Beauty from Infirmity - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2025

Bible in a Year : Judges 9-10, Luke 5:17-39

As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Galatians 4:13

Today's Scripture & Insight : Galatians 4:13-15

The artist Degas suffered retina disease for the last fifty years of his life, switching from paint to pastel because the chalk lines were easier to see. Renoir had to have brushes placed between his fingers when arthritis made them clench like claws. And when surgery left Matisse immobile, he turned to collage, directing assistants to attach coloured pieces of paper to a large sheet on the wall. What followed in each case was a creative breakthrough: Degas’ Blue Dancers, Renoir’s Girls at the Piano, Matisse’s The Sorrows of the King and other masterpieces. By adapting to their trial, beauty emerged from their infirmity.

In a similar way, Paul wasn’t planning to visit Galatia during his early missionary journeys. An illness forced him there (Galatians 4:13). Apparently, Paul sought a different climate, wound up in Galatia and, even though he was ill, started preaching. Ironically, the Holy Spirit performed miracles through him (3:2-5) and the Galatian church was born. This surprising outcome may never have happened without Paul’s illness.

What trial have you faced, and how did it change the direction of your life? By refocusing your gifts, you too may see God bring beauty out of your infirmity.

By: Sheridan Voysey

Reflect & Pray
How have you seen God turn illness and other trials into opportunities for service? How are both Paul and those artists examples to follow in times of trial?

Dear God, You are genius at bringing beauty out of infirmity. Here are my trials and my talents.