Medecine

Recently I’ve begun struggling through God’s promise, which states “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.” Romans 8:28. For me, the question of what is truly for my good is not an easy question, and the answers that have revealed themselves to me have often been a tough pill to swallow. But let’s think on that metaphor for a moment- why do they call it a tough pill anyway?

When I think of medicine, what first comes to my mind is the yucky, cherry flavored stuff. I doubt there are many children in this world who have ever truly enjoyed the taste of cough syrup. But its purpose was to eventually help make you well again, wasn’t it? When you’re sick as a child, you’re also forced to take rest from your activities and give your body the opportunity to naturally heal itself and fight off the infection, as it was created.

In the same sense, adults often take pills. Sometimes vitamins, for daily health, and still sometimes for things like muscle aches, migraines, etc. Still, pills don’t become more enjoyable the older you become. Often as adults, we neglect good rest in exchange for more activities in our already busy schedule, or good health and nutrition for faster foods with more taste…and carbs. But the neglect will always catch up with us, and we’ll be right back to taking our pills.

That is the real pill to swallow here; that what we want isn’t always what’s best for us in the long run. And as cheesy as this risks sounding, we know there is only one Great Physician who knows exactly what’s best for his children.

What is asked us of in the present is not always what sounds the most appealing, but our Father in Heaven knows the true desires of our hearts, and he still seeks to honor that in His plans for us; plans that are ultimately so much better than our own, and will give credit to the only One worthy of receiving it.

I’ll admit, today I had an entirely different topic of meditation in mind to write, but I guess the Great Physician decided a different remedy would be better suited for me and for his children than my own.