Conrad ponders on sickness

My musings on Christians and sickness

As I write this I am hopefully on the tail end of the flu.  However the flu brought on  some other complimentary sicknesses which I have to deal with.

I must have a fever cause I  do some silly stuff.  I  write down my medicine times on a dry erase board on my refrigerator.    I  get out of bed to go see what is next for medicine, and then maybe I’ll go into a coughing fit or something. Half of the times I go into the kitchen, I forget why I went in there!

I may feel awful, but I am going into blogging withdrawal mode and want to give you an update from the delirious dimension.

And of course, being sick makes me ponder a few things.

Do I wish health care was free?  

Yeah.  But that is a loaded question.  How can healthcare be free?  Someone has to pay for it.  If it comes out of the tax base, then it is by no means free.

Isn’t the church supposed to help those that are sick?  

Scripture says to do good to those especially in the household of faith (Gal 6:10).  To visit the sick in their affliction (Mat 25:39).  And to have the elders lay hands on the sick and pray the prayer of faith (James 5:14).  However, this doesn’t happen often.  Nowadays, people want to avoid sick people rather than obey scripture.  Ooh germs!  Gross!

Jesus called.  He wants His church back.

Have I taken the cup of Christ unworthily (1Cor 11:27) because I am sick?

Well, the thought did cross my mind.  I haven’t had today’s traditional communion for a while.  I pray before my meals.  I confess and repent when it comes to mind.

I  began to think about how some people profess erroneously that Christians don’t get sick.

2Ti 4:20  Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.


If Christians don’t get sick, then why did Paul leave Trophimus sick?  If Paul had the power to heal, why did he leave him sick?

Php 2:25-27  Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.  (26)  For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.  (27)  For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Why did God let Epaphroditus get sick?  Why did God then heal him?   Why didn’t Paul heal him?  Lots of questions to wrestle with there.

I could go on.  I just wanted to quickly illustrate that there is scriptural support for Christians getting  sick.

What if sickness serves a purpose?

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I think ‘sickness’ fits in to the category of “all things” don’t you?  And if sickness works to the good of believers then it shines some light on why Paul says:

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Glory in my infirmities?  Come on Paul!  Wouldn’t you much rather have a pity party?  Let’s feel sorry for ourselves and load up on Netflix movies!

One take I have on Paul’s statement, is that we can take our test and turn it into a testimony.  We can  take this seemingly bad situation and somehow it will work out for the betterment of the Kingdom.  Our mess will turn into our message.

How can I turn this time in bed into a positive? 

Instead of glorying in self pity, maybe I can restructure my life to get on the track God wants me to be on. I can take this time of chastening (if that is what it is) and swim even closer to the fountain of life.

Maybe God is forcing me into a time of self examination (2 Cor 13:5).

Well, back to bed…   Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Don’t waste an opportunity to grow in God... Even in sickness.