Finding Strength in God When My Body Betrays Me
By: Michael Murray
Tags: Spirituality, Christianity, Religion, Scripture, Inspiration

When I was 20 years old, I attended a birthday party for someone turning 30. I remember thinking 30 seemed so old. It seemed like a lifetime away. I had all my 20s in front of me. And I figured when the day came for me to hit the big 3–0, I would have life figured out.

Well, in two months I’ll turn 37, and I can confidently say I don’t have life figured out. But I still play the numbers game.

You know the numbers game — where you try to convince yourself you’ve still got plenty of time left on this earth? It goes something like this:

I’m not even 40 yet. Your 40s are when you really settle into life and produce your best work, right? Right?! (Tell me I’m right.)

No matter how much time we get, it’s never enough

We always want a little bit more. This is true even if you trust God with your eternity.

When King Hezekiah got sick and found out he was about to die, he couldn’t accept it. He begged God for more time.

When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to You and have served You single-mindedly, always doing what pleases You.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. (2 Kings 20:2–3, NLT)

King Hezekiah broke down in tears when death came knocking. So God added fifteen years to the king’s life. What a gift! I’m sure Hezekiah felt relieved when he saw fifteen long years in front of him. But after those fifteen years (which I’m sure flew by faster than he thought), he still had to face the inevitable.

Growing weak and frail

As the years go by, our bodies slowly start to decay. We can’t get around as fast as we used to. We’re not as strong.

Sometimes when I see an old man shuffling along with a cane, I wonder what he was like in his younger years. I wish I could see the man he used to be — the man who lifted heavy boxes with ease and gave piggyback rides to his kids.

Of course, weakness doesn’t always wait until we’re old to visit. As we’re seeing with COVID-19, viruses can weaken anyone. And it can happen in an instant.

As someone with a disability (cerebral palsy), I can’t help but be gripped by fear from time to time. I get a flu shot every year because a good dose of the flu bug can knock me to the ground. I don’t know how my body will react to coronavirus. And nobody does. That’s what makes it so scary.

What do we do when we’re facing the uncertainty of failing health?

Whether it’s the effects of aging or debilitating sickness, we all know how it feels to not be at our best. What do we do when our bodies are not cooperating with us?

We might find some comfort in the words of Psalm 73:26. I love how the New Living Translation puts it:

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. (Psalm 73:26, NLT)

When our bodies are failing, God remains our strength

It’s a simple promise, and one we take for granted when we’re feeling in optimal shape. How often do we go back to business as usual after recovering from a sickness, not thanking God for His grace?

But when our bodies betray us and our spirit groans, God is our strength. He is there, holding us in our frailty.

The Message version, as always, puts it bluntly:

You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. (Psalm 73:26, MSG)

Sagging skin and breaking bones — the ultimate picture of failing health. It’s a frightening image, but the psalmist says God is in our weakness. He is our rock to lean on.

It’s not wrong to want more time

God made us with a purpose. He made us to walk this earth, form friendships, do good works, and enjoy life. It’s not wrong to want to squeeze out every ounce of life we can. God designed us with eternity in mind, which is why no amount of time will ever be enough for us.

In the Neil Simon play Plaza Suite, a businessman who got everything he wanted in life realizes he’s miserable. Theater critic Walter Kerr describes the play’s most poignant scene:

A husband, married 23 years and wretched with his wife during a weekend at the Plaza, is reminded of all he’s accomplished in life: got the jobs he wanted, got the wife he wanted, got the kids he wanted, got the home he wanted, got the works. What, then, is he so miserable about? “I want to do it all over again,” he explains, grinding his teeth hard.

Simon was expressing the sadness we all have about life ending too soon. It was the same sadness that made King Hezekiah weep bitterly at the thought of death.

But when failing health comes, we can have hope it is not the end. It’s okay to be sad. But even in our grief, we have hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). When we grow weak and frail, we can lean on the strength of God. Our bodies may betray us, but He never will.

And, one day, God will make these brittle bones brand new.

Michael Murray loves writing articles about God’s love and mercy. You can keep up with his writings here.