short passage when reading the book of Galatians. We rightly focus on Paul’s important teaching that salvation is a gift from God, and nothing but faith (rather than keeping the Jewish law) is needed in order to receive it. These few verses in chapter 4, however, have a beauty all their own.
It seems that Paul wasn’t originally planning to visit the Roman province of Galatia during his early missionary journeys. An illness forced him there (Galatians 4:13). It could have been the malady he mentions in 2 Corinthians 12:7, an eye problem (Galatians 4:15), or some other health issue. Whatever it was, Paul sought a different climate and he wound up in Galatia, and though he was ill, he started preaching. The Holy Spirit, ironically, performed miracles through him (Galatians 3:5) and the Galatian church was born. It may never have happened without Paul’s infirmity.
God has a way of redeeming illness. I asked my Facebook friends how they’d seen God turn illness around for good and received this story from Virginia: Fifteen years ago Virginia struggled with an eating disorder after the break-up of a difficult relationship. At her lowest point she ended up in Royal Melbourne Hospital weighing just 36 kilograms (79 pounds). There she met another girl—the sickest patient in the ward, weighing a mere 25 kilograms (55 pounds)—who scribbled this Bible verse on a piece of paper for her: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Virginia became a Christian, got healthy, got married, and had a family. She credits it all to the witness of that one ill, but faithful, girl.
One day God will rid the world of all sickness. In the meantime, He often uses it for good. How might He use your health struggles to help others?
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 12:1-11
More:
Read Romans 8:28 and consider how God can use even poor health to promote His kingdom.
Next:
How have you seen God turn illness around for good? How are both the apostle Paul and Virginia’s friend examples to follow in a time of sickness?
agentleanswer on August 28, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Sheridan,
Thank you for this message. A Gentle Answer Ministries came out of the brokenness of loss after 9/11 and my health after Crohns diagnosis. God uses broken people, not perfect one. In my weakness…He is strong!
I praise God for you, and your willingness to use your gifts to encourage the body of Christ.
Kathy Lonsinger
Founder/Speaker/Writer
A Gentle Answer Ministries and Magazine
agentleanswer on August 28, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Does poor spelling and bad grammar and not using spell check count as an illness? 🙂 Good Sabbath Rest to Ya, Friend.
sheridan voysey on August 29, 2011 at 7:25 am
If it is an illness, I’m often struck by it too :).
Thanks for the kind words, Kathy. And so glad to hear how God is using your life’s challenges for others. Blessings!
alli on August 28, 2011 at 10:50 pm
i always get blessed when i read this, i am sick and i said let me read,and it was about illness. wow. that’s all.
sheridan voysey on August 29, 2011 at 7:26 am
May God bless you and use you to bless others, Ali, before he heals you one day.
lodjah on August 28, 2011 at 10:59 pm
BEAUTIFUL!!!
The LORD be Praised….its amazing how the little things we do could cjhange a persons life for better or for worse!!!
sheridan voysey on August 29, 2011 at 7:34 am
Well said, lodjah.
I had a friend who was due for a diner with friends. he and his wife got hopefully lost driving to the restaraunt – so lost that it was now too late to go to the dinner. He and his wife pulled into a fast food place to eat… and bumped into an old friend who was deeply distressed and needed to talk to someone.
God uses ‘little’ things constantly – even our mistakes!
lindagrace on September 20, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Being healed after a near death experience because of illness has left in me more and more spiritual thirst and to live everyday to please God.