We are not immune from trauma, and we all go through stuff in life. The following story reminds me of how God uses what the devil throws at us and how God will work through our own mistakes:

“This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.” (Genesis 32:24-25, 31, NLT)

Here are two of my personal life statements that I live by:

1. Everything that comes into your life is either God-sent or God-used.
2. God Good, Devil Bad.

I am assured by the Word of God that Jesus will not give me a disease to teach me a lesson. I do, however, believe that God will use any disease that comes upon us, and use so we can learn some important life lessons.

I have enjoyed many good seasons in my lifetime, and some not-so-good seasons. I refer to the latter as ‘the wilderness’. I do not think anyone wants to live in the barren wilderness away from loved ones. But in my wilderness, I learned how great God truly is.

My toughest wilderness was brought on by my own stupid choices. Yet I believe if I had not gone through this wilderness, I would not be the man I am today. This man is secure in his relationship with God, I have a healthy marriage, my family relationships are strengthened, and I value the anointing on my life. I learned all this through my limp. No, not a physical limp but a spiritual one.

Jacob’s physical limp may have saved his life. According to the Bible, his brother, whom he deceived years before, was coming to meet him with four hundred men of war. Jacob divided his family and his possessions into different groups, trying to appease his brother’s anger. But God was trying to teach him to trust Him. I think Esau had a change of heart when he saw his brother limping towards him. God saved Israel that day and He will deliver you from all your afflictions.

Do you have a spiritual limp? Are you ‘bitter’ or are you ‘better’ because of it? Consider this: you are still alive and God’s hand is on your life, and as long as there is breath, there is hope. You will never forget how God brought you through your stuff. And you know what – don’t you think it’s time for your comeback? God does, so do not give up.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NLT)

Men, women, teens and children will all get a spiritual limp. It’s not a negative confession, but rather it is a testimony of God’s care for us.