Just Take The Next Step
31 Mar 2010 3 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: arthritis, Bridget Gazlay, chronic, Endometriosis, fibromyalgia, focus, future, goals, guidance, hopekeepers, IBS, illness, migraines, overwhelmed, pain, rest ministries, strength, worry
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed because of all the options, or the huge pile of things to get done, that you don’t do anything? I sure have, especially when I’m not feeling well. I keep thinking about what needs to get done and how tired I am, and I just can’t seem to get anything accomplished.
These are the times when I need to take a deep breath, pray about it, and ask God for help in figuring out where to start. It’s so easy to let the piles weigh us down though, especially if we are also looking ahead at what’s coming up. Scripture reminds us though, that we don’t even know what tomorrow will bring (James 4:14-15). So why do we focus so much on the future then?
We need to stay focused on today; set realistic goals (small enough to be achievable); set bigger dreams and visions (with God in mind); and prayerfully ask for God’s guidance on what daily assignments we NEED to get done.
If we stay in the past, we can’t move forward. If we focus on the future, we won’t get anything done today. But, if we focus on the “now”, we will be exactly where we need to be tomorrow. If we do what God asks us to do today, we will be ready for whatever is ahead.
Let God handle your concerns and worries. He alone knows what tomorrow will bring. Do what you can, with God’s strength, and let God take care of the rest. Or like my friend Barbara says, “Just take the next step. All the other ones will eventually be the next one!”
Prayer: Dear God, I am so tired and overwhelmed right now. Please help me figure out what I can do today, and what I can put off until tomorrow. Amen.
About the Author
Bridget Gazlay resides in the beautiful West Michigan. She struggles with Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis, IBS, arthritis and migraines. She works full time but writes and designs fabric cards on the side. Bridget’s prayer is for readers who come across her writing or fabric cards to see that she allows, “God’s creation to be my inspiration.” You can reach Bridget at: fabricards102@charter.net or www.pfccreations.com.
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Our God Is In Control
30 Mar 2010 2 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: chronic, confusion, difficulties, faith, Fiona Burrows, hopekeepers, illness, pain, rest ministries, trust
- Image by Vermin Inc via Flickr
“For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wing.” (Psalm 61:3,4)
Do you ever wonder how different your life could be if things had happened differently? Not many of us would choose to have the illness or injuries we have, if we had been given a choice. At least on the surface, we would opt for an easier life than we currently experience.
I know that many of us have learned to be grateful in a different way, for the challenges and experiences in our lives that have helped us to grow in some way, or perhaps just strengthened our faith and dependence on God. We would also probably not wish our own circumstances on anyone else.
Another of the songs I’ve been listening to a lot lately, reminds me that God is always in control. He is that strong tower for us, somewhere that we can take refuge in the storms of life. We are not a mistake, nor is it a mistake that we currently live with whatever challenges and trials we do. It’s a part of God’s plan for my life, or for your’s.
The song says,
“This is not how it should be,
This is not how it could be,
But this is how it is,
And our God is in control.
This is not how it will be,
When we finally will see,
We’ll see with our own eyes,
He was always in Control.” *
What a day it will be, when we finally see all that God had in mind for us; how the pieces of our lives that made no sense, are all a part of a wonderful picture, that brings us to where He ultimately wants us to be; where we know for sure that God was always in control.
Father, help me to trust in You, not what I cannot see, or make sense of. Draw me to you when I don’t understand and shelter me with your wings. Amen
* Steve Curtis Chapman – Our God Is In Control
About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is learning to be grateful for the lessons God is teaching her on her journey of chronic pain. When she can, she loves to find time for writing, reading, travel and photography.
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Letting Go Holding On
29 Mar 2010 7 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: acceptance, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Atrial Fibrillation, Celiac Sprue, chronic, deni weber, difficulties, frustration, hopekeepers, illness, pain, rest ministries, submission, trust
“Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’” (Genesis 22:2)
If I stop and take a backwards look at my life I see a trail of broken dreams, shattered hopes, and devastating losses. I have been known to cry out to God and ask Him with tears pouring down my face, “What do I have to let go of? Everything?”
