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Key Bible Verse: Three different times I begged for the Lord to take it away (2 Corinthians 12:8). Bonus Reading: 2 Corinthians 11:23–30

In 1974, damage to the nerves near my left temple grossly disfigured the left side of my face. My cheek sagged, my left eyelid wouldn't blink, my lips were twisted, half of my tongue was numb, my forehead wouldn't wrinkle on the left side. I prayed fervently for a miraculous total recovery.

After ten days in our city hospital, I was transferred to a large university research hospital. There, a young hospital chaplain stopped by. I told him I'd prayed for my face to be healed, but there'd been no improvement. The chaplain opened his Bible and read me the story of Joseph and how God used his jealous brothers' evil to work His good. "Now you have a similar opportunity," the chaplain told me. "Life has dealt you a hard blow. Is your faith strong enough for you to stop praying for what you want, and, instead, discover what good God can bring out of this?"

"But I'm paralyzed," I mumbled through twisted lips.

"Just one side of your face is," the chaplain countered. "Your legs, feet, hands, arms, and back work fine. So does your hearing, thinking, seeing, and sense of touch. Find out what God has in store for you. Yield to Him." [continued 12/17]

—Dennis Hensley in Man to Man

My Response: Are my prayers centered on what I want? What needs to change?

Thought to Apply: God does not offer us a way out of the testings of life. He offers us a way through, and that makes all the difference.—W. T. PURKHISER (writer, preacher)

Adapted from Man to Man (Kregel, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

I realize, Lord, that You don't let trials through on a whim. So help me gain the benefits You intend from them.

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