by Dr. Paul Chappell

"The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole."

John 5:10-15

Your sickness or trial can be a great witnessing tool if you will focus on God rather than the situation.

W.B. Hinson was a preacher in the Northwest in the late 1800s. Centered near Portland, Oregon, Hinson pastored the First Baptist Church of Portland for many years. One day he received bad news from his doctor. Reflecting on his life and the things he had done, Hinson spoke about his life experiences just before his death, "I remember a year ago when a doctor told me, 'You have an illness from which you won't recover.' I walked out to where I live five miles from Portland, Oregon, and I looked across at that mountain that I love. I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God's own poetry to my soul. Then in the evening I looked up into the great sky where God was lighting His lamps, and I said, 'I may not see you many more times, but Mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and River, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea; and Stars, I shall be alive when you have fallen from your sockets in the great down pulling of the material universe!"

Hinson's view of his illness wasn't that God was cruel for taking him from his family and the place he loved, but that he was headed for an everlasting life, one that would endure long after the place he loved would pass away. For the rest of his life, Dr. Hinson spent much time telling others of God's goodness in his life, despite the illness that was taking his life.

John 5:10-15 tells us the last half of the story of the lame man. Cured by Jesus and brought back to full strength, the man was confronted by religious leaders who were not overjoyed by his miraculous healing but were critical of his disobedience to their interpretation of the law (he was not allowed to carry his bedding on the Sabbath day). But not only did Jesus cure him physically, He found him in the temple later and cured his spiritual illness as well. How did the man respond to Jesus' healing? He told the Jews that Jesus had healed him.

The former lame man's testimony was not of his own healing or of his own good news, but of the power of Jesus. He pointed people to Jesus and proclaimed that He had cured and forgiven him.

It's easy to give God the glory when He heals us from a sickness or removes a trial. We feel joy and overwhelming relief! But how do we react when God wants us to endure the trial? Do we still praise Him?

God doesn't always heal your sickness or remove your trials. Sometimes His purpose is greater than healing. How do you respond during those times? The world tells you it's not fair for you to suffer. They want to question God and become angry that they must suffer. But as a Christian, you know that God has a purpose for everything that comes into your life.

If you're facing a time of sickness and trial, realize that God is still near you. One thing that I have often reminded myself of during our son's battle with cancer is God's promise that He is in control of everything. I may not understand it, but God's is working through it. Don't become angry or full of self-pity about your condition, but use it as an opportunity to tell others of God's wonderful grace in your life. Like the healed man, tell others that it is Jesus who has helped you through.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
Nehemiah 4-6 | Acts 2:22-47