“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV)
Carol Jean had the flu. It hit her quick. It hit hard. Tuesday morning, she was at work breezing through the many tasks on her to-do list, but by Tuesday afternoon she was aching and feverish. As she thought back on the past few months, she realized that she had never taken the time to get a flu shot. In fact, she had not been at the doctor’s office for a checkup in a long while. As her fever rose and her nausea began to appear, she knew she was in for a few days of misery.
At first, Carol Jean fought the flu. She tried telling herself that she was just tired and achy from her frequent long hours at work. Then, she tried to tell herself that her nausea was caused by a bad meal the night before. When she finished work for the day, she had no more excuses. Her underarms were sweaty, and she could feel the heat through her clothes. In her mind, she began to list off all the things she had to do in the next few days, all the meetings she could not miss. At home, her two children needed her to cook and clean. How would they get by if she went to bed for the rest of the day? She tried, to no avail, to talk herself into feeling better. Two quick tablets of Tylenol barely eased the fever. She was running out of excuses and time.
Carol Jean began her first evening by trying to complete as many tasks as she could. She cooked as usual. She cleaned as much as she was able. However, the flu drove her to bed early. The next morning, she could not even get out of bed. The kids came in asking her for breakfast and for lots more. She couldn’t help them. She was too sick. However, as the days of illness ran their course, Carol Jean decided to just let things happen. She was too weak to do much else. She asked her husband and the kids to take care of themselves. Instead of fretting over what she couldn’t do, she picked up a daily Bible reading devotional that was covered in dust and began to read it. Later in the day, despite occupying her time with other forms of entertainment, she kept going back to the devotional. The words contained in the devotional were feeding her soul.
After six days, Carol Jean went back to work. However, she was not the same person. What she had read and studied in the Bible devotional stuck to her thoughts and informed her decisions. She looked at the world differently. For the first time in a long time, her heart was at peace. The times that her husband and children helped her through the fevers were precious memories. The flu had beaten up her body, but the time with God and her family had refreshed her soul.
During the first century A.D., Christians were suffering in many ways. There were spurious persecutions throughout the Roman Empire. In Asia Minor, where Corinth was located, Christians were viewed as outsiders. When they did not participate in Greek religious festivals, they were shunned. In other areas of the Roman Empire, Christians were stoned or ridiculed publicly. In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul told them to “not lose heart”. Paul wanted them to face these challenges with spiritual strength. Despite their sufferings “outwardly”, their souls were being “renewed day by day” by God’s powerful Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16).
I have found that when true Christians suffer in the body, they often retreat inward to find communion with God. These moments are precious and fruitful. During illness or pain, your soul will often be fertile for God’s Spirit to grow. When you hurt or suffer, God will renew your soul in deep and powerful ways.
Some plants naturally retreat or lower during storms. They might bend or temporarily close up. However, thunderstorms with lightning often do something incredible for plants. The power of lightning divides nitrogen cells in the atmosphere. These cells then combine with oxygen to form nitrates, a natural fertilizer. So, out of the storms, plants are fed with free nitrates by the storm. In the same way, personal storms in your life may feed your soul. Illness and suffering can drive you straight into the arms of a loving God. The breaking of your heart and soul through tragedy can be the very fertilizer that feeds your spiritual life, renewing your parched soul. Times of distress can teach you how to be more loving and softhearted. Depression can be a great catalyst for a deep relationship with God!
When your physical body is “wasting away” due to mortal sufferings, look for God to renew your soul. In times of sorrow, God might be your perfect oasis. In seasons of sadness, God can bring you into deeper communion with Him. Don’t overlook the power of the Holy Spirit to refresh your soul, especially in moments of pain or sadness. A season of bodily weakness may be exactly what your Spiritual life needs to take off and soar!
At first, Carol Jean fought the flu. She tried telling herself that she was just tired and achy from her frequent long hours at work. Then, she tried to tell herself that her nausea was caused by a bad meal the night before. When she finished work for the day, she had no more excuses. Her underarms were sweaty, and she could feel the heat through her clothes. In her mind, she began to list off all the things she had to do in the next few days, all the meetings she could not miss. At home, her two children needed her to cook and clean. How would they get by if she went to bed for the rest of the day? She tried, to no avail, to talk herself into feeling better. Two quick tablets of Tylenol barely eased the fever. She was running out of excuses and time.
Carol Jean began her first evening by trying to complete as many tasks as she could. She cooked as usual. She cleaned as much as she was able. However, the flu drove her to bed early. The next morning, she could not even get out of bed. The kids came in asking her for breakfast and for lots more. She couldn’t help them. She was too sick. However, as the days of illness ran their course, Carol Jean decided to just let things happen. She was too weak to do much else. She asked her husband and the kids to take care of themselves. Instead of fretting over what she couldn’t do, she picked up a daily Bible reading devotional that was covered in dust and began to read it. Later in the day, despite occupying her time with other forms of entertainment, she kept going back to the devotional. The words contained in the devotional were feeding her soul.
After six days, Carol Jean went back to work. However, she was not the same person. What she had read and studied in the Bible devotional stuck to her thoughts and informed her decisions. She looked at the world differently. For the first time in a long time, her heart was at peace. The times that her husband and children helped her through the fevers were precious memories. The flu had beaten up her body, but the time with God and her family had refreshed her soul.
During the first century A.D., Christians were suffering in many ways. There were spurious persecutions throughout the Roman Empire. In Asia Minor, where Corinth was located, Christians were viewed as outsiders. When they did not participate in Greek religious festivals, they were shunned. In other areas of the Roman Empire, Christians were stoned or ridiculed publicly. In the scripture for today, the Apostle Paul told them to “not lose heart”. Paul wanted them to face these challenges with spiritual strength. Despite their sufferings “outwardly”, their souls were being “renewed day by day” by God’s powerful Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16).
I have found that when true Christians suffer in the body, they often retreat inward to find communion with God. These moments are precious and fruitful. During illness or pain, your soul will often be fertile for God’s Spirit to grow. When you hurt or suffer, God will renew your soul in deep and powerful ways.
Some plants naturally retreat or lower during storms. They might bend or temporarily close up. However, thunderstorms with lightning often do something incredible for plants. The power of lightning divides nitrogen cells in the atmosphere. These cells then combine with oxygen to form nitrates, a natural fertilizer. So, out of the storms, plants are fed with free nitrates by the storm. In the same way, personal storms in your life may feed your soul. Illness and suffering can drive you straight into the arms of a loving God. The breaking of your heart and soul through tragedy can be the very fertilizer that feeds your spiritual life, renewing your parched soul. Times of distress can teach you how to be more loving and softhearted. Depression can be a great catalyst for a deep relationship with God!
When your physical body is “wasting away” due to mortal sufferings, look for God to renew your soul. In times of sorrow, God might be your perfect oasis. In seasons of sadness, God can bring you into deeper communion with Him. Don’t overlook the power of the Holy Spirit to refresh your soul, especially in moments of pain or sadness. A season of bodily weakness may be exactly what your Spiritual life needs to take off and soar!