Beauty from Infirmity

As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the Gospel to you. Galatians 4 verse 13. Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Beauty from Infirmity was written in red by Sheridan Voisey. Galatians chapter 4 verses 13 to 15. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the Gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where then is your blessing of me now?

I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Beauty from Infirmity The artist Degas suffered retina disease for the last 50 years of his life, switching from paint to pastel because the chalk lines were easier to see. Renoir had to have brushes placed between his fingers when arthritis made them clench like claws, and when surgery left Matisse immobile, he turned to collage, directing assistants to attach coloured pieces of paper to a larger sheet on the wall. What followed in each case was a creative breakthrough.

Degas' blue dances, Renoir's girls at the piano, Matisse's The Sorrows of the King and other masterpieces. By adapting to their trial, beauty emerged from their infirmity. In a similar way, Paul wasn't planning to visit Galatia during his early missionary journeys. An illness forced him there. Apparently, Paul sought a different climate, wound up in Galatia and, even though he was ill, started preaching. Ironically, the Holy Spirit performed miracles through him and the Galatian church was born.

This surprising outcome may never have happened without Paul's illness. What trial have you faced, and how did it change the direction of your life? By refocusing your gifts, you too may see God bring beauty out of your infirmity. Let's pray together. O Lord, You are a genius at recycling our trials and turning them into service, bringing creativity out of our chaos and beauty out of our infirmity. And so here are our trials. We lift them to You today.

All the problems and weaknesses and disappointments. And also here are our talents. We lift them up too. All the gifts and abilities and aptitudes You've given us. By Your Spirit, would You bring these trials and these talents together? And just like those artists, would You turn them into something powerful when they are combined together like a powerful handshake?

Lord, would You do this? Bring out something unexpected that would both bless You, bless Your kingdom, bless other people, and indeed ourselves? Because it happens in Jesus' name. Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. How have you seen God turn illness and other trials into opportunities for service? How are both Paul and those artists examples to follow in times of trial?