If sickness be my chains

Last night my sickness worsened. Now I had a sore throat, a fever and a headache to add to my unsettled stomach and overall weakness. I could feel a cold forming too. I decided that sleep would be impossible right away, so I chose to read for a bit first. I settled on the biography of David Livingstone, the missionary and explorer to South Africa in the 1800’s. I read the entire thing before night’s end, and a quote from Livingstone on the fourth to last page resonated with me:

“What is the atonement of Christ? It is Himself; it is the inherent and everlasting mercy of God made apparent to human eyes and ears. The everlasting love was disclosed by our Lord’s life and death. It showed that God forgives, because He loves to forgive. He works by smiles if possible. If not, by frowns; pain is only a means of enforcing love.”

Pain eh? Well, I know a bit of that right now. If it is to bring me closer to God…I guess I can handle it…

When I awoke today, much of the pain and weariness was gone...and even my spirit felt refreshed. Praise God! But, I was still not 100%. I doubted that I had the strength to struggle through another day. Then I thought of Livingstone. How many dozens of times did he endure river fever in his years in Africa, let alone other injuries and concerns? And Paul…he was imprisoned for sharing Jesus, yet he didn’t stop; he seemed only strengthened by this obstacle. Could I then also be like Paul, or Livingstone? I would sure like to try…in God’s strength of course.

This poem came from my ponderings:


If sickness be my chains
How shall I still proclaim
His glory and might and power
His goodness and love in this hour

To the sky my prayers I send
Sweet fragrance tells of heaven opened
My brothers and sisters I shall tell
This same God in them does dwell

Praise be to his name
Tomorrow I shall say the same
He has done great things
Bless his holy name