What About Me, Lord?
When times are tough, when you are hurting so badly you have to be drugged greatly, when you have been given a very discouraging report, when things look really bad, have you ever looked upward and said: What about me, Lord? Do you even care? Can’t you see I’m hurting? Why aren’t you doing something about it? Am I important at all to You? We all have had those thoughts, even though we may not verbalize them. What about me?
To answer these questions, let’s go to the book of Isaiah, chapter 53.
Isaiah 53:4,5,10a
Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him: he has put him to grief:….
First, we must know what some of these words mean. The word “griefs” means sicknesses, weaknesses, distresses). The word “sorrows” means pain. Where it says “he was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted,” it means as if with leprosy (one of the most dreadful diseases).
He was wounded, bruised for our sins, transgressions, iniquities. He took the “hit” for us. The ”chastisement of our peace was upon him.” This phrase means that Jesus took on everything that cause you and me to be “stressed out.” This word “peace” is the word shalom, which means: to be safe, well, happy, healthy, prosperous, whole, completed and at rest. Don’t you think that pretty much covers it all, everything that we would need!
Then in verse 10 it is emphasized that it pleased the LORD to bruise him. He has put him to grief. Man, why would it please the Lord to bruise him? The answer is this: He was pleased that He was taking your place so that you would not have to suffer what you are suffering right now. There is just one “catch” to this. You have to accept what He did for you and believe it and receive it, even if your body is still screaming. You see, we live in this imperfect world with the perfect Jesus in us. There is a conflict many times in us between the world and Jesus. We are bombarded in the world with sickness, pain, disease. In Jesus we are healed, whole, healthy, well, sound, pain-free. There is a battle, and we must stand firm for our rights, purchased for us by Jesus. Health is ours.
My, my, what a gift we have been given, and how difficult it has been for us to receive it. I have made up my mind that I am receiving healing every day for my body. Does it mean everything is always instantly manifested for me? No, but I am asking the Lord why? What is there in me that holds it up? It’s time for people to receive healing and health and live in an abundance of joy, living the good life.
Ephesians 2:10, Amplified Bible
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].