Isolation Side Effect: A Warrior in a Mighty Army

Chronic illness and warrior seem to be mutually exclusive terms. However, this is not the case from God's perspective. Picture this: Jesus leading an army into battle. Look closely at the soldiers. There is one over there on oxygen with an IV in a recliner at home. Another one is on crutches struggling to walk while another is in a wheelchair using a blow stick to move. Oh... look at that one. He has a mask on because exposure to other people would mean illness due to a compromised immune system. That warrior over there is covering her bald head due to chemo. The warrior there is in prison and using the time to pray and share Christ with others. Jesus looks back on them with love and joy. Others see weakness and outcasts. He sees power as they give what they have to Him. He sees His brothers, sisters, friends who are giving their all to Him. 

In I Samuel 16:7, the Bible tells how God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. While this passage was talking about how God rejected a comely brother of David, it shows what God sees. God sees the heart. Even if we are isolated, always ill, and not handsome or beautiful, God sees our hearts. We can be used of Him.

The widow's mite and feeding of the 5,000 have always been two of my favorite stories. You see God took two people others may have looked down on and used them. The widow gave all she had. God used it. The child gave his small lunch and God multiplied it. 

What we have to give may not seem powerful, but God can use it. Isolation gives us one thing that others may not have - time to spending prayer with Him. Prayer is powerful. We can be His warriors in prayer. We can give what we have - prayer - to change the world for Him. There are so many verses on prayer. God can use your isolation as a blessing to make you a warrior in His Mighty Army!

This week, don't forget that God sees you as powerful in Him. He sees your heart. Will you use your "widow's mite" or "five loaves and two fish" for Him? Remember, "little is much when God is in it!"