Head Colds, Headaches, and Other Reminders from God

I interrupt my series on embarrassing moments to announce that I have a cold; a full-blown, head-filling, body-aching, strength-sapping, want-to-stay-in-bed type cold. Add this to the twenty year long everyday, every minute, unrelenting headache that I have and there are the makings of a rather uncomfortable couple of days ahead of me.

Mix in with that that there is a lot to do this week. Big stuff is happening in the church this weekend, and there's a ton to attend to. This is all a recipe for stress and self-pity. I know that what I'm facing is nothing, and I do mean nothing, compared to what many of you may be facing. I wouldn't pretend to have it as hard as some of you. That would be insane and insensitive.

My only point is that it's in times like this that just that kind of insanity can hit. I'm facing some stress and discomfort which, given the insanity and insensitivity of my flesh, is sufficient to make me feel sorry for myself and be anxious and bothered about how it's all going to get done. In case you haven't noticed, self-pity is never very sane.

I'm convinced that God gives us head colds, headaches, hang nails, and hassles precisely to remind us that He's in control and we're not. He means us to know that we are weak and dependant on Him. I'm convinced that He messes with our plans, stockpiles our cares, and rearranges our appointment calendars when we're not looking (to insert such things as colds, crises in the family, and whatever else He thinks will get the job done.)

This way we feel really weak, really needy, really desperate for grace from Him. It's the way He's always kept His children praying and trusting and loving only Him. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 comes to mind. God could have taken Paul's stress point away, but He didn't; so Paul had to learn to rely on grace and glory in God all the more.

Here's a question for you: do you believe that God rules over headcolds and headaches? I'm not asking if you believe in some kind of weak "God allows" or "He let's these things happen" view of Divine sovereignty. I'm asking if you have room in your theology for the God who's self-described in Exodus 3:11 as the One who makes the deaf and mute and blind? Check it out and think about it. Does your faith accomodate a God who makes people deaf and mute or afflicted with colds and cancers and crises? Do you have a category for a God who gives and really does take away--as He took away from Job (Job 1:13-22)?

Here's what I believe: I have a head cold because it's part of the eternal plan of God for my life and for my good. I have a headache because at this moment (and for the past 20 years) it's been the very thing God has known that I would need. And I believe that every trial and stress point and burden that have accompanied these afflictions through the years are not merely things permitted; they're things planned.

God does more than permit; He purposes. That's not to say He's the cause for it all (He does not cause sin, and He does use means to accomplish His ends), but it is to say that if it's happening to me right now, even if it's not fun, it's because God knew it was the very best thing that could happen to me right now. It's because God wants me to learn trust and faith and humility and hope and the true sufficiency of grace in all of the hard turns and twists of life.

God afflicts because He wants us to arrive at the faith realization that no matter what we face or lose or suffer, if we have Him we have enough.

So as I process my head cold today, I'll try to do it knowing that there's not a maverick germ in the universe that can step outside God's will. The germ got me, because God loves me and knows what's best. It's as simple as that.

Just a few things to think about as you face your stress points today. I'd not want you to face anything--not even a head cold--without knowing and being able to trust the One Who's in control.