“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 3:14)
Great Britain's Eric Liddell was called and equipped to be a great athlete, an Olympic runner.
I have brothers who are distance bicyclists. They are the athletes in our family. By strong and hilarious comparison, my sisters and I are not. The closest one sister came to being an athlete was through association by driving the SAG (Support And Gear) vehicle for my brothers' 300-mile bicycle ride last summer.
Many are athletically inclined, while others are gifted differently. All are called to accept our abilities—or the lack of them—and to trust God for what He wants of us.
One of my brothers, David, not only learned to accept his lack of abilities, but also to thrive in the things for which God strengthened him. David was physically handicapped from birth. Over his lifetime, he had a list of everything he wanted to do, and went about to accomplish each and every one of them.
He started out walking with crutches and braces, but later needed a wheelchair. He'd “wow” people by doing wheelies in his wheelchair. He also held down a good job. Additionally, David traveled, swam, rode a horse, rode in a boat, drove a vehicle, and rented a house. While there were special challenges, he was determined to overcome them with the help of others and the equipment necessary.
However, one thing my brother did exceptionally well was just what God gave him to do. That was to tell others about Jesus, the salvation He bought for us on the cross, and about eternal life for us because Jesus rose from the dead. My brother did this well whether a part of the prison ministry along with others from his church, or from his bed in the nursing home those months before he died from cancer. Telling others about Jesus was the special work for which God in Christ Jesus strengthened David.
As a child, David knew he couldn't run, though he truly wanted to. He would ask our Mom why he couldn't. Mom connected her reasons with the spiritual: “Because God had a better plan.” To say the least, this was difficult for David to accept.
For a long while, David was angry with God. A better plan? Really?! What could that be? What plan can be better than being able to run?!
But when David grew older and wiser, he realized that his life was not his own. Though God made him and allowed the handicap, he was responsible to God for his life and livlihood.
Later, he told me that Mom was right. God did have a better plan. David had become aware it was his heart, not his legs, that needed healing. This knowledge grew more significant to him than his desire to run. As a consequence, he joyfully chose to believe in and commit himself to Jesus Christ alone.
David said that before he committed himself to God through Jesus Christ, his heart was “rebellious against God, and against God's Word, will, and ways.” He came to understand that going to Heaven and being with Jesus for all eternity without able legs to run here on Earth was far better than having perfect legs here on Earth that could have taken him to hell forever by following ways that left Jesus out of his life—out of his everythings.
As he lay dying, he was so thankful for the way God made him here on Earth. So much for tears of self-pity! In his last days on Earth, David told me that he looked forward to the perfect body he would have in Heaven because He looked forward to running to Jesus just as soon as he passed into eternity!
With what limitations is God blessing you that you need to accept? What strengths has God given you? Choosing Jesus and committing yourself to Him, just as you are, will give you amazing joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment here on Earth, and eternal joy in Heaven (and that's forever!).
“And He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.”
(2 Corinthians 5:15)
Copyright 2024 by M.G. “Trudy” Granstrom Seward
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