Learning from Physical Struggles

Learning From Physical Struggles
  
In the Bible the Lord often uses the physical to point us to the spiritual, from the physical requirements necessary to enter the temple in the Old Testament to Jesus’ miracles in the New Testament. Below are four lessons we can learn from times we experience physical struggles of various kinds:
  
1.       Sickness reminds us of our spiritual brokenness apart from Christ. When our bodies don’t work properly it is a reminder that we live in a world broken by the presence of sin. Just like physical sickness must be addressed with physical medical care, the spiritual sickness of our souls is in need of a cure as well.  
2.       Sickness reminds us of the spiritual restoration available in Christ. One of the greatest experiences here on earth is recovery after an illness or injury. We feel like running, jumping, celebrating! These physical restorations are intended to remind us of the far greater spiritual restoration available to our sin-filled souls through the death and resurrection of Christ!
3.       Sickness reminds us of our spiritual dependence upon Christ. During times of physical weakness we become physically dependent on others to do what we cannot do. In the Christian life we are meant to operate in spiritual weakness, not trusting in our own strength or intellect or ability but learning rather to abide in Christ, for apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:4-5).  
4.       Sickness reminds us of our sickness-free future with Christ. Ultimately, all of our bodies will fail us, resulting in physical death. However, for those whose faith is in Christ, we are promised perfected bodies capable of dwelling forever with the Lord and incapable of becoming sick or injured ever again (1 Cor. 15:42-53).
  
Whatever physical struggle you may be facing in this season, ask the Lord for spiritual eyes to see what he is wanting to teach you and how he might use your physical struggle to help you experience more of him.