I
just finished reading Ann Swindell’s new book Still Waiting, in which she draws encouragement from the story of the bleeding
woman in Mark chapter 5. The woman suffered for twelve years through no fault
of her own, but was healed when she took the risk to touch Jesus’ robe in the
midst of a crowd. As I read Ann’s book, I was starting to think to myself, “That’s
all fine when you’re facing a trial, but what if you’re dealing with a temptation
instead?” (Though if you read it, you’ll know that Ann’s own story deals with
both trial and temptation.)
Interestingly,
there is a parallel Scripture that is not evident in many English translations.
In Mark 5:34 Jesus tells the woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go
in peace…” In Luke 7:50 Jesus tells a sinful woman, “Your faith has saved you;
go in peace.” The Greek word translated “made well” or “healed” is the same
word used for “saved.” So whether our need is for physical or emotional healing
or deliverance from sin, the answer to our needs is faith in God.
Ann
writes:
“Jesus offers us resolution for our struggle. It may not be immediate and complete resolution in this moment, but it is full and complete resolution for our sin and separation from God… Soon the Great Physician will come, and he will reset every broken bone. He will heal every pain and restore every brokenness. He will renew our strength and wipe away every tear. He will fulfill all of our longings through his wonderful grace. He will make us whole” (198-200).
James
chapter 1 mentions two things that require steadfastness—trials and
temptations. If we remain steadfast in trials and temptations our faith is
strengthened, otherwise we may fall away. And whether something is a trial or a
temptation, our ability to persevere is highly dependent on remembering who God
is and learning to rely on Him. James reminds us that trials and temptations
are closely related because they come from the fallen state of this world, and
only God can provide all that we need in the midst of this brokenness.
I
ran across this quote from Hannah Whitall Smith as published in God Is Enough:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
“The greatest lesson a soul has to learn is that God, and God alone, is enough for all its needs. This is the lesson that all God’s dealings with us are meant to teach, and this is the crowning discovery of our entire Christian life. God is enough.
No soul can really be at rest until it has given up dependence on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone. As long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but disappointment awaits us.”
Whatever
trial or temptation may be at hand today, God is enough. He gives only good
gifts, even though they may not be exactly what we desire at the moment. “Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17
ESV). We can come to Him in faith that He knows everything and will do what is
best.
“Any my God will
supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4:10).
©
2017 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from
pixabay.com.