The answer that comes back to me? “Yes.”
God reminds me of Abraham and Isaac.
I can hear Abraham asking the same question. “Do I have to let go of everything that is important to me”?
I so don’t want to hear this. I don’t think Abraham wanted to hear it. I don’t think a single one of us who struggles wants to hear we have to let go of even one more thing. We want to be told we can hold on to things. I mean, doesn’t God say that He will grant us the desires of our hearts? Yes, He does.
So isn’t this a contradiction?
No – not really. You see, we must first be willing to let go of everything, before we can gain anything.
I am still in the letting go part. I find that I want to cling to the things. I want to be cling to what is “mine.”
How ironic. Everything that I have, has been given to me by God – and here am I holding them as if I brought them into existence and they are mine, mine, mine.
Let go. Let go. Let go.
Yet – at the same time …. Hold fast.
Paradox? Yes!
Impossible? No.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Prayer: Dear, God, help us to let go of the things we need to let go of and to hold on to the things we need to hold on to. Grant us acceptance, wisdom, and courage.
About the Author:
deni believes that the only true way to deal with chronic pain and chronic illness is to bring them to the feet of her Lord and Savior. Her multiple illnesses (Celiac Sprue, Atrial Fibrillation, Ankylosing Spondylitis, to name a few) have taught her many things about herself and her Christian walk. It is her fondest prayer that some of her lessons might be helpful to others as they walk the path of chronic illness. deni can be reached at EncouragingWords@me.com. Her website is http://www.pathwaysforchange.com/Encouragement.
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Where Are You?
28 Mar 2010 3 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: chronic, confused, depressed, God's love, God's presence, hopekeepers, illness, Lisa Copen, loneliness, pain, rest ministries, rheumatoid arthritis, sleeplessness, worry
“But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” Genesis 3:9
I remember when my son was just a baby and he would cover his eyes and wait for me to ask, “Where is Joshua? Where’s the baby?” He would take his hand down from his eyes and giggle with joy.
Living each day the ups and downs of a chronic illness can grow weary and oftentimes we can feel like we are being separated from God. We may feel his presence during the evening, and go to sleep feeling like it’s all in His control. But just hours later at 3 AM we awake to the long list of worries that will not go away.
I know I’ve had moments of frustration walking through the house at three o’clock in the morning and hearing everyone sleeping peacefully. I want to sleep too! And I want my brain to turn off and be able to truly rest.
In Genesis, we are told how God had just created Adam and Eve from mere dust and yet by the third chapter He is asking “Where are you?” Did God lose them? Is He sitting on His throne in heaven looking down into the Garden of Eden wondering where they had wandered off to? No. He simply wanted to express that he cared. He was concerned about them.
Like I asked my son, “Where are you?” to make him feel loved and cared for, God wanted Adam and Eve to feel that He was pursuing them and tending to their needs.
When you’re up wandering the halls in the middle of the night, or perhaps having an MRI, or simply sitting on the couch of a dreary home, imagine God asking you, “Where are you?” Pick up the pen and answer Him truthfully. What would you tell a best friend who asks you, “Where are you?”
This is a loaded question that can ask many things of you. Where are you emotionally? Spiritually? What hurts? Where are your priorities? Your fears? Your hopes?
Sometimes your answer may simply be “I am here, Lord. I’m stuck. I am depressed. I don’t know what to do. But I am here. What you meet here?”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being there for me and caring about me regardless of my emotional “feelings” at any time. I will always try to cling to the fact that you are always beside me, even when I don’t feel your presence.
About the Author:
Lisa is the founder of Rest Ministries and has lived with rheumatoid arthritis since 1993. She resides in San Diego, California with her husband and seven-year-old son. She recently shared some of her thoughts with the people of Rest Ministries about “where she is.”
