Relief or Resolve?

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

“Do you want to be made well?” John 5:6b

 

“How do you spell relief?” That was a campaign advertisement years ago, we are a people who seek out relief. I have wasted too much time settling for a temporary fix instead of a permanent resolve. I was famous for walking away from an argument to seek temporary relief, only to return to an unresolved issue.

The Gospel can lead us to the great Physician, Jesus who wants to give us resolve, not relief. “Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years”, is the preface of a conversation between Jesus and a man who has been seeking relief for 38 years. The one thing that keeps us in a pattern of seeking relief over resolve is excuses, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me”. I see so many people exchange relief over resolve because of the alternative, “because”. Usually “Because” starts the excuse process, we substitute “I can’t” for “I won’t”. We serve a God that wants to bring peace and joy into our lives. This is something that requires us to trust the process, to be willing to face the issue knowing we have a God who is asking, “do you want to be made well”?

To be made well isn’t always being cured of a physical ailment, it can also bring resolve to an emotional issue. There are many times our emotions can affect our health. In my own addiction, I can look back and see that my emotional state drove me to seek out drugs and alcohol as a means of escape. It wasn’t until I sought true healing that I was able to resolve my emotional distress.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27. This is an exhortation to trust God, more than just believe. Jesus speaks these words as a comfort to His disciples who would probably prefer Him to stick around and relieve their fears. Jesus is trying to tell them that He must go for the Holy Spirit to come and bring resolve.

My intentions are never to minimize our afflictions and there are exceptions to every circumstance, but if you’re living day to day surviving by seeking temporary relief when there could be permanent resolve, then this is for you. Pain relief for your stress headache can be resolved by seeking the Peace of God, sit in His presence and find true healing. Amen!

 

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri and serves with her as full-time staff members. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can reach him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org

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Think About This: “Though we may not be able to see His purpose or His plan, the Lord of heaven is on His throne and in firm control of the universe and our lives.” ― Max Lucado

The Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 19-23| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, ¹¹ Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you – Proverbs 2:10-11

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.