When Life Has You Bent Over
Today’s Verse:
And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. ~Luke 13:11
Our devotion this morning is about a woman who had an infirmity that caused her to be bowed together for eighteen years. She had a serious spinal condition that caused her to be bent forward and unable to sit or stand upright. I imagine this was an aggressively progressive disease that robbed her of a quality life. Can you imagine that the normal activities of life for us were not possible for this woman? Her walking, sleeping, eating, bathing, and work were all affected. This woman’s condition pictures for us how the burdens of life can leave us bent over and unable to lift ourselves up.
We see the sadness.
This woman’s condition was degenerative. Over time, she was bent lower and lower. This woman’s condition was discouraging. It was discouraging to her. She was bent over and severely limited in what she could do. She was known as the woman having a spirit of infirmity that bent her over. Her condition was of a long duration. She lived this way for eighteen years before Jesus saw her. Her condition left her in a desperate situation. She could in no wise lift herself up. The burdens of life can be very cruel, leaving us bent forward and unable to lift ourselves up. We are infirmed, weak, and helpless. There is sadness in the burdens of life.
We see the sympathy.
"And when Jesus saw her...." Jesus had sympathy upon her. Jesus is our Great High Priest Who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He sees our weakness and inability and is sympathetic of our bent forward condition. Jesus is more attracted to our weaknesses than to our strengths. It is only when we come to the end of self that we realize our inability and dependability. His sympathy was comforting. He wanted her to know that He cared for her. His sympathy was personal. He noticed her and called to her. His sympathy was ready to respond to her need. Does Jesus care? Yes, Jesus cares!
We see the supremacy.
Medicine and doctors were of no avail to this woman. Jesus took command of this situation to help her. First, He told her that He loosened her from her infirmity. He wanted her to know that He was in control. He set her free from her weakened and bent over condition. Second, He laid His hands on her and immediately, she was straightened. For the first time in eighteen years, she was upright and normal. She could walk, eat, work, bathe, and perform normal activities without discomfort, difficulty, slowness, and discouragement. It is when we have no power and capability that the Lord takes control and straightens out our life. Instead of burdens that leave us bent forward, the Lord gives us strength, power, and joy.
We see the schooling.
His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We learn that it is better to glory in our infirmities so that the power of Christ dwells upon us. We learn that we would rather take pleasure in our infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distresses for Christ’s sake. As Paul declared, “For when I am weak, then am I strong.” Life might have us bent forward, but the grace of God is sufficient for our need. Let your burdens be an opportunity for the Lord to straighten out your bent condition.
Have a strengthened God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Genesis 32-34