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LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 15)

Health of Job is the theme for our reflection. Health is a person’s mental or physical condition. Good health is fundamental to every human endeavour. Without good health, there is no way a person can achieve his or her goals in life. Health is precious and is worth more than wealth because with good health we can strive to make wealth.

The question Job’s condition raises is that, can a believer be faithful to God and yet experience poor health? Does ill-health mean God is not powerful nor in charge of our lives? Job’s understanding of his ill-health is incredible and emulatory. Although he had no idea what was going on in the spiritual realm, his faith in God was unwavering. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:9-10). Job’s wife represents believers, who are faithful to God when life is rosy but immediately their health deteriorate and financial hardship set in then God is perceived as less powerful, incompetent and unconcerned.

In Africa, most believers hardly accept the fact that sickness or ill-health could befall a Christian just because God allowed it to be. Many believers accept the fact that Jesus has the power to heal but deny the fact that sickness could be one of the ways God uses to test our faithfulness to Him. Some Christians after a protracted sickness, begin to practice what is termed as syncretism by heeding to all manner of fetish prescriptions and consultations in desperation. They hardly come to terms with the fact that a believer may also fall sick but what is most important is that even in our sickness God is still God. It is for this reason, Paul wrote that “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:35). Let us trust God even when our health is deteriorating and the pain becomes unbearable for “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalms 147:3). Our faith should lead us to the conclusion that if God does not heal us we shall still worship Him because He is God. We are further encouraged by the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. ” (Daniel 3:16-18). May your faith be increased even in sickness and pain in this lent season and beyond. Shalom

PRAYER

Dear God, as we experience your grace in good health may we be strengthened and ever ready to stand firm in faith even as we endure pain during times of ill-health. Amen.

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)