8th I have been sick: first with allergies, then a bad cold. Finally
this week the flu: chills, fever, coughing, but most of all debilitating
headaches that have made moving difficult. In reflection, this called
to mind a friend who has been dealing with debilitating headaches for
years, and other friends who have managed to live with and thrive
through various diseases, conditions and difficult situations with a
level of 'grace and aplomb' that is miraculous. We are believing for the Lord's healing for them all. In this season our family is being bombarded with situations from every side that require much prayer and God's grace.Grace is simple elegance or refinement of movement; courteous good will; and an attractively polite manner. In Christianity, grace is the unmerited favor of God bestowed when Jesus Christ came to save us from our sinful condition; and the Divine enablement to do His will and purpose, even when difficult, in the earth. Aplomb is self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation; it is perpendicularity, or steadiness. No matter what storm we face, we can have peace in the midst of it. Knowing this world is not our home, and we are always engaged in spiritual warfare, but Christ has already won the victory!
Paul said it this way in 2 Corinthians 4: 7-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our body... He described the handling of these harrowing situations as a 'treasure' that displays the power and glory of God,
not our own greatness. The death process in us produces life in those
who engage us. They see HIS resurrection power in us DAILY as we go
through situations - not just at the end of our lives.He concludes..."For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal (lasting only for a limited time); but the things which are not seen are eternal (lasting or existing forever)." (vs 16-18)
There is purpose to the pain! I pray today that no matter what we're facing that we would see it as Paul did, and handle it with grace and aplomb to the glory of God!!
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