Affliction That Renews the Mind

3/14/25 

God has caused me to hope in His promised healing.  He has broken my fences; He has infringed on my borders, and He has decimated my perimeters…telling me to ‘Trust without borders’!  And yet, God speaks “Peace” to me in the midst of my storm!  I am reminded of the song Desperado by the Eagles:

Why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences
Open the gate
It may be rainin'
But there's a rainbow above you…

The verse ‘It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you’ really speaks to me.  Through affliction and The Covenant of Peace, I have found that Jesus is switching my mindset to seeing through the rain of difficulties in this life to a rainbow (most times unseen) above me.

The Lord is renewing my mind to seeing a new aspect of Himself.  One of the main reasons why He came.  Yes, renewing my mind from prayer warrior to peace finder; a peace seeker and an agent of peace.  Similar to Jeremiah’s wound which was incurable for a time, my affliction is being used to revive and refresh my mind to seek God’s will alone.

Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed?  Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream, as waters that fail?  Jeremiah 15:18-19. 

“The healing of Jeremiah’s wound would allow him to give himself more greatly to his destiny and calling as a prophet. Your healing has far more to do with merely healing your physical sickness only. It could also prophetically point to a restoration or re-instatement of calling and destiny...At times, during sufferings, including sickness, God tweaks our ambitions and desires. What facilitates our healing is a renewed commitment in us not to live casually for our own self-preservation, protection and provision, but for God and His will alone.”  Healing Part 7-(randolphbarnwell.com).

The depth of one’s gifts from the Holy Spirit can sometimes only be experienced through deep suffering.  Such is case with my writing.  I never wanted to be a writer.  I never thought about writing; nor did I write in my career to the extent that the Lord has gifted me now.  And so, I think the affliction that He has allowed on me spawned a deeper gift of His Spirit in my ability to write what I hear Him say.  God has not afflicted me because He is displeased with me but because He has chosen to refine me and bring me higher.  

Then, a question arose within me.  Does affliction (that which causes pain and suffering through physical infirmity and/or mental distress) bring peace?  I will investigate this thought Suffering to Enlarge the Heart & Bring Peace. 

What shall I say?  He has both spoken to me, and He Himself has done it.  I shall walk carefully all my years in the bitterness of my soul.  O Lord, by these things men live; and in all these things is the life of my spirit; so, You will restore me and make me live.  Indeed, it was for my own peace that I had great bitterness; but You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.” Isaiah 38:15-17.