Leading in Sickness

Is God still good in sickness? Is God still good in poverty? Is God still good in famine & war? Is God only good when we prosper or when we are well fed? When we have the nice house, nice car, nice clothes and right friends? Is God only good when we are healthy?

This past week my wife and children have been quite sick. However in it, there has still been much praise and thanksgiving to God. I am not saying that to boast, but I am sharing that to encourage you fathers. Encourage you, that this comes when Dad leads the family in making observations about the truth of the test we have been entrusted with.

Several times through the night, our daughters are waking us up. Our sons are up and down as well. We have been getting only few hours of sleep and yet, the temptation is not to spend time reading God's Word. Why? Because we get irritated or frustrated that these kids are waking us up in the night. How are we suppose to function, we mumble to ourselves or to our spouse in anger. But is that the truth? Is God not providing us with an opportunity to depend on Him? Do we see these times as a means of grace, from God, to grow in godliness?

My heart is warmed when I descend the stairs to see my wife look up from her Bible, with a physically worn out body, but eyes that show that her soul has been filled and refueled enough to carry out the tasks of caring for the children we have been entrusted with.

Admittedly we are growing in this. This is not the way it has always been. However after experiencing God's grace, when making the choice to spend time alone with God and His Word, how can we not take time to spend with Him, in order to serve each other and our children?

Dad's lead well. Encourage, create time and space for such appointments with the Lord. Even if you don't have children, and are just newly married. Remind your wife of the opportunities to grow in godliness.

ONLY, because of the cross...