David thought he had solved his problem. But God sent Nathan, the prophet, to see the king. David welcomed his pastor, who told him one of the most dramatic and touching stories in all literature (
2 Sam. 12:1-6). In substance it is a story about two men: one rich who had many flocks and herds and one who had but "one little ewe lamb" which was brought up with his children and was like a daughter to him. A guest came to the rich man's home. Unwilling to take one of his own flock, he took the poor man's little lamb and prepared it for his guest.
When David heard this story, he became exceedingly angry and declared that the man should die. Then Nathan with great courage declared: "You are the man." David's child by Uriah's wife died despite his pleas to God to save it. His prayer for forgiveness and confession of sin is expressed in
Psalm 51. It is a prayer for mercy and cleansing from sin. He found forgiveness in his brokenness of heart.
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The "Thorn in the Flesh"
Perhaps your handicap is what the apostle Paul called a "thorn in the flesh" (
Gal. 6:11). We don't know the exact nature of this handicap. It could have been poor eyesight or some form of chronic illness. He prayed three times that God would remove it. God's answer: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (
2 Cor. 12:9).
So let us call Paul for encouragement in our infirmities and handicaps. Many have found God's grace to be sufficient. And they have lived triumphantly in spite of their weaknesses. Milton wrote his greatest poem after being afflicted with blindness. Beethoven produced his finest music after he became deaf. Helen Keller -- who was deaf, mute, and blind -- became a distinguished writer. Walter Rauschenbusch became totally deaf in his early twenties yet became one of America's most creative theologians and writers.
Handling Our Handicaps
We must lay aside weights and sins that hinder us in this race with all heaven looking on. But how? The biblical answer is by "looking to Jesus." This may sound simplistic but remember that Jesus is "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith" (
Heb. 12:1). In the ancient Greek stadium the runner kept his eyes on a stone statue of the Greek god Zeus. In the Christian race, the Christian Bowl, the runner keeps his eye on the living Christ.
Look to Jesus for redemptive power. Today we are looking to the politicians, the scientists, the government, the cults, formal religion, and the psychologists for salvation. Yet our sinful selves cannot be psychotherapized away, for we are saved "by grace through faith" (
Eph. 2:8). Jesus' disciples saw no alternative to salvation when they asked: "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."