Discussing Assurance - Health

This week begins our discussion on issues that may cause us to struggle with a lack of assurance. [For mored details see here].

Our first topic of discussion is how sometimes ill health may bring us to feel abandoned by God & to lack assurance in Him.
Lets pray that as we enter this Christ will use it to strengthen us against doubts caused by any future health problems. To build our faith in Him as all soveriegn Lord and to Glorify Himself as He leads some through physical illnesses.

Here's what William J. Patton says in the book 'Pardon & Assurance' on this:

1. Want of health.
"I have known a good many earnest Christians who had no doubt of their salvation when they were in health, and whose godliness was not doubted by others, yet, when they became weak in body, believed that they were not Christians at all.

The poor weak body acts on the mind; and it is some¬times very difficult for persons with lung or liver disease, or heart or nervous disease, to have assurance.

Old Dr. Archibald Alexander of Princeton was once asked if he had always assurance. "Nearly always;” he replied, "except when there is an east wind."
I remember well meeting one day on the road a young man, one of the most godly and useful young men I ever knew. He was spitting blood at the time, and he told me he thought that he had never been converted at all, that all his past religion was a piece of formality. He thought that God had forgotten him, and completely forsaken him.

Poor fellow! No one ever doubted his conversion but himself.
I told him that God had neither forgotten nor forsaken him, that it was just want of health, and that God loved him as much as ever.

Oh, my Christian reader, who once had God's face shining upon you, but are now in delicate health, and think that God has forgotten you, remember His promise:

"I will never leave thee; nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13: 5)

"Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." (Isaiah 1: 10)"
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Although Patton doesn't go to much detail, I think he brings us to a very real issue, warning us that we may struggle with assurance as we suffer ill health. How often we hear people ask 'why me?' and question what they have done to deserve illness. How often a sick body afflicts our minds, hearts & souls with a sickness that causes doubt & worry.

Generally when I've met some Christians who are 'rejoicing' through their illness it is because they have grounded themselves deeply on the Word & promises of God & on the person & work of Christ before the suffering. They have so much Scripture to rest their minds on while they are suffering that the Word & Spirit helps them through.

That would be my advice - and as I've thought more about this discussion I've been considering how difficult it is to see answers when you are in the midst of it without preparation. Hence I think that it is important that before illness, we drink deeply from the Word, grounding ourselves & building a firm foundation on the Rock that is Christ, so that when suffering comes, the foundation holds us steady.

Over to you
On 'The Want of Health' bringing a lack of assurance of peace with God, what would you say? Are there any sermons, books etc that you'd advise & what Bible passages would you point to on this issue?