The Lord's Chastening Hand
Alan Redpath
October 1, 1981
Saturday, September 5, 1964. I was to conduct a wedding that afternoon, so I retired to my study to arrange final details for it, and to complete preparation for the following day's ministry at Charlotte Baptist Chapel.
Suddenly as I was writing, I lost control of my hand. It wandered all over the paper. I called out to my wife; but in a few moments I had lost my speech, my right side was paralyzed, and I found myself unable to walk. I was put to bed, and the doctor was called immediately.
I had little doubt as to what had happened, and he confirmed the verdict. It was a cerebral hemorrhage. A main artery taking blood to the brain had snapped. He said I was a "very lucky man," because the hemorrhage had stopped just in time. Had it gone a fraction further it would have proved fatal. He suggested that I should forget any work, and take life gently. If I were prepared to do this, he told me, I could expect to live until I was ninety. If, however, I insisted on going back into harness, he thought I would probably have five years, possibly ten, but would be most unlikely to make seventy.
Medically, therefore, I knew the worst, and was left to go through the slow process of convalescence. In an illness of this kind one's inner defenses are knocked down-physically, mentally, and spiritually. I was reduced to childhood. Physically I could only walk with difficulty; mentally I found it impossible to concentrate or think clearly; spiritually I found that I could not pray or read my Bible. It was indeed a dark, grim experience.
I confess my reactions to the illness were not the most spiritual. We often say from the pulpit, "We should never ask why in such an experience-only what?" Mot "Why has God allowed this?" but "What lessons can ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