Our Many Valleys
27 Mar 2010 7 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: alice ervin, chronic, difficulties, faith, hopekeepers, illness, pain, rest ministries, trust
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs.” Psalm 84:6
While reading this Psalm, I was curious about the meaning of the word “Baca.” Researching it, I found one of the meanings to be “weeping.” I began to think of some of the Valleys of Baca I had been called to pass through.
I recalled a time just recently when we were going back to my childhood hometown for a special weekend. It was time for our annual Festival of Leaves in Southern Ohio where I meet with some of my “old” classmates each year.
With my health issues, I always wonder, “Will this be the last year I get to enjoy this special treat?” But, I wonder if I am only thinking of myself at these times?
While packing, I noticed I was having a strange hurting in the lower right side of my back. By the time we arrived at our destination the pain was so intense that I was ready to turn around and go back home. One of my “valleys” had come!
The only “down side” of going back home was, I was scheduled to sing at the community church service held in the “old” theater on Sunday morning. (Which, by the way, back then I was able to watch a movie for a dime. Oops! I’m telling my age!) It was such a special blessing to be asked to sing for the Lord at this festival, and I really didn’t want to give it up, and let Him down. So I decided to try to “tough it out.”
I had a very painful night, and didn’t get much sleep. But, God, in His goodness made it possible for me to sing, the words ministered, and He was glorified. That was the most important thing!
Afterwards, on the way to the parade, my wheel chair hit a bad spot in the sidewalk, and we lost a wheel—spokes and all! I thought, “Another valley!” I really wanted to cry and give up. But, with the help of my childhood classmates, I was able to go to the parade, and even go back to one of their homes afterwards to catch up on old times. God is so faithful!
We who live with chronic illnesses are not able to do everything we want to do? I knew I would pay the next few days for pushing to go on this trip. But, I believe God had a work for me to do. And if He calls us for His work, He will help us through our “Valleys of Baca!” He did, and I’m so glad I didn’t give up. This was one time I persisted because I felt it was worth the pain and problems I went through because God had called me to do a work for Him. Even though, I did spend some days on the couch afterwards.
Thank you Father that our “weeping” endures for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
About the Author:
Alice Ervin deals with several chronic illnesses each day, but knowing the Lord is with her every moment, and with the help of a very supportive husband, she knows she can endure to the end.
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Still Learning Patience
26 Mar 2010 2 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: affliction, chronic, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, faith, hardships, hopekeepers, illness, Karlton Douglas, pain, patience, rest ministries, trials, trust
“I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:1-2)
One of the things I struggle most with is patience. By now, after having lived with affliction for so many years, patience should come “naturally” to me, but it doesn’t. Indeed, sometimes I fear I am becoming less patient instead of more patient.
The author C.S. Lewis said in one of his letters: We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is “good”, because it is good, if “bad” because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.
I know Mr. Lewis was right, and I agree with his words. But patience does not come easy. When all is said and done, I strongly suspect that for many of us we will never have the strength and fortitude and patience on our own to deal with hardships. Instead, we must look to the Lord to fulfill those parts we are lacking. It is God’s power, His Spirit working in us and through us that will enable us to find patience in affliction and our various trials.
Too often we think that our willpower, our stubbornness, our determination will win the day. And there is something to be said for those things. Yet what truly will make us winners is our reliance upon God, our faith and trust that He will see us through no matter what, and in that we can find patience for whatever comes our way.
Prayer: Dear Lord, give us the patience we need for the trials that come our way. Amen.
About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. With God’s help he has survived many years with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease. He is author of the book: Chronic Illness.
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I Repeat – Rejoice!
