During the course of my walk on planet earth I have walked some stony paths, some of my own willful choosing and others of His choosing for me. I have learned that Jesus loves me enough to choose some tough walks. I am convinced that some of those choices were about my response to them.
In Nearing Home Billy Graham tells of L. Nelson Bell and his wife Virginia. They served Christ as missionaries in China. As passing years have a way of doing Virginia's body began to wear out. She eventually was confined to a wheelchair and then had several debilitating strokes. She required constant care. Dr. Bell insisted on keeping her at home, curtailing his schedule to the barest minimum. A friend asked him about this constraining decision and he answered: "This is my calling now."
Dr. Bell’s understanding of the situation is a gem of rare value. It is a statement used by the Apostle Paul to the Christians at Thessalonica. He wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Often the rules of love demand a response of self/career denial for the benefit of the one loved. Others times God sees fit to put us through the wringer, in order for others to know that our faith is real and for us to know at a deeper level that his love is real.
