Life is hard. At times it’s plain impossible, especially when living with chronic illness. Besides the physical challenges we face, we also deal with relational difficulties from people who don’t understand our situation.
If you’ve struggled with this, you’re not alone. In fact, I haven’t met anyone with chronic illness who had total support from friends and family members. There’s usually at least a few people who show compassion, but there’s always some or many who don’t. And the responses of those people can range from simple disbelief to outright verbal attack.
There’s no excuse for unkind behavior. Yet all we can do is rely on God’s power to forgive them. We can’t afford to hold onto bitterness for someone else’s wrong response. And for the others who just don’t understand us, I’m finally learning to accept that that’s just the way it is.
While I wish every person could demonstrate compassion to us regardless, the reality is that if they haven’t experienced it, they just can’t relate. When they look at us from the perspective of their knowledge and experience, our lives don’t make sense.
As I was pondering these things the other day, I heard a worship song by Robin Mark, and the words spoke exactly to my need. As he sang praise to God he said, “You’re the only who satisfies, the only one who makes my life make sense.”
I started crying. Because in that moment I realized that it’s ok if my life doesn’t make sense to someone else. Sometimes it’s hard for me to make sense of it myself. But to Jesus, it always makes sense.
First of all, Jesus understands.
Isaiah 53:3 says of Jesus,
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised and we held him in low esteem.”
When Jesus died on the cross, it didn’t make sense to anyone (except maybe his enemies). Even His own followers were confused and devastated. They didn’t fully understand who Jesus was or why He came. Yes, Jesus knows what it’s like to be misunderstood, rejected, despised.
But secondly, Jesus doesn’t just understand – He makes our lives make sense.
Three days after His “senseless” death, Jesus came out of the grave! Death was turned into resurrection! And now we can live everyday with the hope of eternal life in Him!
Romans 8:28 says,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
No matter how difficult or ridiculous our lives may seem to others, or even to us, God still has a plan. He makes our lives make sense.
May He give us faith to believe it. May He give others eyes to see it.
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