Selected Scriptures and Personal/Physical Limitations (a repost)
As one of those people with limitations for as long as I can remember--even longer than I can remember--I have gone through a variety of emotions: resentment, anger, resignation, finally reconciliation and realization. Realization?
Psalm 139:1-6 reads: "O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."
How often have I felt hemmed in, limited, and not seen this as wonderful?
Yet, as David wrote in this intimate Psalm: "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them" (v.v.12-16)
Given, then, that God was involved in these ways in my creation, how could I be angry or resentful or resigned? Instead, through this and other parts of Scripture, I not only became reconciled to my present (not eternal;) limitations, but also realized that there are benefits to them, somewhat in keeping with these: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
I have also found a lot of comfort from many of the verses in Psalm 119.
By the ongoing grace of God, then, I have moved from resentment, anger, resignation, finally to reconciliation with and realization that these limitations (temporary) are part of God's process of sanctifying and making me useful.
As one of those people with limitations for as long as I can remember--even longer than I can remember--I have gone through a variety of emotions: resentment, anger, resignation, finally reconciliation and realization. Realization?
Psalm 139:1-6 reads: "O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."
How often have I felt hemmed in, limited, and not seen this as wonderful?
Yet, as David wrote in this intimate Psalm: "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them" (v.v.12-16)
Given, then, that God was involved in these ways in my creation, how could I be angry or resentful or resigned? Instead, through this and other parts of Scripture, I not only became reconciled to my present (not eternal;) limitations, but also realized that there are benefits to them, somewhat in keeping with these: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
I have also found a lot of comfort from many of the verses in Psalm 119.
By the ongoing grace of God, then, I have moved from resentment, anger, resignation, finally to reconciliation with and realization that these limitations (temporary) are part of God's process of sanctifying and making me useful.
Labels: Psalm 139 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
posted by Ebeth | 7:47 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home