Affliction!

October 12, 2023

Affliction!

Sometimes the challenges to our physical health can lead to other unexpected struggles.  When our physical strength is compromised, our heart, our mind, and our soul can become downcast in ways we have never experienced before.

The physical challenges and inconveniences can quickly impact our emotions, our thinking, and our spiritual vitality.  Our physical struggles can awaken us to things we have forgotten, things we have repressed, and things that did not turn out the way we had dreamed.

Paying attention to our physical well-being is important because it can reveal things that are going on deep in our heart, soul, and mind.  The Apostle Paul understood this spiritual truth.  

In II Corinthians 7:5-6 Paul writes; “For even when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—disputes without and fears within.  But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus…”

Paul and his team were afflicted with great physical pain while doing mission work in Macedonia.  As Paul writes his second letter to the church in Corinth, their bodies were sore and exhausted. 

In II Corinthians 6:4-5 Paul mentions several of the ways in which they had struggled physically.  Paul says they had experienced “…afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger…”

Serving Jesus took a physical toll on their bodies.  But, there was more.  In II Corinthians 7:5 Paul says there were also “…disputes without and fears within…”  There is a connection between the physical challenges in their bodies and the struggles they experienced in their heart, mind, and soul.

When I was a hospital chaplain, I quickly learned that a patient’s surgical procedure was often not the most important thing on their mind or in their heart when I stopped to visit. 

Although I thought the surgery would be the primary concern, the thing about which they wanted to talk might be the difficult relationship with their teen-age son.  I discovered that asking a more general question allowed the patient to talk about the one thing that was on their mind or heart or soul because of the physical challenge they were facing.

I asked each person the same question; “How is it going?”  Some would answer by initially talking about their surgical procedure.  However, they would often quickly move to something else; an affliction of the heart, mind, or soul.

The patient might visit about the recent death of a spouse, an adult daughter trapped in addiction, or a parent struggling to live at home.  They might also talk about their fear or lack of faith or an affair in which they were involved.

Paul and his team had endured a great deal of physical pain.  However, the thing that seemed more important was the disputes and fears that their physical struggles had brought to their awareness. 

The good news is that even when their heart, mind, soul, and body were all suffering together there was still hope.  In II Corinthians 7:6 Paul writes; “But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus…”

As I read these words, there are two things that stand out.  First,  it is Jesus who consoles and comforts those who are downcast, disappointed, disheartened, dejected, dismayed, or discouraged.  In the midst of our struggles, we still hear “But God…”  The Lord will intervene! 

Second, God is present in the midst of our struggles and God will comfort us in the midst of our pain.  In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says; “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Jesus can heal our physical pain as well as our mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles. 

Jesus promises to give you and me rest and relief from the heaviness, the weight, and the burden of our struggles.  It is interesting how Jesus keeps this promise. 

Sometimes an immediate physical healing comes.  There are other times when an immediate healing does not come.  Often times, Jesus first heals the brokenness in our heart, our mind, or our soul which then brings comfort or relief or healing to our physical pain.

When Jesus heals or relieves or gives us rest, our heart fills with delight.  I pray Jesus gives you rest and relief from whatever your struggle today as well as give you delight in and desire for more of Jesus.

Take Delight In Jesus!

Doug