“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4
Today’s Christian daily devotional
Randy careened his bike around the sharp corner of the familiar Palisade mountainside with ease. Although the roads were slickened with overnight dew, he was confident that his trusty bike could take it. In his thirty years of riding, his Softail Harley hadn’t failed Randy yet.
That solid faith was quickly shaken as Randy caught a glimpse of freshly fallen leaves scattered on the sharpest patch of the turn.
His world abruptly shifted into slow motion. Feeling the heavy wheels glide out from under his body, the back of Randy’s bike whipped in the opposite direction. Desperately grasping the handlebars, he tucked his body as close to his bike as he could. Instinct took over as Randy clenched his jaw while jamming on the brakes—hard.
Beads of sweat instantly prickled his brow. Feeling like he was trapped in the worst nightmare possible, Randy kicked his legs in attempt to wake himself up. But, his lower body refused to budge.
The smell of the sheets told him that this wasn’t his bedroom. Was that a dream or not? Randy’s senses quickly sharpened.
He tried kicking his legs again; they felt like water-soaked logs. Desperately grappling the rubber-like appendages, his heart clamped down in sudden fear. Heat rose up his chest.
The groans of a man in intense pain only seemed to magnify his own suffering.
Randy soon realized that those moans were coming from his body. His lips were cracked, his mouth parched and those moans sounded horribly weak.
“Do you need help?” A voice echoed from a shadowy figure that appeared in the open doorway. The hallway light was too dim for him to get a clear view.
“Where am I?” Randy wildly tossed the sheets back in sheer frustration.
“The Santa Monica Medical Center.” The nurse rushed towards Randy’s side.
“Don’t get up. I’ll help you.” Extending her arm, she helped him up.
“So, it wasn’t a bad dream.” The nurse didn’t utter a word. Her eyes said it all.
The story of Randy doesn’t end here. That fighting nature inside wouldn’t allow him to just lie down and give up.
After six surgeries, twice-daily physical therapy sessions, endless doctor visits and medications, Randy found himself in even better physical condition than before the accident. That steely determination paid off…after two very intense years.
Romans 15:4 makes me think of how similar Randy’s situation is to many people’s spiritual condition.
Because the world today is in such a morally depraved state, many people attended church do it because they’ve been deeply hurt on some level.
Many are so desperate to feel better right away, that they end up compromising their spiritual wholeness in the long run.
So, how does this happen? How do hurting people who are searching for help not getting what they need? (Especially from the church?)
From my observation, I believe that most people attend church services simply to get a quick and easy ‘bite’ of inspiration.
But, for one to experience true healing on the deepest levels, that individual must be willing to endure things that can actually be quite painful at first. Healing, especially the emotional and spiritual kind, will require something much more intense than a simple inspirational service.
I’m sure when Randy was learning how to walk again, it wasn’t easy or pain-free. But, if he was ever going use those legs again, the ‘easy way’ wasn’t an option.
Romans 15:4 tells us that those who are determined and patient will be healed. The brave folk who dig in their heels and go through the pain of the full healing process will be rewarded in the end.
These will be the ones who take the time to not only search through the wisdom of the word, but also face those hard issues that need changing. And while those changes are growing and stretching his/her character, the word of God will be there to comfort and heal at the same time.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Sometimes I forget about the beauty of patience. It this world of instant gratification, this practice feels so archaic. When things aren’t progressing as fast as I think they should, my natural instinct is to think that nothing is happening at all.
But, deep healing takes time. Help me to get a revelation of this. Help me to be calm as I learn to trust in you for my strength.
Give me the endurance to keep pressing in and doing what I know will be better for me in the long run. Help me see that this is a good way to invest my time and effort.
In Jesus’ precious name, I don’t want to be an ordinary person. I choose to be extraordinary! And with the help of God I believe that all things are possible. Amen!”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verse: Romans 15:4
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan