Praise Him Anyway
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
It’s hard to believe that a brand new year is upon us. 2022 has flown by! There have been joys and sorrows, good days and hard days, answers to prayers and prayers still being lifted up, provision and need, peace and anxious moments—it’s definitely been a year of mixtures.
And now we’re starting all over again with a blank slate. I wonder what this new year will hold. There’s never a dull moment in walking with the Lord! I’m praying for miracles, for suddenlys, and for God to move in wonderful ways.
I’ve been watching the new episodes of The Chosen, season 3. There’s a scene in the second episode that has touched me deeply. Jesus has just told the disciples that He is sending them out two-by-two to minister in His name, healing the sick, and casting out demons.
Little James comes to Jesus to clarify this, wondering how he can heal people when he himself has not been healed of his lameness. Jesus asks if he wants to be healed, and he says yes, of course. Jesus tells him it’s possible to heal him, but He hasn’t because He trusts him. He wants him to praise God in spite of his lameness. Jesus explains that Little James has true strength because of his weakness.
As you might imagine, Little James struggles with the concept of being patient with his lameness, his suffering. Jesus tells him that he will spend all of eternity with no suffering. He quotes from Job: “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
I’ve watched this scene a number of times because I relate to Little James. I know it’s “possible” for Jesus to heal—both me and many others. But I’m still living with cancer. I want to fulfill His purposes in my life in spite of the cancer! I know His strength is made powerful in my weakness. I trust God to help me live that out.
In the new year ahead, I’m asking God to give me fresh grace for my journey. I know His mercies are new every morning. I know the joy of the Lord is my strength for whatever I face. I look to Him and trust Him to help me day by day.
Tante Corrie ten Boom said, “You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.” I’m so grateful we have Christ in the year ahead!
Lord, help us recall Your promises of helping us in our weakness, sickness, and times of need. We stand upon those promises in the new year ahead. Amen.
That is TRUTH! ‘You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.’ Nothing like ‘between a rock and a hard place’ to bring that home loud and clear!
Love, love, love!
Beautiful Sally! He gives me a “word” for each year and this years word is grace…My grace is sufficient for you, for My power (strength) is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Am I particularly excited about this, no not really, but I’m going to try and focus on His strength and His power and His grace and not my own weaknesses and what ifs.
Lifting you up to the Lord dear Sister 😊❤️
I always love to hear from you Sally and pray for you; you are always inspiring! I didn’t know that James was lame and can’t find a scripture reference concerning this, would you share it? God bless you!