Itchy

The LORD will smite you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors and with the scab and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. Deuteronomy 28:27 NASB

Itching in almost all cases is an indicator that there is something wrong. Whether you start itching immediately after a mosquito bite, you start itching during the summer from the heat and the resultant eczema patches, or you are suffering from allergy and sinus-induced itching and scratching of the throat and ears as often used to happen to me, itching is an indication that further investigation should be done to identify the root of the issue.

Likewise, when we itch spiritually, that is a clear and key indication that something is going wrong in our lives. And more often than not, we all seek natural ways to calm the itch.

Testimony Time! Okay, sigh, inhale and exhale here it goes…

So…when I had my transplant, I decided to give my life to God fully, meaning I would date whoever He had for me–thus resulting in me breaking up with my high school sweetheart, I would do whatever He wanted me to do with my life–including pursuing ministry if that is what He had for me, and just live life for Him and leave everything that was hindering from true growth and development behind. Sure enough…I started in the area of love, seeking to learn to love whoever He put my life how He loved me. So I tried, I mean I tried, taking every kind of mental blow and honestly lowering my standards to be the best girlfriend I could be. But something within me just felt the relationship was so wrong. On the surface, everything seemed okay. I thought my apprehension was a defense mechanism I had acquired from life and life experiences. Instead of letting God love me and thus teach me how to love others with His agape kind of love, I stayed in an unhealthy relationship that took a toll on me and scarred me. I was so afraid to be in a relationship after that one that I just kind of ‘floating’ in a quasi-relationship status, from one guy to the next, all the while harboring the anger and bitterness that my ex sparked within me. I had the realization at my dad’s funeral that I had a perfect example of His love all along in my parent’s relationship…and I had been seeking to satisfy that need to love and be in a relationship for validation in the wrong person, through the wrong means.

I now know that it is no truer a statement that if you try to appease an itch with a mediocre balm–lust, human conditional love, work, etc.–IT WON’T HELP! In fact, it can make the itch worse. It can and will leave you broken, battered, bruised and still itching!

I find comfort now that as long as the thing I desire is in God’s will, He will provide it. I can go to Him and get my fill of ‘antihistamines’ and ‘histamine-blockers’ for any situation or circumstance. Stop scratching those itches with poor imitations of the real thing! You can’t get a knockoff generic when Benadryl is proven to provide you relief! God is the relief you seek!

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT