“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28).
Seventy-year-old George went for his annual physical. All of his tests results were normal. Dr. Smith said, “George, everything looks great physically. How are you doing mentally and emotionally? Are you at peace with yourself, and do you have a good relationship with your God?”
George replied, “God and me are tight. He knows I have poor eyesight, so he’s fixed it so that when I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, poof! The light goes on, and when I’m done, poof! The light goes off.”
“Wow,” commented Dr. Smith, “That’s incredible!” A little later in the day Dr. Smith called George’s wife. “Thelma,” he said, “George is just fine. Physically he’s great. I’m in awe of his relationship with God. Is it true that he gets up during the night and poof! The light goes on in the bathroom and then poof! The light goes off?”
Thelma exclaimed, “That old fool! He’s peeing in the refrigerator again!”
The Greeks had a unique race in their Olympic games; the winner was not the runner who finished first, but the runner who finished with his torch still lit. We’re often more concerned with the I-wants than with the journey.
There’s a fall season in San Diego when I want to light candles to create a homey atmosphere once the sun goes down. At the same time, the air conditioner still comes on, flickering the candles. I have to choose-do I blow out the candles or turn off the air? I can’t have it both ways. The illnesses in our lives can cause every bit of light within us to flicker and blow, attempting to put out our flame for Christ.
God, I can’t have it both ways; I have to rid myself of some of life’s luxuries and follow Christ in order to keep Your light burning. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path,” (Psalm 119:105). Poof! Turn my light on!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and has lived with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia 16 years. She is trying to figure out how to entertain her 6-year-old over the holidays as she recovers from joint replacement surgery. This is reprinted from her book Mosaic Moments: Devotionals for the Chronically Ill.
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 