As you know (I’ve grumbled enough about it), I’ve had some technology issues for the past two weeks. When I post my blog each Wednesday, I have to login to what is called my “Dashboard.” It’s really the hub of where everything is done on a blog. Where you type, where you format, where you post, where you upload, it’s critical to posting on the website, you can’t do it without access to it, so not being able to login was kind of a big deal, as you saw.
Over the course of the two weeks, I tried everything I knew. I did know that my login and password were correct, but for some reason, it just locked me out. I entered it about a thousand times thinking I must be one key off. The curious thing about not being able to get in is that my login and password auto populate, I never type them in. Anyway, that was my problem, or part of my problem.
I can generally operate apps but I don’t know how to make apps work, if that makes sense. I tried everything I knew to do, but I just could not fix the problem.
After two weeks of stubbornly fighting and fussing, I did what any ordinary person would have done from the get go – I asked for help. Yep. I logged right on to my host website and made a new friend, his name is Orwin, I call him Dr. Orwin because he healed my login issue. We live chatted at 4:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. And much to my dismay and jubilation, Dr. Orwin promptly fixed my login problem. What took about half an hour, actually less because of the delay in live chatting, I had agonized over for two weeks. Ugh!
Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people? Jeremiah 8:22
So, after two weeks of unnecessary pain, frustration and delay, I went to the physician (Dr. Orwin) and I applied the medicine (new login information). Applying the balm actually resolved the problem quite quickly, but that only happened after I humbled myself and went to the one that could actually fix the problem.
I am so like the Israelites in many ways. I am stubborn. I would rather complain than take steps to be healed. I don’t want to change my way of doing things. I feel sorry for myself. I get super frustrated. All because I will not humble myself to the Master Physician. Gilead was known for its healing medicine, its balm, but the people refused the medicine. They were stubborn, they complained, they didn’t turn from their ways (sin), they felt sorry for themselves, they frustrated themselves.
Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough.” Luke 5:31
Just like my technology issue could only be healed by Dr. Orwin, my spiritual issues (sin) can only be healed by the Master Physician, yours too. Here’s the thing – healing can only take place if we stop trying to fix ourselves, if we stop thinking we’re in control, we’re all powerful, if we stop delaying, if we stop thinking we can do it on our own, if we humble ourselves, if we stop trying every other remedy. He provides the medicine, the balm, to heal our brokenness, our hurt, our pain, our frustrations, our anxieties. But the medicine only works if we actually take it, if we apply it.
He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.
By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:22-25
He who knew no sin came to take away our sin. The only one that can heal us came to heal us. His wounds were the remedy, the healing for all our broken spirits. But, healing can only come if we take in the medicine, if we accept the balm, the healing remedy from the Master Physician.