Glimpses of Truth

Chronic

This too shall come to pass!  Webster’s Dictionary defines “chronic” as “lasting for a long period of time or marked by frequent recurrence.”  Usually the word “chronic” is used in health issues when we have a particular problem which returns again and again and again and causes us pain and discomfort. 

So many issues facing people today are considered chronic, ranging from health concerns, economic problems, and anything which continually causes us despair.

In my work, I encounter people who have chronic problems which seem to have no end!  Some of them are severe cases.  Their conditions are hard to describe.  Their problems are many.  They are often caused by a lack of care, neglect, a lack of knowledge, sometimes just being stubborn, a habit that is not easily broken, or possibly sin that has ruled their choices.  Often I think their chronic problem causes me to have chronic problems!  Sometimes I feel as though I have to work hard to leave my work at work.  And when I do, then I feel guilty for enjoying my ease and not spending more time meeting needs.  I realize however the importance of finding a happy medium.

What’s your chronic problem?  _______ If you stopped and made a list, it probably would be physical needs or concerns.

Have you ever noticed that when prayer requests are given, 99% of them deal with the physical?  Life is physical, but our lives and our walk with God involve much more.  We encounter so much, things and issues which “last for a long period of time.”  They cast their long shadow over much of what we do.  They influence our decisions for good, but usually for bad.  We hide them.  Sometimes they are severe.  We neglect them.  They prosper because of a lack of knowledge or because we won’t deal honestly with them.  We’re stubborn.  They sometimes rule us.  They bully us around.  They intimidate us over and over again. They rob us of our dreams.

Who are some of these chronic devils that we rarely lift up as a prayer request?  Do we dare mention our failures, our jealousy, or our anger?

What may be a chronic issue to you may not bother me at all.  How about our doubts, our temptations, or our resentments?  What’s on your chronic list which burdens your soul and hampers your spiritual maturity?  How about our guilt, or worry, or loneliness?  I may not have mentioned your chronic issues, but the odds are you are like me and have more than one.  Don’t they give us grief?

I’m ever aware that the hand of my God and Redeemer is on my shoulder,  He’s always there.  I’m never alone.

As believers, the chronic issues which we face each day aren’t final.  They are a fact of life, but they are not a way of life, because “in Christ” we have been empowered to be the sons of God.

So what about this chronic earthly issue?  This too shall come to pass.