Come Down, Lord!

  The other night I was asked by someone—whom I will call Martha—if I really believe that God works all things for good. I said I did. To which she responded, “But I don’t understand how your condition can be for good.” Martha’s not alone. It isn’t just my specific condition. There are a host of possibilities that can seem, at first glance, utterly pointless. Far from doing good, they seem to work for evil. And yet the Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). It isn’t “many” things, or even “most” things. It’s all things. For the called—for those who love God—all things work together for good. That is God’s promise. For some, this presents a serious philosophical problem. They don’t understand how to reconcile God’s working all things for good with human freedom and even demonic activity. To which I answer, “But with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). I do n...

  It hasn’t been long since I last wrote, but I am using a transport chair more and find myself able to do less. I don’t know if this is just a bad flare that will pass or something more. What’s difficult about this condition is that we don’t know much about the prognosis. Every flare has the potential to permanently alter my baseline, which already is a long way from what it was six months ago. Even so, I have been listening to worship music and reflecting on how blessed I am to have cause to sing. As the old hymn puts it: Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, But God gives a song In the night season and all the day long. Our circumstances may differ, but God gives a song in the midst of it all. And what is our song? It is praise, thanks, and love to our Redeemer! He is the constant. And what a constant! None so lovely. None so good. He alone is Wonderful . What thrills my heart most is this: ...

A while back I wrote about some recent medical issues. At the time I was very positive. I believe that was entirely owing to God’s grace. He drew near and seemed to shed His love abroad in my heart. Though I had times of anxiety, my overwhelming experience was joy. But in recent months it’s been more difficult. In November I learned that I likely have a rare metabolic myopathy. If so, there is no cure. What makes it particularly challenging is that because my condition is so rare, we still don’t know where this is going. When I last wrote I had what I thought were significant limitations. But in the months that have followed I have experienced a fairly significant decline. When I am not in a flare I can still walk short distances. Often I use a cane and sometimes a walker.  And then two nights ago I needed a transport chair to get to the washroom. Even when I am not in a flare, going around the block or shopping are out of the question. For longer trips like those I need a wheel...