Lessons From A Sick Bed…

I CANNOT tell you how sick and weak I am from the muscle disease. Blankets of weakness and pain cover my body. No sleep in the night time, till 6 or 7 the following morning is usual. The lack of mobility. The coming and going of my voice and at times barely able to raise it above a whisper and recently I thought well I can write and reach out that way and then even that I could no longer do, as my weakness prevented me, the battles chronic debilitating illness bring. Too tired, weak to have conversations. Chronic, debilitating illness.

I told my wife recently I doubt I will ever travel again, so weak have I been. The battles of the mind increase along with chronic pain and sleep deprivation. The difficulty in even trying to draw breath, strength to speak is hard and so my bed room is where I live…”But God…” will not leave me though I walk through the valley…not because “I FEEL” so, but because HIS WORD assures me it is so!

Here are a few thoughts I hope will encourage some of you who are in the valley of difficulty…CHOICES to be Made In The Valley Of Difficulty.

“Even though I WALK THROUGH the valley… I WILL fear no evil…. FOR YOU ARE with me.Your rod and staff COMFORT me.”-Psalm 23; “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.” – Psalm 73:28.

  1. – “I WALK….”We don’t stay in the valley we are on the move, by faith, we are WALKING THROUGH. NOTE; “I WALK…” This is the attitude and act of faith. “I WILL WALK…” No one can do it for you, but you yourself. The walk is at times a lonely walk. But you must choose to Walk in faith. Walk in dependence upon the Shepherd. Walk in obedience, walk following the Shepherd.This walk is a walk of rest. Jesus said in John 15:10 “REST in My Love.” The LORD could keep us from valleys but in His Wisdom valleys are part of life and they are but gigantic opportunities to be weaned of self reliance and weaned onto a deeper, maturing faith in the faithful Shepherd. There is never a valley that He is not with you in. As the Good Shepherd He ALWAYS Goes ahead of His sheep. He knows the way. He is the Way and so we choose by grace to act. “I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY…”
  1. – “I WILL…”The enemy uses the tactic of “fear” but the psalmist knows for certainty and assuredly says “I WILL fear NO EVIL.” He determined by an act of his will, he would CHOOSE, “I WILL…” “I WILL FEAR NO EVIL…” he would not succumb or allow fear, or any evil to slow him down from walking THROUGH. Walking speaks of movement. The psalmist in the darkness of the valley is on the move assured he is walking through and the Lord is with Him.
  1. -“I HAVE MADE…”He has made a choice to make God, “my refuge”- place of security, shelter and protection! Again he has made a choice and act of faith. No on but God is big enough, trustworthy and fit for what I need- a refuge, that cannot be broken into. A refuge of eternal security, God Himself would be his choice. “I HAVE MADE the LORD GOD, MY REFUGE….” -{Psalm 73:28.}  Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses but we trust in the LORD. To learn not to trust on the frailty of men, but on the Impenetrable fortress, refuge of God Himself!
  1. -“I WILL TELL…”“I will tell of ALL of Your Works”- {Psalm 73:28.} -“I WILL…” Testify of You to others. If no one else will. I have determined that “I WILL…” The LORD’S works, deeds are so many and wonderful, a lifetime could not be long enough for us to testify not only these deeds recorded in His Word but experimentally known.

FAITH IN ACTION – “I WALK…I WILL…I HAVE MADE…I WILL TELL.”

WHEN YOU ARE WALKING THOUGH A VALLEY HERE ARE SOME NUGGETS TO PONDER TO STRENGTHEN YOU TO KEEP WALKING concerning the Faithfulness of the LORD, your SHEPHERD!

COMFORT AND MOTIVATION TO WALK ON…KNOWING…
A. YOU are with me
B. YOUR presence COMFORTS me.
C. YOUR NEARNESS is my GOOD.
D. YOU are my REFUGE
E. I will tell of ALL Your works!

“I WALK…
I WILL…
I HAVE MADE…
I WILL TELL…”  

May God comfort you to trust Him to walk on and know He walks with you. He has neither been taken by surprise at your present valley nor is He stumped or impotent or indifferent to your plight. Trust the Shepherd. Read Psalm 23 underlining the word “He” and note the responsibility He takes upon Himself for you as the Good Shepherd.