[Tuesday's Devotional] - As with a deadly wound in my bones

I recently heard the wonderful Scottish preacher, Kenny Borthwick, speaking about a recent illness that had affected his lungs.  It had left him hospitalised and he feared for the future of his ministry.  While trying to make sense of the situation with God, he was wisely advised to read the book of Psalms until he “found his voice".  Kenny’s illness was physical, but it led him into a low place spiritually and mentally.

Conversely, stress and depression can lead to physical problems.  For me, I know that I am going ‘downhill’ when I get a strange sensation in my face.  The skin feels tight and it is as though it is being scratched with a nail.  If I carry on down, my next physical problem will be insomnia.  For others it is different. Lack of interest in food, or in a hobby, or in sex, or too much interest in sex are all well-known signs of stress that will lead to a depression.  So too is constant tearfulness (Psalm 42:3).  We are creatures of mind and body and whether our illness is physical or mental, the one will affect the other.  It is no coincidence that the Psalmist compares his anguish to a deadly wound.  I think that his mental pain was causing him physical pain too.

When Kenny Borthwick was suffering terrible physical pain, a wise friend told him to listen to his body’s pain.  After prayer he became much more aware of how much discomfort his body was in.  From then on he was able to start walking towards a healing of his whole person.  But here is the point.  Kenny is a gentle but deeply intelligent, spirit filled preacher and church leader.  He is a darling of the New Wine movement and his preaching has helped and inspired thousands of Christians.  Yet, despite all this, he freely admitted, to a full house of people at the conference, that he did not have the wit to listen to the suffering of his whole being.  I don’t either.  I feel the nail go across my face and push on, too busy to pay it any mind.  Then, if I am not careful the insomnia starts and the world goes black.

So a simple message today.  Listen to your pain.  Do something about it if you can by relieving yourself of what is causing it, but even if that seems impossible, listen to it and talk to your loving friends about it.  Above all bring it before God and ask him to walk with you in your pain.

John Martin-Jones