As you may have heard, Penny and I recently spent 3 weeks in bed fighting a nasty sickness (apologies if you didn’t know).

This was a first for me. To this point, my health has been generally good. Apart from the odd bout of cold and flu, the worst thing I’ve faced is chickenpox.

So this experience was something of a shock to my system.

First, it was malaria. This unwelcome parasite proved to be a stubborn intruder. The initial round of medication failed which meant starting all-over with an alternative drug.   Now, malaria is nasty, I mean,  seriously bad … but then there’s the meds, the side-effects of which felt even worse! 

That took two weeks.

Then, as we began to feel better, we both developed another fever. Fearing the worst (that the malaria was a resistant type) we dragged ourselves out of bed to see a Doctor. Blood tests revealed that the malaria, that had gone (hurray!) and it wasn’t Covid-19 either (phew!). 

Together, the malaria and drugs had depleted our immune systems. Being vulnerable we both contracted a bacterial chest infection. Apparently Penny and I like to do everything together. 

More meds followed. More time in bed. Restless nights with scant sleep. Then, finally, our health began to improve.  Honestly, the entire experience wiped us out.

Although the sickness was nasty, with weeks of pain, discomfort and fatigue, it wasn’t my greatest struggle at that time.

Spiritually numb

What concerned me most was that the pain, discomfort and tiredness rendered me incapable … totally spent. I couldn’t maintain my connection with God and receive from him (or, that’s how it felt). I couldn’t ‘see’ God.

But God wasn’t shocked by my weakness. He is always gracious and full of mercy. He understands that there are times when the events and circumstances of life are too much for us.  Read these encouraging words from Song of Solomon 1:8, TPT.

“Listen, my radiant one — if you ever lose sight of me, just follow in my footsteps where I lead my lovers. Come with your burdens and cares. Come to the place near the sanctuary of my shepherds.” [Italics, mine].

We cannot take God by surprise (which also means that he cannot be disappointed in us). He knows full well that there are times when the ‘stuff’ gets too much for us. Times when we lose sight of him (or so it feels).  But, in these words from the Song of Solomon, he encourages us to follow a well-worn path. To walk that trail and find the sanctuary of his shepherds.

Who are these shepherds? 

To me, they are my brothers and sisters, those that love me, those that want the very best for me.

Throughout this season of sickness, God encouraged me to surrender (honestly, there was nothing I could ‘do’ anyway). To yield to the strength of others (my sanctuary of shepherds) and receive. Allowing them to be conduits of his ‘phileo love’ towards me. (Phileo is one of four Greek words used in the New Testament to describe love; agape, storge and eros are the others. It’s defined as demonstrated (experienced) tender and affectionate love)

Human Agents of God’s Love  

I sensed this as others invested their faith to pray, holding me in the presence of our Father [God]. When I felt alone and too weak to stand, others stood in my place.  This list of ‘others’ includes the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:27) and none other than Jesus himself (Romans 8:34)!

Although humbling at the time, God demonstrated his love towards me through those that shopped, cooked meals and even cleaned our home. 

Sometimes we all lose sight of God. We want to feel his tender touch, see the beauty of his face, but, for whatever reason, we cannot.  

That’s when we need to follow the well-worn path that leads us to the sanctuary of his shepherds. A place where we find God again amongst our flesh and blood brothers and sisters. Those who, just like Jesus in his human-ness, display the tangible love of God.

Final Thoughts

As I lay on my sick-bed (that sounds so dramatic, but I really was quite ill), I became desperate for a supernatural encounter. I reached out to God for my healing; for a meaningful, reassuring touch of his presence. But, in my weakened state, I felt unable.

God did meet with me, but not in the spectacular, supernatural way that I hoped. Rather he met me in the ordinary and natural form of human-agents.

All too often we can get caught up in seeking the supernatural that we miss the goodness and provision of God displayed in the seemingly mundane. Note: I am not saying that the supernatural isn’t a kingdom reality and not to be desired, of course it is.

But to God there is no distinction between that which is natural and the super-natural – to God everything is natural (his kingdom reality).

Ultimately God is love and whenever or however his perfect love flows, both God and his glory are manifest.

I encourage you to look for and discern God loving you and receive that love in all its forms.  Don’t be too quick to dismiss the ordinary in your desire for the supernatural. After all, perfect love is perfect love (God is God), and it gets delivered in all kinds of shapes and sizes.