25 Mar 2010 6 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: Add new tag, Christ Jesus, christian encouragement, Christianity, Christmas, chronic illness, chronic pain, daily devotionals, devotional writers, Epistle to the Philippians, God, hopekeepers, illness ministry, inspirational stories, invisible illness, Jesus, Lord, meditation, Psalms, rest ministries, sandra platt
“Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be made known to all. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4,5)
“Rejoice in the Lord always.” Always? All of the time? What about times of pain? Or overwhelming fatigue? What about when I am afraid? Do I have to rejoice then? Yes. The writer of Philippians must have heard the hearts of many down through the generations who are joined together by the fellowship of pain.
“Rejoice always.”
“Okay, but . . .”
“I will say it again; rejoice!”
In the Miriam Webster Dictionary rejoice means to feel joy. To get a better grip on what it means to rejoice, I looked up joy. Joy is defined as “having a sense of well being.” We do not need to work up an emotional sense of happiness and skip down the road. But we can rejoice in the Lord.
It must be possible if we are told so firmly to do it. “Rejoice in the Lord always” is to feel joyful and have a sense of well being in the Lord. I can do that! The Lord is our source of everything we need, and He cares for us. What we need to do then is to turn our eyes upon Jesus and rejoice that He is our Lord.
I have had a long bout of pain. It seems as if since Christmas until the beginning of March I have been knocked down. It all started with a broken foot that just wouldn’t heal right. Add in the flu for a while, a post Christmas crash, and then have my foot re-break and several of the smaller bones break too. Then neuropathy and MS complicate the doctor’s decisions on how best to get this under control!
Many times I have turned my eyes onto myself and and my pain. I have cried a lot, but crying is okay. God knows our hearts and feels our pain. The most important thing here is to remember that when the tears are done, we dry our eyes and then turn our eyes back up to Jesus.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
About the Author:
Sandra Platt is a Pastor’s wife and mother of 2 great college aged kids. She and her husband live in a beautiful rural area of Southern Indiana. She is owned and cared for by 2 spoiled cats. She likes to read uplifting books, to bake and to be outdoors. The prayer of her heart is in Psalm 19 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
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Expecting Suffering But Relying On Hope
24 Mar 2010 7 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Atrial Fibrillation, Celiac Sprue, challenges, chronic, deni, difficulties, fear, focus, hopekeepers, illness, pain, peace, rest ministries, suffering, trials
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
One thing I have found with facing daily chronic challenges is that it is so easy for me to focus on myself and so difficult to find that “peace.” I have almost continual reminders of “me”. My challenges are daily, almost minute-by-minute reminders that I am not the person I was. For me to be ok, I must look beyond those challenges.
What seems to cause the most pain is my own expectation that there should be no pain or suffering – that life should be simple and easy. And yet, even Scripture tells us that is not so. What I am finding is that if I am not taken aback by my new challenges, if I don’t view them as something that “shouldn’t” happen, they are easier to deal with. So James knew exactly what he was saying when he wrote “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” (James 4:12)
I am learning we must realize that bad things can and will happen. At the same time, we must realize that we have the opportunity to rise about these things and not focus on them or ourselves, but to focus on our God who is the author and perfector of our faith – the one we can run to in each and every situation, the one who will hear our cries, the one who has already overcome the world.
Father God. We live in a difficult and sometimes scary world. We may not understand what is happening to us and to those around us. Yet, I thank you, that in all of these times, you are there, feeling our pain, knowing our hearts, and loving us through each and every trial that comes our way. Help us to keep our eyes on You. Amen.
About the Author:
Deni believes that the only true way to deal with chronic pain and chronic illness is to bring them to the feet of her Lord and Savior. Her multiple illnesses (Celiac Sprue, Atrial Fibrillation, Ankylosing Spondylitis, to name a few) have taught her many things about herself and her Christian walk. It is her fondest prayer that some of her lessons might be helpful to others as they walk the path of chronic illness. deni can be reached at EncouragingWords@me.com. Her website is http://www.pathwaysforchange.com/Encouragement.
