John writes

I have to confess that I don’t always take it very well! Coming towards the end of the Flame of Hope mission I had a really bad night where it became clear that I had a temperature. I managed to get through the final Saturday, where I had a number of speaking events, but had to draw the line at Sunday and get off home. It’s only flu, the doctor confirmed – not ‘man flu’ for any of you with a sarcastic nature! Sorry to say but I am a most impatient patient; it just seems such a waste of time. I don’t think the rest is refreshing me particularly because my mind is muzzy and my ribs and stomach muscles feel like they been used for training by a boxer (due to the coughing)! There are things I want to get on and do and events that will have to be missed. It’s all very frustrating. But … the Bible teaches us that God works in ALL things to bring good in some way and I need to hang on to that. John Wesley wrote a famous prayer in which he asked God to use him or to lay him to one side, depending on the need of the situation. This shows a humility that can be absent from Christians in ministry today. We feel that everything will fall apart if we aren’t there or if we’re late. So, when I’m ill, frustrated, feeling weak and seeing things slip by, I can take this encouragement; God is still in charge, Jesus is Lord, and He will work out His purposes in accord with His perfect will, even if I don’t perceive it right now.