CHURCH: A HAVEN FROM A MADDENING WORLD!

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” 1Corinthians 14:33

On January-February 2026, I had to be in a center for physical therapy after surgery ! I had broken my knee as I fell right after Christmas! I realized fast enough what a place of peace the church of the saints is, where the Word is preached and where we are fellowshipping with other believers, even if it is online! I had gotten discontent with church in general, sometimes talking about the bad aspects I saw, and which I didn’t really understand, even of the leaders! I am ashamed to say and I realized I hadn’t been such a good example to my neighbors, not so much in my walk but in my talk! “All Scripture is by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness, that the men of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-! 7.

As I was at the center I was seeing the maddening ways of the world, the crazy ways of the unsaved and confused and those ailing with much pain! But the Lord was talking to me kindly, bringing the Holy Spirit with power and His joy and peace within me! “ I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10.

I had crazy religious roommates, and I had sweet ones even though these ones weren’t saved! But the Lord opened my mouth to tell them about the gospel of Jesus Christ bringing laughter wth some, even though I was in a lot of physical pain! I made a lot of friends with some of the CNAs and with some of the RNs! They asked me a lot of questions which I know was to test my faith! I saw some of the world’s crazy confusion about sex, about religion and cults, about the elderly with their hubbies and their treatment and about pain!

But at the end of the day, I saw how much peace and joy is in the church where Jesus is Savior, Lord, God and King ! And where I had been for almost 50 years! Church is a haven from the world where God protects, helps you all the time! I know I drew closer to the Lord; and where I had been getting a mean spirit I started getting a more tender heart towards people who didn’t think like me! As the Word says, “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”

And even when my roommate was an elderly Chinese lady , who spoke very little English, she told me, ‘why don’t you tell the people from church to come and pray for you?’ as I wasn’t doing too well physically and I had told her I believed in healing and prayer! So I did call my local church, “Maranatha Chapel” if they could come and pray for me at the center and they said ‘of course’ so within a few days a couple of their elders/pastors came and anointed with oil my large cut in the knee praying according to James 5:14:”Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

LESSONS IN SUFFERING
“…provided we suffer wih Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I considered that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us! Romans 8:17-18

“His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5.