"Why are you still sick? If God is your healer, then why aren't you healed?" Comments like this can cause distressful nights from well-meaning friends. Or you may have these questions yourself. The answer, I believe, lies in the power of the cross...in the process our old natures undergo as God prepares us for a truly victorious life.

As we advance in our spiritual life, the Holy Spirit searches our hearts for the dark "pockets" of our sin nature that have yet to die. King David spent an entire Psalm (38) describing how this affected his health. He also described the taunts of his family and friends who derided and avoided him when physically, he was in his darkest hour. This may be what you're going through now.

Many are the strong saints in the Lord who have had similar experiences in their lives. They also came to realize that it was not a time when God was not answering their prayer - indeed He was, but in a far greater way. He was changing them to be more like Him. How can you explain to the unenlightened what is happening to you inside? You can't. You can only take comfort in the knowledge that you are: "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body...then death is working in us, but life in you" (2 Corinthians 4:10, 12, NKJV).

Rejoice in the fact that as you allow God's deep inner workings to take place within you, the life of Christ will soon spring forth from you to nourish and save others.

Heavenly Father, I praise You for the power that soon follows the cross. And although those around me may not understand what I'm going through, help me to endure until Your work is done within me. For I know that as the old passes away, new Life will spring forth and even be manifested in my mortal flesh, showing the world that my God lives! In Jesus' Name, Amen.