This morning I was reading in Isaiah 38, where King Hezekiah of Judah got sick and the prophet Isaiah told him to get his affairs in order, because he was going to die. So King Hez prayed. Interestingly, he didn't pray to be healed, just asked God to remember his faithfulness and his wholehearted devotion to God. Then God gave him fifteen more years of life—and a pretty incredible sign to confirm that promise.
But here's what stuck out to me. Later, after the king had recovered from his illness, he wrote some stuff in his journal. Some lament, a few questions, praise to God. And this line:
"Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish."
Wow! There's no indication that the terminal illness was to judge him for any sin; nothing to suggest that God was trying to teach him something or get his attention or anything like that. I think he just got sick. Bad. Then prayed. And God was merciful and healed him and extended his life.
But still Hezekiah looked back at that experience and said, Something good came out of it. I learned something. I'm a better man than I was before...because of it.
We're experiencing some weird, scary, uncertain times. Some are sick, or have sick friends or family. Some are dying, or will die. And I just wonder: how might I be better on the other side of this thing? How might you be better? How might we be better as a church? What opportunities will this situation open for you?
That's my word for this situation: opportunity.
Thank you for letting me be your pastor!
—Pastor Randy
But here's what stuck out to me. Later, after the king had recovered from his illness, he wrote some stuff in his journal. Some lament, a few questions, praise to God. And this line:
"Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish."
Wow! There's no indication that the terminal illness was to judge him for any sin; nothing to suggest that God was trying to teach him something or get his attention or anything like that. I think he just got sick. Bad. Then prayed. And God was merciful and healed him and extended his life.
But still Hezekiah looked back at that experience and said, Something good came out of it. I learned something. I'm a better man than I was before...because of it.
We're experiencing some weird, scary, uncertain times. Some are sick, or have sick friends or family. Some are dying, or will die. And I just wonder: how might I be better on the other side of this thing? How might you be better? How might we be better as a church? What opportunities will this situation open for you?
That's my word for this situation: opportunity.
Thank you for letting me be your pastor!
—Pastor Randy