God Gave the Song
28 Jan 2009 Leave a Comment
in Devotionals2 Tags: alice ervin, angry illness, bad moods and illness, daily chronic pain illness devotionals, daily meditations, finding the blessings in illness, frustrated illness, mood swings, purpose in suffering, rest ministries, trials and chronically ill
“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalm 100:2 NIV)
As I sit by my patio window and have my quiet time with the Lord, I look out at the bright sunshine glistening on the snow. It is beautiful, but so deceiving. The temperature is in the minus 20′s. For some of you I am sure you would be glad for it to be his “warm.” But, where I live, this is very unusual.
At least I am one of the blessed ones who gets to sit inside and look out. So, I’m not complaining. Well, in a way I guess I am – the extreme cold temperatures really affect my body. The pain is worse, which makes me not sleep as well, which makes the fatigue and pain worse, etc. etc. You know what I’m saying, I’m sure.
I sit here and pray for the Lord to help me not be so critical and grumpy. So what if the wind chill is far below zero? I am inside, warm, and well taken care of. Easy to say, but, this doesn’t take away all the physical problems that are making me so miserable.
All of a sudden, I hear the most beautiful bird song! At the bird feeder, the cardinals, chickadees, sparrows and various other types of birds are enjoying the day, the food, the sunshine – all that God has chosen for them today. They are accepting the life God has given them. Enough so that they even “sing their own type of thanks and praises” to Him.
How can I do less? Matthew 10:31 tells us that “We are of more value than many sparrows.” So if He takes care of them to the point that “He even knows when one falls to the ground,” (Matt. 10:29) isn’t He going to take care of me today, no matter what I am, or might have to go through?
Yes, I hurt, and am so weary of feeling alone and useless all the time. But, even from here in my lounge chair I can “put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,” (Isaiah 61:3) and join right in with that little bird and sing, sing, sing praises to the One Who made me to do just that!
“So sings my soul, my Savior, God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art…”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alice Ervin lives with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and other health problems. But, she also lives with the knowledge that she has a wonderful Lord and Savior, Who is a constant helper in every situation that comes her way. She says, “I am indeed blessed!”
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