Few doctors like to be patients. In fact, most patients don’t like to be
patients.
Doctors are a special kind of patient. They are used to being in control,
understanding things, and instructing others on what to do. It is an act of submission to be a good patient,
and that does not come naturally to all doctors. In fact, that does not come naturally to many
non-physician patients either.
One of my colleagues passed away from complications of a neuromuscular degenerative disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. His obituary commented that he redefined the acronym ALS as “Always Love the Savior.” The parallel here to our Christian walk is clear—we are
called to submit to God’s will for our lives, even if that means struggle,
hardship, or pain. And even if that
means that we have to endure sickness or disease.
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul talked about his “thorn in
the flesh.” “To keep me from becoming
conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a
thorn in my flesh.” When he pleaded with
God to have it removed, God’s response was “My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul’s
response was to “delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in
persecutions, in difficulties. For when
I am weak, then I am strong.” What does
it take for us to have a faith like that?
What can these “thorns in the flesh” do for us now? With regard to illness “thorns,” they often
help us remember to live each day to the fullest, being grateful for the time we
have to spend with our family, and joyful of the abilities we still have. It can keep us focused on what it really
means to be a Christian.
