God Is the Divine Healer - He Is Simply Not a Bottle of Aspirin

I would like to share a reading from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 that really resonated with me today. “All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort – we get a full measure of that too.” – The Message

Although this passage was written to the church of Corinth, its meaning applies to each and every one of us today. I hope you find that passage and inspiring and uplifting as I did! What this passage spoke to me was that God is simply not a bottle of aspirin – a quick fix!

The question is if God comforts us, then why doesn’t our hardships and pain just go away? Why doesn’t God just give us rainbows all the time? In reality, if that were always so, then we would only turn to God just to be relieved of our pain. We wouldn’t seek God out of love for Him only. I really needed that realization today. I hope that I continually (daily) seek God out of my love for Him. I pray that I continually seek God not matter the cost.

On the other side of the equation, the more we walk through suffering, the more God can comfort! As with comfort, it brings renewed strength, hope and encouragement. Also, in turn with all our struggles that we are comforted and are able to be renewed, we have that much more wisdom and strength to share with someone else what God has done in our lives. I really love this part of the equation. I never say “thank you, God, for all my trials” especially when I am right in the middle of one, but as I go through them I am thankful that I feel the power of the Holy Spirit guiding me, nurturing me and yes, sometimes carrying me through to the other side. Then, praise God, my love for Him over flows and I am excited to help someone else too!

We need to seek God because of our love for Him – not for what He can do for us. Perhaps that will be my mission as a widow – to grow in strength and Godly wisdom, so that I might love and comfort other widows.