I get it. That is the sole point of this post. I’m talking to people who are frustrated with this physical body.
I get that there are things that you want to do that you just can’t. Your body doesn’t bend that way. It doesn’t stretch that far. It doesn’t move as quickly as it needs to in order to accomplish your goal. Maybe you can’t breath like you should. Maybe you can’t sleep like you should. Maybe you just…can’t. I get it. And so does God.
“While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh” 2 Corinthians 5:4
I get that the physical problems you face affect every aspect of your life. The pain you feel in your back doesn’t allow you to rest like you should. Without rest it’s easier to be grumpy. Grumpiness is not a good ingredient in a marriage. Your physical limitations may prevent you from doing day to day tasks easily or quickly. You fall behind and before you know it you are overwhelmed with all you have to do. Sometimes doing the smallest tasks require such a great amount of effort that it seems like there’s nothing left in the tank. I get it. So does God.
“We grow weary in our present bodies” 2 Corinthians 5:2
I get that there are things you are missing out on that you wish you were a part of. Running and playing with the kids. Running that 5k everyone at work is doing. Taking hikes through the woods to clear your head. Maybe it’s as simple as being able to go up and down stairs or stand up long enough to finish the dishes. It’s like your body is a constant reminder that there is more to life that you are missing out on. I get it. And so does God.
“We know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6
I get that sometimes it is embarrassing. When someone asks you to do something that you know you are not physically capable of doing, it’s hard to have to admit that something that comes so easily to one person can be so difficult for you. It’s hard for someone without physical limitations to understand that sometimes, something as simple as walking can be a major undertaking for someone else. And sometimes instead of pointing it out, we force ourselves to go through with the said task, causing even further pain. For me, it’s seating. I often don’t fit in booths at restaurants, seats at public arenas, or through those stupid turnstile things. And asking for special accommodations is embarrassing. So sometimes it’s just easier to miss out. Sometimes our physical discomfort causes emotional pain. I get it. And so does God.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” Romans 7:24
But as always, there is good news. Often our troubles are only temporary. Often they can be healed. Often our own choices can bring great improvement. Often all we need is patience and good medical care. BUT, even if these wretched bodies are ours for the long haul, there is STILL hope. These bodies, in the view of eternity, are only ours for a moment and then we will be given new, glorious bodies.
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands…Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 2:1, 8
I want to make the most of this life that I have been given, but make no mistake that I look forward to the day when I can lay it down and feel the freedom of being in a body that the Bible calls glorious.
He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own. Philippians 3:21
I get that there are things that you want to do that you just can’t. Your body doesn’t bend that way. It doesn’t stretch that far. It doesn’t move as quickly as it needs to in order to accomplish your goal. Maybe you can’t breath like you should. Maybe you can’t sleep like you should. Maybe you just…can’t. I get it. And so does God.
“While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh” 2 Corinthians 5:4
I get that the physical problems you face affect every aspect of your life. The pain you feel in your back doesn’t allow you to rest like you should. Without rest it’s easier to be grumpy. Grumpiness is not a good ingredient in a marriage. Your physical limitations may prevent you from doing day to day tasks easily or quickly. You fall behind and before you know it you are overwhelmed with all you have to do. Sometimes doing the smallest tasks require such a great amount of effort that it seems like there’s nothing left in the tank. I get it. So does God.
“We grow weary in our present bodies” 2 Corinthians 5:2
I get that there are things you are missing out on that you wish you were a part of. Running and playing with the kids. Running that 5k everyone at work is doing. Taking hikes through the woods to clear your head. Maybe it’s as simple as being able to go up and down stairs or stand up long enough to finish the dishes. It’s like your body is a constant reminder that there is more to life that you are missing out on. I get it. And so does God.
“We know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6
I get that sometimes it is embarrassing. When someone asks you to do something that you know you are not physically capable of doing, it’s hard to have to admit that something that comes so easily to one person can be so difficult for you. It’s hard for someone without physical limitations to understand that sometimes, something as simple as walking can be a major undertaking for someone else. And sometimes instead of pointing it out, we force ourselves to go through with the said task, causing even further pain. For me, it’s seating. I often don’t fit in booths at restaurants, seats at public arenas, or through those stupid turnstile things. And asking for special accommodations is embarrassing. So sometimes it’s just easier to miss out. Sometimes our physical discomfort causes emotional pain. I get it. And so does God.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” Romans 7:24
But as always, there is good news. Often our troubles are only temporary. Often they can be healed. Often our own choices can bring great improvement. Often all we need is patience and good medical care. BUT, even if these wretched bodies are ours for the long haul, there is STILL hope. These bodies, in the view of eternity, are only ours for a moment and then we will be given new, glorious bodies.
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands…Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 2:1, 8
I want to make the most of this life that I have been given, but make no mistake that I look forward to the day when I can lay it down and feel the freedom of being in a body that the Bible calls glorious.
He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own. Philippians 3:21
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