The Torah Network

3 yrs

LEARNING FROM ILLNESS

A minister went to the hospital to visit a church member who was recovering from surgery. He was about to pray for this person when the patient said: [You know, preacher, you really do not need to pray about my gall bladder. The doctors have that under control, if you want to pray about something, pray about my hospital bill!] Unfortunately, I cannot do much about your medical bills, but I might be able to help you as we continue our discussion about illness. In Romans 8:28 the apostle Paul affirmed that YHVH can bring good out of any and all situations: [And we know that all things work together for good to them that love YHVH, to them who are the called according to His Purpose.] According to this Scripture, YHVH can bring good out of bad situations, including the experience of illness. While we see this principle in a general way in Romans 8:28, let me mention some more specific examples: In Numbers 12:10 Miriam was smitten with leprosy in order that she and Aaron might turn from their sin. In Psalm 119:71, the psalmist said: [It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy Statutes.] In John 9:1-3 the disciples ask Yeshua about a blind man. They wanted to know if his sin or his parent's sin had caused the blindness. Yeshua said: [And as Yeshua passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Yeshua answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of YHVH should be made manifest in him.] In John 11:4 Yeshua said that the sickness of Lazarus was: [This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of YHVH, that the Son of YHVH might be glorified thereby.] And in the text, we looked at last time, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul said that YHVH gave him a thorn in the flesh to: [And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.] It is clear in Scripture that illness can have good results. Now I know that does not take away the pain or difficulty of illness, but it does mean that it can serve good purposes in our lives. I want to take our remaining time together to briefly mention six ways that we can actually benefit from our illness.

1 – Illness Teaches Humility:
This was the experience of Paul as seen in 2 Corinthians 12:7. Illness, like nothing else, reminds us of our limitations. It is a vivid lesson that from dust we come and to dust we shall return. Physical infirmities are a poignant reminder of our confines as human beings. It helps to show us that there are some things beyond our control. When we realize our meekness and frailty, we can better acknowledge our need for YHVH and thrust ourselves upon His mercy.

2 – Illness Offers Perspective:
After the Sunday school teacher told the story of the prodigal son to the class, she asked: [Was anyone sorry when the prodigal son returned?] One little boy answered: [Yes, the fatted calf.] Once three people were visiting and viewing the Grand Canyon; an artist, a preacher and a cowboy. As they stood on the edge of the massive abyss, each one responded with a cry of exclamation. The artist said: [Ah, what a beautiful scene to paint.] The minister cried: [What a wonderful example of the handiwork of YHVH.] The cowboy pondered: [What a terrible place to lose a cow.] Your background, your occupation and your geographical location, all of these have a great deal to say about your perspective on life. But nothing helps us to change our perspective like a personal illness. Illness helps us to look at the world and our place in it in a whole new way. Many believers who have suffered from serious illnesses have been reminded of the fact that they are not going to live forever. Illness reminds us of the brevity of life and challenges us to [number our days, to make the best of the time we have left.

3 – Illness Deepens Relationships:
One man said: [I did not know what happiness was until I got married, but then it was too late.] But in all seriousness, many could tell of how their relationship with their spouse, their children, and others grew much closer because of their struggling together through an illness. I have seen many husbands and wives whose love for each other was undeniably evident as they cared for each other during times of illness. Illness can help us to grow closer to the people around us. It reminds us of how much we need others.

4 – Illness Encourages Evaluation:
Illness may force us to admit that our lifestyle needs to be altered. A healthy response to illness is to ask what our responsibility was in bringing it on. We can then make decisions about changing our lifestyle. Sickness can also shock us out of our shallowness. It can help us to decide what really matters. It offers a time to take a serious stock of life.

5 – Illness Develops Empathy:
Father O'Reilly reprimanded one of his parishioners who were staggering out of a bar. [Drunk again?] [Me, too,] admitted the man. A surgeon was discussing a case with medical students: [The muscle in the patient's right leg has contracted until it is shorter than the left. Therefore, he limps. What would you do in such a circumstance?] A student raised his hand and said: [I would limp too.] Through our experience with illness, we can better understand and respond to others who suffer. Through our suffering, YHVH equips us to minister to others who face similar problems. Paul stated this clearly in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: [Blessed be YHVH, even the Father of our Adonai Yeshua Moshiach, the Father of mercies, and the YHVH of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of YHVH.] In spite of its negatives, illness, if we let it, can teach us much. It offers the potential for growth that few experiences can match. Now let me add one final possibility that I would like to spend just a little bit more time on:

6 – Illness Intensifies Spirituality:
Martin Thielen tells about a man he visited in the hospital just after he had experienced a major heart attack. This man had never expressed much interest in YHVH or religion. But that all changed when the man entered the [valley of the shadow of death.] When Thielen first saw him, he was in intensive care. He could not talk because he had a tube in his throat. But when he saw the preacher, he immediately put his hands in a position of prayer. The minister asked if he wanted him to pray and the man nodded his head vigorously. When we face serious disease and illness, spiritual issues become extremely important. For the unbeliever, illness can be the first step toward salvation. It is sad that so many wait until such a crisis to consider their relationship with YHVH, but sometimes YHVH uses that crisis just for that reason. For the believer, illness can be a profound spiritual experience. It can put us in close communion with our YHVH of the cross. In the midst of our suffering, YHVH's Presence can be real and powerful. An extremely serious disease, such as cancer can, like nothing else, help us to identify with the crucified YHVH. Like Yeshua on the cross, we may at times cry out, [My YHVH, my YHVH, why have You forsaken me?] Yet, in the midst of our suffering, we can experience the reality, love, compassion and presence of the crucified and say with Moshiach, [Into Thy hands I commit my spirit.] I am not saying that we should look forward to illness or hope for it. I am simply affirming the biblical truth that YHVH can bring good out of the experience of physical infirmity. If we will be open and teachable, we can learn much from our illness. If we will, we can allow illness to reap many positive results in our life. A French woman once refused to let illness destroy her but used it for good. Her name was Suzanne Fouché. She was an active and intelligent girl. She planned to study medicine but developed tuberculosis of the bone. It was to confine her to bed in one sanatorium after another over a period of 18 years. Although she went through early periods of despair, she was able to move beyond it and use her suffering in a creative way. While she was in the sanatorium, she started a motto which soon caught on. Her simple admonition was, [Do what you can!] She organized small groups to engage in various activities. The movement spread and transformed the lives of many sick people. It grew into a league and finally became an enormous organization. It established over thirty homes for the rehabilitation of physically handicapped people. Suzanne Fouche is an example of a person who learned from her illness. She used her struggle with physical disease for her good and the good of others. With YHVH's help, this is possible for all of us. If we will be teachable, much can be learned from illness. [And we know that all things work together for good to them that love YHVH, to them who are the called according to his purpose.] -- Romans 8:28.

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