Functional Lepers

In Discerning the Voice of God, Priscilla Shirer talks about how we can be functional lepers. She gave some background to leprosy explaining that the disease can lay dormant for years without anyone knowing you have it. The diseased individual knows he or she is sick, but the outside world is none the wiser. The leper continues about life diseased on the inside tricking the public that they are healthy based on their outsides. Thus, they are a functional leper.

Wow. Isn’t this us today? Shirer explained this terminology using verses in 2 Kings from the Old Testament. Many say the Old Testament, even the entirety of the Bible, is outdated and not applicable to today’s culture. I look at functional leprosy and see it running rampant through our culture.

Anyone can scroll through the beautiful pictures on Instagram and witness functional leprosy. Pictures of beautiful homes, love stories displayed through perfectly lighted selfies of the couple, and kids flawlessly poised in polos and Matilda Jane dresses. Behind those images, however, can lie financial burdens, marital pains, and unruly children. We all know it’s there. Yet, we would rather see the immaculate pictures rather than acknowledge the brokenness.

As I pondered this term, I wondered if it is even possible to be a functional leper. If there is disease on the inside, it most definitely effects our outsides. There is no way it can’t. We may have convinced ourselves that we’ve hid our illness well, but when we step back and look at our lives, we can see how it has invaded every space.

There is no healthy functioning when there is disease within. Oftentimes, we believe we will get well the moment our circumstances change. What we don’t realize, is that we have to deal with the disease on the inside before the outside can see any healing. 

In order to heal the diseased parts of our lives, we must first ask ourselves, Do we really want to hear from God? Because here is the deal: most of us would say we want to hear from Him but our actions show us running in the opposite direction.

We know what we need to do but are palms are sweaty and our hearts are racing and it all just seems too difficult so, we make the subconscious decision to live as a functional leper carrying the weight of our burdens instead of choosing to listen to God (even when it makes us feel like we are going to be sick) and heal from within.

Now is your time.

Stop pretending you are functioning when, in reality, you are dying on the inside.

God is speaking. He desires to heal you. Are you ready to listen? Are you ready to hear His truth?

Love & Blessings,

Meg

NOW GO LISTEN TO THIS SONG AND LAY IT DOWN!