My watch alarm buzzed, reminding me that it was time for another dose of my medication. Although prescribed to manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, its main effect so far had been nausea. I missed the days of seemingly unlimited energy and stamina, the freedom of a prescription-free life. But as I gulped down the tablets with big swallows of water, I reminded myself to be patient with the process, to accept God’s assignment, and to learn from the limitations of an aging and ailing body.
God designed us with limits for a good reason: to teach us to worship him. We come to the end of our own resources and cry out for his rescue. As we stop trying so hard to do what only God can accomplish in our lives, and as we come to the blessed realization that we can lay those things down, we begin to place our trust in him — and to displace our trust in our own strategies and vigilance. When we acknowledge our own limits and celebrate God’s limitlessness, we find freedom.
My third article as part of a writing cohort for Desiring God is live on their site today, and I invite you to head on over for a reminder that our deep limitations are an occasion for deep trust in our limitless God.
I submitted article number four on September 1, and it’s currently in DG’s editorial pipeline, so stay tuned… It’s been a fantastic learning experience to interact with the other writers in the cohort and to receive input from their editorial staff.
When we acknowledge our own limits and celebrate God’s limitlessness, we find freedom.
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Click the button below to find my author page on the Desiring God site, where you’ll find links to all the content I’ve shared with them.
Holding You in the Light,
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This seven-day devotional plan affirms that perseverance is so much more than simply hanging on. Those who follow Jesus Christ are familiar with the dogged patience of waiting, because we have read the words of Scripture about eternal rewards for those who endure. So we persevere—sometimes just because God has commanded us to. When the newness wears off, when we don’t feel like it, when everything just feels too hard, we press on, and we press in to Christ. He is the prize.
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I often refer back to 2 Corinthians 12 – Paul’s thorn in the flesh. “for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” sums it up. ❤️
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Yes, and one of his strongest traits I find in Paul’s writing is his wisdom in knowing enough to receive God’s answering grace as the gift God intended it to be and operate from that base, knowing that God’s glory was put on display in his WEAKNESS rather than any of his more stellar traits.
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What meds are making you sick? Inquiring minds in Plaid.
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I will be in touch via email
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I’m sorry the medication is making you feel sick. It is hard to deal with less energy and stamina as we age and especially the effects of health issues. I pray for that mindset of trusting God all the time!
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I know God has used this chronic disease to teach me about the sufficiency of his grace. It would be wonderful if we were able to pay attention to all he wants to do in and through us without the flash of light and the falling down on the Damascus Road, but most of us need to be stopped in our tracks before we’ll take grace and be thankful for it.
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Wonderful article, Michele. This is such a settling truth: “God’s incommunicable attributes belong to God alone. When we fight to rival him, our efforts are ‘vanity and a striving after wind.’ ” I hope the medication is working better now. You’re right–coming to the end of ourselves gives us wonderful opportunities to deepen our trust in God.
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The medication is actually working better now, and I have a new set of exercises from a physical therapist that have taken my exercise time up another notch. It’s very encouraging to move the needle even a little bit in a positive direction.
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Oh Michele, I so admire your perseverance in ‘doing good’ despite the distraction and disablement of your condition. Your faith encourages me that in everything (and anything!) we face it’s possible to glorify God. I came upon words of Gerard Manley Hopkins earlier this week and your post has brought them back to me:
(an excerpt) “But vastness blurs and time beats level, Enough! the Resurrection, A heart’s clarion! Away grief’s gasping, joyless days, dejection. Across my foundering deck shone A beacon, and eternal beam. Flesh fade, and mortal trash Fall to the residuary worm; world’s wildfire, leave but ash; In a flash, at a trumpet crash, I am all at once what Christ is, since he was what I am, and This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, patch, matchwood, immortal diamond, Is immortal diamond.”
May we keep our eyes here through everything that tempts us to discontent. Thanks for your good words and for the life that backs them up! Linda Skelton
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Those are “WOW” words from Hopkins, and I don’t remember reading this particular piece of his writing, so I need to go in search of it.
And I am always so glad to hear from you. I’d love to know how you’re doing with your ministry to grandkids and others in your circle, and what you have been reading, etc.
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I just recently reread Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him, with the apt subtitle, 10 Ways God Is Different from Us and Why That’s a Good Thing. She makes many of the same points. We try to be like God in ways we can’t and neglect to be like Him in ways He’s called us to. It seems like limitations increase the older we get–but that gives us new ways to depend on Him.
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I love whenever I get to read something Jen Wilkin has written about the attributes of God. She’s a good thinker and says things so clearly!
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A great article! I will have to check out the articles on your author page.
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Let me know what you think!
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I am so sorry to hear that your medication mostly makes you feel sick at this point. I hope that isn’t always the case!
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Things are improving, and I’m grateful for the positive effects of the medication—which I am finally able to appreciate!
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I’m saddened to hear you’re experiencing this with your meds Michele. Unfortunately my husband has similar side efects with medications for his chronic conditions. One makes him feel dizzy & unwell however at this point there isn’t an alternative medication so he waits until the side effects pass each morning.
I agree God’s strength is greatest when we are at our most vulnerable.
Hopefuly these side effects will pass when your body gets used to the medication.
Blessings, Jennifer
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Thank you, Jennifer, for your kind words and concern. I am, indeed, starting to experience some relief, some days of feeling “normal” again, and it’s very encouraging!
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That’s great to hear Michele! 🙂
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