My Answer: Faith can give strength during illness
Q: My husband has a long-term medical condition, and I’m his only caregiver. I wish he’d understand how hard this is, especially when all he does is complain. He reads your column, so maybe you could say something about this. — Mrs. R.S.
A: When we don’t feel well, it’s easy to become short-tempered and impatient. That doesn’t make it right, however, because what’s really happening is that we’re becoming concerned only about ourselves. But the Bible says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4, ESV).
What can you do? First, pray for your husband. Pray not only that he’ll become more thoughtful and patient, but also that he’ll turn to God for daily strength. Pray too that each day he’ll turn to Christ and focus anew on the hope we have of heaven because of his death and resurrection.
The apostle Paul suffered much, and yet he also knew that because of Christ “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Let me also encourage you and your husband to pray and read God’s word together (perhaps from a book of daily devotions based on scripture). If you’ve never done this before, one place to start could be pausing before each meal to thank God for his goodness and love.
Then ask God to help you. We all need rest. Seek others who can assist you, even for only a few hours. Ask God also to give you an extra measure of understanding and patience, and a deep sense that you are doing his will. May the psalmist’s experience become yours: “I delight to do thy will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8, KJV).
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Q: Why wasn’t Jesus born into a wealthy, influential family, instead of an insignificant, poor one? Wouldn’t people have paid more attention to him instead of rejecting him and condemning him to death? — Mrs. C.W.
A: God deliberately chose Mary to be the mother of his son, and he also chose her husband, Joseph, to help raise him. They were poor and insignificant people in the eyes of the world, but they were still God’s choice.
The angel’s announcement to Mary made this clear: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
Why didn’t God send his son into a family of great wealth and influence? The reason is Jesus Christ came into the world to save all kinds of people — rich and poor, influential and insignificant, brilliant and ordinary. He did this by setting aside heaven’s glory and humbly identifying himself with our suffering and sin.
The Bible says, “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Would people have listened to him more if he had been born into a wealthy or powerful family? I seriously doubt it. They might have asked: “What does he know about our struggles and heartaches? What does he know about our fears and feelings? What has he sacrificed for us?”
The real question, however, is this: How have you responded to Jesus? Have you turned your back on him — as many did then, and still do? Or have you come to see him as he really is: the divine son of God, sent from heaven to save us from our sins?
You cannot remain neutral about him — and my prayer is that you will welcome him into your life today.
(Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn., 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM; or visit https://www.billygraham.org.)