So much of this earthly life is lived in limbo! Like when you are waiting nine months for a baby to be born, not to mention twenty-seven hours of labor to meet that new baby, like my youngest daughter pulled off! And almost as bad, is the waiting for text messages reassuring you everything is okay since hospital restriction keeps everyone at home (COVID). There is also the waiting involved when you are working on a degree or waiting to recover from an injury or illness. What about waiting for a diagnosis or waiting for treatments to finally bring the desired result? How about the waiting when you are expecting to close on a house or just waiting for a place to move! Many times, we put the living on hold until we have the desired end. But that’s not what God calls us to do. He wants our lights to shine through it all; Our testimonies to be loud and clear that He is all we need: The Lord IS my Shepherd, I have ALL that I need (Psalm 23:1). He is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11) and our attitude as Christ-followers should emanate trust and obedience wherever our circumstances take us!

The end of 2021 grew increasingly difficult for me. Pain and dizziness swept across my physical body. A lack of routine workouts combined with eating restaurant food as well as eating the wrong kinds of food came with a price. After suffering a retina tear in the month of September and finally “seeing” that through, I slid past October (my birthday month), November (Thanksgiving), and December (Christmas) with way too many indulgences. My pain increased dramatically especially at night. So, after seeking help from the chiropractor, who thought I had a rib out of place, I asked my medical doctor for her opinion. After an exam, she was convinced my gall bladder was the culprit as was I, but with blood work and an ultrasound, the gall bladder was cleared. So I went home, repented from falling away from a healthier routine, and after receiving a treadmill for Christmas, my walking and working out became more consistent and the pain disappeared. Probably, most importantly, my sugar indulgences have been moderated, so the overall miserable feeling is better, too.

Health issues are concerning especially when they limit our involvement to use our gifts. “The gift of helps” is a spiritual gift God adorned me with, and I can easily wrestle with Him when I cannot exercise it. Sometimes it is my own fault and sometimes my Father allows trials. But His plan is always the best plan. He brought to my attention verses to insert into the playlist of my mind; Verses I would not naturally run to for direction or for the course of my life. These verses are my testimony to why He continues to pump air into my lungs; He desires I practice them every day.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Acts 20:21, NLT

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” 

Mark 8:34

The work assigned to me – telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God, keeps me focused. And sharing the Good News – “The Gospel” — more fervently will help me turn from selfish ways and take up my cross to follow my Lord and Savior. I felt the need to examine the verse that comes before and the verse that comes after Mark 8:34. What I found blew me away!

YOU ARE SEEING THINGS MERELY FROM A HUMAN POINT OF VIEW, NOT FROM GOD’S(!)

verse 33

IF YOU TRY TO HANG ON TO YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL LOSE IT … (!)

verse 35

Tears flow as I am reminded of God’s economy and how He chooses to “clear” things up! What an amazing Lord! He speaks through His Word so powerfully, IF, we have ears to hear (Matthew 11:15)!