Blessings in Disguise..

Grab yourself a cup of tea, or coffee, if you prefer (I prefer coffee), this could take some time ;o)

At present I am sitting on a rocking chair, with my feet up on a pile of cushions, listening to one of Brian Houston’s worship CD’s (it’s the one with the red front-I cant quite remember the name).
My feet are up because the nurse told me that my right leg has to be higher than my bottom.

Now before you start to wonder if perhaps I am losing it, I shall explain…

Earlier in the week I had to go to the A&E department at my local hospital because my right leg was in so much discomfort that I could hardly walk on it. All this was caused by what was seemingly an insect bite on my leg that had become swollen.
In the morning I had gone to Church, and instead of being healed as I had hoped, the pain got worse and worse. My reaction was not exactly one of jubilation. I was really starting to suffer, and felt frustrated that Papa God had not intervened and delivered me from my affliction. To be honest I felt downright grumpy with the Lord. I was not a happy bunny, I was thinking ‘If God has the power to instantaneously heal me, then why has nothing happened?!’

Then something amazing happened, I started to feel joy bubble up inside of me. This kept increasing, so that by the time I arrived at the hospital, I was starting to find the whole situation quite hilarious.
I just kept laughing at the situation I was in. Only God can do something like that-it was completely un-natrual joy. It was like the Lord had given me holy laughing gas.

Then I experienced favour…I was seen instantly, everybody who dealt with me was kind and professional, and I got all the help I needed. My leg was seen to, and the pain lessened.
Then came the evening, my temperature started to go up, and the redness around the infected area was spreading up my leg. It was concerning…I was wondering if I would have to go back to hospital. However I really felt the Lord impress upon me that it would be alright, and that I had nothing to worry about. It was now about 10:30 at night, and my doctor had long left his surgery. So I called the emergency line and spoke with the nurse who reassured me that I did indeed have nothing to worry about, and that these were normal side effects that would soon wear off.
All this time there was the temptation to look at my leg, and start feeling really anxious because of what was happening, but God was amazing and totally surrounded me with His peace.

Then comes the next morning, and it dawns upon me that I have to be still all day, and for a few days to come. This is because I have to keep my leg elevated until the infection clears.
This presented a challenge…it seems to be easier to be doing, than being, and now limited to my bed/sofa, I start to wonder what I’m gonna do with all this time.
I soon started to realise what a blessing this is. I have been given a treat to be savoured…time off. I have been ordered to do nothing. How glorious! To have this time off, and have a little sabbatical.
Its just what I needed…some time to gather my thoughts, and seek the Lord.

I really don’t mind now that I wasn’t healed straight away, because to experience God’s joy in pain, His peace in changing situations, and his favour and goodness, are so very precious. To be able to have this time out with Him, and hear his heartbeat for me is just great.

I've started to read a book titled ‘He chose the nails’, by Max Lucado (great author). This passage really caught my attention, and made me laugh at its relevance to my present situation:

“God speaks in hospital hallways and sickbeds. We know what David meant with the words, “He makes us to lie down in green pastures” Psalm 23:2. Nothing seems to turn our ears toward heaven like a frail body”

Its so easy to operate in our own strength when we feel that we can handle a situation, but when we are faced with our human limitations, it turns our face towards the Father. I do not think that Papa God sends affliction just to ‘teach us a lesson’, but I certainly know that he can work through it, to show us his goodness and faithfulness. Not so long ago I was crying out to God to deliver me, and he didn’t in the way I expected, but His love and mercy have been loud and clear, and I am so thankful for that.