Day 1 – Medicine

For this devotional series “For the Weary,” I will be using pictures taken by friends with their permission. Today’s picture reminds me of my time in Oregon. They have a lot of rain but oh the beauty of that state!!!

Finding Healing

Finding healing … we all are in need of some kind of healing, aren’t we? Some of us have physical problems. Some have spiritual problems. Others have emotional problems. We live in an age where there is a doctor for every kind of problem known to man!

When it comes to the spiritual problems, however, Preachers are the ones we turn to. They find themselves counseling members for all sorts of spiritual problems. Healing cannot be found if the sick one does not apply the recommendation given to them. A doctor can prescribe a pill or recommend a surgery, but if the patient does not take the advice, he will not get better. It is the same with the spiritual help. The Pastor can recommend but he cannot force the Christian to read his Bible, etc.

Perfect Healing

God is perfect, however, and promises healing to those who seek Him. God’s healing is not a “hope so” but a definite one! Does everyone who has physical problems get healed by God? No! Sometimes those with illness are more able to help others because they have the compassion to serve because of their illness. God does not promise to heal all physical problems, but he does promise to be there with you. He will also provide rest and healing to those who are spiritually sick and have become weary.

You can tell when you have come across a Christian stricken with a chronic illness and who has drawn close to God. This person does not have his eyes on his own pain and suffering, but has placed them on the needs of others. You can also tell a Christian who has not been drawing close to God during his trial.

You have been around people like this, haven’t you? I have and it is not encouraging to say the least! The person who does not seek healing in God’s Word becomes so bitter that the only thing that comes out of their mouth is complaining.

The Remedy

(1) Matthew 11:29 says to take Christ’s yoke upon us and learn of Him. If you picture a yoke in your mind’s eye, you will see it has two openings – for two oxen heads. Place yourself in one opening and look to the other – it is there that Christ has promised to be – right along side of you so that your burden, whatever that may be, is lighter. You are not carrying it alone in your spiritual battle! You are not alone in your physical battle! You are not alone in your emotional battle! My friend, the King of kings and Lord of lords is in the other opening of your yoke! Woah! That packs a whallop, doesn’t it? Half of our battle is realizing that we are not alone and that someone cares about us.

(2) Secondly, Christ says in verse 29 to learn of Him and you will find rest. Being in the Word of God will cleanse you and, thus, bring spiritual and emotional healing.

The chronically ill Christian can avoid bitterness by being in the Word. It is there he will learn what Christ would have him to learn. Jesus brings healing with each word. But you must read it to glean. It’s like the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” The answers to your problems may not be the answers you were looking for but they will always be what the Lord says is best for your life. Furthermore, your problem may not go away but your attitude about it will have changed.

Jesus has the medicine for us for every area of our lives. He may not choose to heal your physical problems but He has exactly what you need, when you need it, for your spiritual life. Rather than wallow in self pity and be miserable and bitter, lean on Christ who is helping you to carry the weight of illness in your yoke. It is the physically sick Christian who needs to be careful so he does not get to the point of weariness. The sick Christian needs to be in his Bible more because he will find himself growing weary. He will find himself getting discouraged. Jesus said to learn of Him – He will teach you how to remove this burden and rest in His care.

Discipline yourself from dwelling on your illness. Instead, place your eyes on someone else. It is when we are busy helping others that we are able to keep our eyes off the pain in our bodies. When you take your eyes off others, you will soon find yourself hurting more and becoming bitter.

Learn from Christ and find rest!