I'm Back Among the Living

Maybe you've noticed that I've not been on my blog in a over a week. (Maybe you didn't) Well, the reason is that since Monday of last week I have been fighting a migraine headache. In all the years I've suffered with these things, I have never had one to last more than 3 days, until this one came along. For 9 days, it was all I could do to function. It was by the grace of God that I was able to do anything, let alone preach on Sunday. Thankfully, it was not one of the full-blown variety where I am completely incapacitated, but it had been rough, to say the least. My head just throbbed at every sound. Light was like fire to my eyes. My vision was blurred and frankly, I did not feel like doing anything.
I felt like crawling into bed, pulling the covers over my head and ignoring the world. But I knew I couldn't.
Some of you may not understand this, but the fact is, I knew this was no ordinary migraine. Everything about it was different, and I have recognized that this was a direct assault from satan. I knew I was in a spiritual battle.
My wife went and got a prescription refilled for migraine medicine, and she probably wondered why I did not take it. The fact is that a week ago, I did take it and it had no effect on me. That was when I began to realize that this was spiritual, not physical.
So the battle lines were drawn.
Warfare began.
I told satan that I was not giving in to this, and no matter how intense the pain became, I refused to take the medicine and I refused to be stopped. Yes, it slowed me down. Reading and writing were a real battle, because of the blurred vision and the sensitivity to light.
I knew that church was going to be a real battle, because of the sound level and the strain of preaching. Interestingly, as I began to worship, the pain decreased, which confirmed the fact that this was a spiritual battle. I decided last Thursday to push and fight my way through this. I forced myself out. And I met several new people in town and had a couple opportunities to share my faith in Christ with others. Yes, the pain was still there, but I was able to go on.

Perhaps you are wondering why God did not just take the pain away. I must confess that I wondered this too. But I grew through the past nine days. I think I began to understand on a deeper level what it means to pass through the waters and the fire, yet not be harmed.
I grasped a new insight to the fiery furnace. I went in, yet I survived!
Last night I almost caved in. I had the bottle of medicine in my hand, and I stopped and said, "No! I am healed by the stripes of Jesus, and I will put my trust in you. In your time and in your way Lord. I will wait on you."
This morning, after nine days of torment, I woke up free. The pain is gone, and every trace and symptom is relieved.
I don't understand the wait. But God does.
Sometimes we just have to know that while we live in a not so perfect world, we serve a perfect God, and he continually has his eye on us, and he will never allow things to go beyond the line in which he has already predetermined. Remember the story of Job?

Just wanted to share this today to encourage someone to know that God has not forgotten you, nor has he failed you. He is a shield about you and the lifter of your head, and in due season, he will deliver you!

Agape!