Healing From Life's DisappointmentsSample

Having a chronic autoimmune disease (in my case, lupus) means sometimes I miss out on things. I make plans that I sometimes have to cancel. I used to do things that I can no longer do. I often grieve the person I used to be.

The disappointment can be crushing. I can relate to David's words in today's passage because I am often "full of heaviness" (Psalm 69:20).

But amazingly, God gives me a unique stillness in my sickbed. There, I am learning what it means to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Being still means to stop striving, or as they say in Louisiana, to stop fussin'. The admonishment doesn't mean we stop doing what God has called us to do. It simply means to rest in God, to trust Him to do what is best in His way, in His time, and with His resources.

For me, that means sometimes swallowing my pride, canceling my plans, crying a few tears, going to bed, and praying for people from my bed rather than attempting to do extraordinary feats on my feet.

And surprisingly, I am learning so much from my sickbed. In particular, lying in my bed alone, I am learning that I am not alone. There, I have felt God's presence wash over me and a strong prompting to pray for people like I have never prayed before. God has reminded me again and again that He is "near to those who have a broken heart" (Psalm 34:18).

Life is full of all sorts of heartbreaks - sickness, grief, breakups, job losses, wayward children, betrayals, church splits. Still, our God is compassionate, loving, and tender, and He remains near us through every single heartbreak.

I believe His nearness lies at the heart of Jehovah Rapha, healing us from life's disappointments. God heals us with His presence, much like Jesus often did when He healed the sick with His touch or His word.

If you face crushing disappointments today, remember He is near the brokenhearted. Spend time with God in sincere worship, in His Word, and among His people. In His presence is fullness of joy, and as He has promised in Exodus 33:14, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."