In the Valley of Affliction

As my disease progresses, daily tasks are becoming increasingly more difficult. My walking is very minimal and unsteady, talking is slow and laboured and causes shortness of breath, I'm losing my appetite because I'm not very active and eating is laborious, sleeping is very fragmented and using the laptop is getting difficult and tiresome. These are all activities that used to be a joy but are now a chore.

We have noticed in this last week, that the atmosphere in our home is more sombre because of this. We don't seem to laugh and enjoy life as much as we used to. And this week I said to Lena, "It's not fun anymore". When we're driving in the van, I sit in the back and we don't talk like we used to when we sat beside each other, we drive in silence, each in our own thoughts.

Photo Credit: HERE

We think that this is probably a natural progression and that perhaps it is God's way of slowly releasing me from this world and the things I used to enjoy, in preparation for the greater joys I will experience in Heaven.

When we are under trials and afflictions, there are unique temptations that may come our way, such as:
Having harsh thoughts about God because of the affliction He has given instead of realizing that God allows affliction for our profit (Psalm 119);  
Doubting the promises and comforting verses which are found in the word instead of trusting and believing in them to our comfort;
Thinking too much about temporal, health, or financial matters, and not enough about eternal matters;
Complaining about personal physical discomforts rather than thanking God for his boundless spiritual blessings and grace;
Not witnessing to others about God`s goodness and mercy when opportunities arise.

To be tempted is not a sin, but to fall into temptation is. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, but He resisted. Satan used pride, coveting, and not trusting in God's providence to tempt Jesus, but Jesus used the Word of God as a sword and shield against these temptations (Matthew 4).

Photo Credit: Here

In the Lord's prayer, Jesus has given us the petition, "lead us not into temptation", as an example of how we should pray. The best way then to resist Satan's temptations and negative thoughts is to spend quality time in reading the Bible, meditating on it, and in prayer. When the apostle Peter focused on Jesus, he was able to walk on water but when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the surrounding waves, he began to sink. Thankfully, Jesus was right there to pull Peter back to safety.

There is a good lesson for me here. I may be reassured that Jesus is there for me as well, while I am in the waves of affliction. I only need to keep my eyes fixed on Him.