 had
just spoken at a large church in Richmond, Virginia. Several
hundred people had crowded into the sanctuary to hear me describe
how I had been cured of a severe gastrointestinal disorder.
“God can heal anything,” I had confidently asserted as I talked
about my seemingly miraculous healing. “Just put your trust
in Him.”
As the minister drove me
to the airport later to catch my plane home, I couldn't help
reflecting on how well my talk had been received by the congregation.
Then the minister interrupted my thoughts to mention a young
colleague of his who was suffering from a coronary problem.
Grateful for my own recovery,
I was eager to provide insight for others. “Why,” I asked earnestly,
“are there so many ministers with stress-related problems when
God is in the healing business?” After all, my own illness had
been stress-related, and God had even been able to rid me of
it.
At that moment, we had
to stop for a red light. The minister turned so he could look
me in the eye. “I suppose,” he said, “it is because we have
to deal with so many members like you.”
What on earth does he mean?
I wondered.
Months later I had cause
to recall the minister's words. After a year of good health,
I suddenly woke up with incredible nausea and abdominal cramps.
Sitting for what seemed like hours, my head in my hands, I begged
God, “Why? Didn't You already cure me? Isn't that what I've
been telling everybody? About how I tapped into Your healing
power?”
Suddenly it came to me:
I had been putting the emphasis on my tapping into God's
power rather than on His healing me. And God's answer
was now as clear to me as my reflection in the mirror: You
can serve Me without health, but you cannot serve Me without
humility.
I thought of people I knew
from my church who served God successfully in spite of grave
physical disorders. Maybe it was because of their health
problems that they could follow God: When all else was stripped
away, God's presence became essential—and unmistakable.
My efforts to deal with
my stomach problems persisted for many years. But even though
my physical condition was far from perfect, my spirit somehow
felt more grounded-and elevated.
Oh, yes, I still believe
in divine healing. But now I know it operates on a deeper level
than just my body.
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Some
things happen just to keep you close to the Lord—sickness,
trouble, problems. Sometimes they happen to drive you closer
to each other. Sometimes they happen to keep you humble. Sometimes
they happen to make you pray. There are all kinds of reasons
for even having troubles! So even troubles and tribulations
are good for us. Thank You, Lord!
—David
Brandt Berg
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