Psalm 69:29-30 (Message) – “I’m hurt and in pain; give me space for healing, and mountain air. Let me shout God’s name with a praising song, Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks.”
From one day to the next, things in our lives change. Today, all is well and tomorrow it might all feel like hell. How I choose to respond to that change says a lot about the work that Jesus has already done in me – and how much still needs to be done.
Over the last several years I’ve had some back issues – and when they flare up, mobility is hard. I have pain doing even little things. Such is the case today. I’m also dealing with the ‘after’ of a recent minor surgery. How easy it would be to focus myself on the pain, and possibly even complain about it.
The old me would have been grumpy and unhappy about feeling this way. However, Jesus has helped me to “put off the old man” and while it’s not always easy, today I will lift my voice and shout God’s name with praises. I already know that he’s got a plan for healing both of these issues and so it’s his greatness, his compassion and his love that I will focus on.
You and I know that pain is a part of our existence. We’ve had it before and we’re sure to face it again. But we control the response and so I encourage you to choose to praise him again today. When such days come about, (and they will) focus on the truth. God is bigger than your pain and invites you to live beyond it.
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