Trusting God Who Raises the Dead #1

2 Corinthians 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

In my days before illness and pain, it was easy to forget that my life and all that I have is from God. I'd tend to go about my days with little more than a meal time prayer toward God. But if something went wrong in my day I'd go running to Him expecting Him to fix it. Many times He graciously did in spite of the little time I gave back to Him. For the most part, I trusted in myself for the things I needed. I was in control of my own destiny.

Enter illness, accident, and chronic pain. Suddenly my life was turned upside down. God knocked the props right out from under me. I realized that I don't have control. Like the Apostle Paul, I had the "sentence of death" in myself. It was the realization that at any moment I could die--anyone could. All it would take is one false move behind the wheel of the car. My self-sufficiency means nothing in light of the fact that every step I take is one step closer to physical death.

The flip side to all of this is the realization that I have no real ultimate control over my life. God does. It teaches me that since I can't trust in myself, I can trust in God who raises the dead! God who raises the dead! What better place is there to put our trust, than in a God who raises the dead?

No, I can't say I have enjoyed the problems I have to deal with. But I must say that I am thankful that God has allowed me to suffer in this way, because through it He has taught me that trusting Him is the only way to make my life worthwhile. He has taught me to spend time with Him like I have never spent before. I have learned more about His love for me during this time of suffering than any other time in my life.

How is it with you? Are you trusting in God who raises the dead or are you trusting in yourself? Has your difficult times brought you into a closer more intimate relationship with Jesus? He is waiting for you to come to Him and entrust your future and your life to Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that You will help me to seek Your will in all that I do. Help me to remember that You are the Source of all I have and that You are in sovereign control of my life.