Reflections of a Sick Pastor

November, 2003

by: Dave Hintz

As I write this article, my body has been afflicted by acute viral infection of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat; in other words, I have a cold. Just like jury duty, this little virus always seems to come about at exactly the wrong time. My wife can testify, and I am sure that many of you would agree, that I become a different person when I get sick. Bloodshot eyes, pale face, and spacey cerebral capabilities accompany thoughts of self–pity, whining, and despair. Thus, as a ministry to myself and to all of those who will be afflicted with nasty viruses this year, I wanted to ponder the reasons why God makes us sick.

1. Sickness is a means of discipline: Hebrews 12:6 states succinctly, “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines.” When a Christian continues in unconfessed sin, the Lord often sends a trial his way to break him. We see a clear example of this in 1 Corinthians 11:30 where Paul chastises the Corinthians who have defiled the Lord's Supper. “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.” God sends sickness to send a message to His true children in rebellion: Repent, and you will be restored both spiritually and physically.
2. Sickness Prunes the Faithful: Do not be so quick to condemn those with colds, for often, God reserves trials for the faithful, in order that they might have a more productive ministry. In John 15:2 we read, “Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” Thus, when a believer is faithful, God will often send trials to lop off those unsanctified branches.
3. Sickness makes us rest: Often we develop the Martha syndrome (cf. Luke 10:38-42), becoming so consumed with life that we lose track of our purpose. Thus, God disciplines us with illness to force us to slow down.
4. Sickness makes us thankful for the health which we do have: As the old saying goes, “You don't know what you've got 'til its gone.” That is so true when it comes to health. Are you healthy right now? Praise God for it! After all, according to James 1:17“Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
5. Sickness causes us to long for Heaven: God prunes us with wonderful thoughts of heaven, where we'll finally be free from all disease and affliction, as God will give us our glorified bodies.
6. Sickness Makes us Trust in Him: I shudder at the thought of teaching three different messages this weekend while afflicted with a cold. In and of myself, the strength does not exist. And like Paul, I have pleaded with the Lord to take this thorn away from me, but God has answered my prayer with, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Therefore, I rejoice in my sickness, because when I am weak, Christ is strong.