According to Romans 8:28, God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love Him and those who are called according to His purpose. According to 1 Thessalonians 5, we are to rejoice ALWAYS, pray WITHOUT CEASING, and give thanks in EVERYTHING.
In the day in which we live – in the current culture in which we live – that seems to be a tall and, perhaps, unattainable order.
Setting our current culture aside for a moment, let’s take a few seconds to think about our personal circumstances and how God’s Word might apply to us on an intimate level. For me, that means learning to deal with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. Just how does one find joy in such news? I get the praying without ceasing part pretty easily, lol, but how does one give thanks in the midst of being told they have a debilitating disease? And while we’re at it, how does such news work together for my good?
The answer is honestly quite simple. Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. How do we seek first the kingdom and God’s righteousness? We must seek to know the King of that kingdom Who is the very righteousness of God! Jesus!
In other words, by seeking an intimate relationship with Jesus we are basically turning our hearts toward Jesus and saying, “Here is my heart, Lord. Into-me-see,” with the understanding that He is in that same moment saying to us, “Here is My heart, son/daughter. Into Me-see!”
From the KING’s Point of View
I am discovering that when I walk in honesty with Jesus that I discover true freedom. Intimacy with God brings abundant life and always leads to freedom, regardless of my circumstances. By seeking intimacy with the King I am given insight into His point of view. His perspective. I may see an insurmountable mountain, but He sees a mere molehill. I may see Parkinson’s and have moments of dread and fear, but He sees an opportunity for me to experience more of His love and grace – and perfect love like His always conquers fear. I may experience physical suffering, but He sees an opportunity for me to experience the power of His presence THROUGH the storm of that suffering. I am never alone.
We must learn to view life – from the personal to the cultural – from the King’s point of view if we are ever going to walk in the abundance of life Jesus promised in the Word (John 10:10). We will walk through times of sorrow. He sees those times as opportunities to comfort us with His presence. We will experience times of physical pain and emotional wounding. He sees an opportunity for us to receive healing for our body and soul. He invites us to step back from our small-picture way of viewing life and see the grand adventure of life from His perspective.
Parkinson’s is no fun, but my joy is not dependent upon my circumstances. My joy is in knowing I am not alone and that God means even Parkinson’s for my good. I honestly mean that.
My personal perspective?
I will use Parkinson’s for God’s glory and to bring hope to others who find themselves in similar life situations. Rather than succumbing to the lies of the enemy or focusing on what the wisdom of man says ‘could be’ coming my way, I focus on the fact that God loves me right where I am but loves me enough to not leave me there!
After having lived with the diagnosis for 2 years now, I have used Parkinson’s for the Kingdom of God by funneling my energy into living rather than dying, receiving God’s love rather than wallowing in fear, calling upon God’s grace to such a degree that I have written more than 24 songs in that period and written two books and countless blogs. Bottom line?
Whether I live or whether I die, I will be with Jesus. That is why I am able to find joy in the midst of my diagnosis. That is why I can pray without ceasing. That is why I continue to give thanks to God in spite of how I feel (I have learned I can even change the way I feel by changing the way I think! Why do you think I spend so much time trying to get to God’s point of view as it regards to my life and to the culture in which I live?). That is why I choose to believe God means even Parkinson’s for my good.
Jesus Is Still In Control
With the current events of the age in which we live, it appears that chaos, often induced by humanistic thinking, rules the day…but we, as believers, know that regardless of what the world does, Jesus is still in control.
When faced with a pandemic, Jesus is still in control. When faced with political correctness, Jesus is still in control. When faced with persecution, Jesus is still in control. When faced with feeling one is swimming against the flow of the culture, Jesus is still in control. Let’s calm our souls today with the simple truth that Jesus Christ still reigns. Let’s seek first the kingdom by seeking first the King…and learn to live our lives according to what HE sees.
