Greetings my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. I pray that all has been well with you and that the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you. I was recently at another MNSOM class, and the teacher asked the class to share their testimony and prayer requests. After I shared my testimony, I asked for prayer to help me in waiting faithfully for the healing I was promised through prophesy spoken over me several years ago. As I was asking for this, my legs were throbbing in pain and the weight of my afflictions were heavy on me. I couldn’t help but cry out in my spirit, “How much longer Lord! Would I not be more useful to your kingdom without this affliction?” I was reminded of Paul asking a very similar question: my grace is sufficient for you.
Class went on and I joined my wife for lunch. We were joined by other MNSOM students, one of whom had a 9-year-old son who also has cerebral palsy. She spent the next hour picking my brain on all my experiences and how I manage my pain because she wanted to better understand her son. When lunch ended, we prayed together, and she thanked me, stating it was nice to be able to talk to an adult about this. I realized this is not the first time I have been in this situation and by God's grace I have been able to be there for others. I wish I would have had an example from someone that this condition can be managed, can be improved and does not define you.
I went back to class in such a better state than when I had left. Even though I hate my affliction, God had used it for his purpose. I felt as if My Heavenly Father placed his hand on my shoulder and said, “good job kiddo!”. My attitude went from “How long Lord?” to I will boast in my weakness that God may be glorified! From grumbling to rejoicing in my suffering. I am so grateful that my suffering serves a purpose for the kingdom and that whatever the enemy plans for evil the Lord uses for good.
Brothers and sisters, I do not know the depths of your trials but be encouraged as it is written,
James 1:2-4 NIV [2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Also...
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NIV [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. [5] For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. [6] If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. [7] And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
Our suffering may be great, but we do not suffer in vain, nor does it go unseen. The Lord knows all things and His grace is sufficient. So, in our suffering let us show all the world that even in our suffering we rejoice in the Lord!
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
Blessings,
Pastor Dakota Swinton