You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
Galatians 4:13-14
Lord, I often wallow in agony as I go through, feeling sorry for myself, wondering why You would permit this misery to come upon me. I find myself having a pity party, crying out woe is me, looking for someone, anyone, to reach out and show a little mercy. And even if I am exaggerating a bit, there is something within me that looks at what I am going through and thinks that it is not fair. Lost on me in those moments is the fact that You are using my condition if shared with others in loving transparency to bring them not only to You, but also to provide for me the ministering in the moment that I need. Lost is my understanding of Your sovereignty orchestrating Your glory behind the scenes through both others and myself, raising up Your Name amongst Your creation in human suffering. I thank You this morning not only for the people You have sent my way to help bear my burdens, but also the burdens themselves that have forced me to be human to them while still demonstrating my faith and trust in You. Thank You for how, through affliction, You make Your presence and power known in the lives of Your people, and how in our weakness You are indeed made strong. I pray that You would continue to remind me to receive my broken brothers and sisters in Christ as angels, messengers of God, to me. And enable me to be the same to them, nurturing even as I am nurtured by their loving embrace. Let our lives and our love preach the good news of Your Kingdom to all who see us in Jesus’ Name. And then You will get the glory due You because the world will see You more clearly! Amen!