Living In High Resolution
23 Mar 2010 5 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: chronic, fibromyalgia, hopekeepers, illness, Lisa Copen, pain, rest ministries, rheumatoid arthritis, witness
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
After about four weeks of consistent chest pains, today I finally had a “stress test.” Since I am not able to get on a treadmill, I took what is called a nuclear stress test. They scan your heart via a large machine that resembles an MRI machine, put a sort of dye into you, then you go eat something and come back and do it again.
The test as a whole is pretty simple, but before I’d arrived I had a migraine sort of headache and a crazy day already, picking my son up from school with an ear infection and taking him to the clinic for medication. And the hardest part of the test is lying on the small table on my back when I cannot position my “out of place” shoulders, from rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatologist says I have partially torn rotator cuffs and my range of motion is very limited. So this is where the real pain sets in. During these long 18 minutes and then 18 more, I could not move and my shoulder muscle ached like a charlie horse had hit them and they quivered.
The tube started turning and after repeating a few scriptures I looked around at my surroundings and saw the machine said near my face said, “Low Energy, High Resolution.” I had the chance to look at those words for a few minutes and begin to see how they described what I hope is my life.
The “low energy” part I likely don’t need to explain. But what about the “high resolution?” I hope that as I walk into each medical visit and interact with five or so people, and I have my cross necklace around my neck, I am showing Jesus in high resolution. I thanked the technician profusely for trying to prop up my shoulders with pillows and whatever else he could find. He used some piece of form and said, “After 12 years, I’ve never thought to try that.” I mentioned something about turning the big crises over to the Lord to the nurse (and admitted it was the little ones I thought I could control that got to me.)
Am I living in high resolution for the Lord? Despite my low energy, is the reason for my hope clear? If someone was to print out my “life” on a printer, would it be blurry at 72 dots per inch or 300? What would the picture look like? What would be represented?
Prayer: Lord, help us to remain in You, focused on the hope that You give us even during the dreariest of moments or the least fun things we must do as we take care of our bodies. Though our energy is low, that is no surprise to You. Be with us every step of the way so we can always reflect the gospel and the power of Your salvation.
About the Author:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and has lived with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia since 1993. She lives in San Diego with her husband and 7-year-old son and is completing her newest book this week, “How to Start a Chronic Illness Small Group Ministry.” Watch for it in a few weeks at chronicillnessbooks.com .
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Storm Clouds
22 Mar 2010 6 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: challenges, chronic, courage, depression, fear, Fiona Burrows, hopekeepers, illness, pain, rest ministries, storms, strength
“Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. . . . The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’” (Matthew 8:24,27)
This summer in Melbourne, we have had more sultry humid weather than we usually do. Today we had black clouds build up and threaten the rain and storms we all hoped would come, only to find that they passed and the sun came out again. It seemed that we would just have the forecast of rain, but nothing eventuate again.
Then this afternoon, it got so dark, we knew the storms were really coming this time and sure enough, before long, we were being pounded by strong winds and hailstones – larger than I’ve ever seen before, along with some much needed rain. It didn’t last a long time, though it was quite severe, but as I was listening to the radio, they had warned that one front would pass, then another equally as damaging, would follow it, so telling people to stay inside.
As I waited inside for that follow-up front to come, I was reminded that for many of us who live with chronic illness, life can be a series of storms at times. Just when we feel that we have come to terms with what is going on in our lives, maybe accepted that it will continue to be part of life for us – it seems that something new comes along to challenge us. Sometimes the time between these new challenges is a long time, or at others, they can seem to come with the force and frequency of storm fronts.
Just as God is in control of the storms that come as part of our changing weather, He is also aware of all the challenges that face us in our journey of chronic illness. Some days the storm clouds may depress and scare us, but we also experience days of sunshine and balmy weather that help us feel brighter. The storm clouds will pass, or with God’s help we will have the strength to endure them. He promises to never leave or forsake us, no matter what storms we face.
Prayer: Father, I pray that you will comfort us when the storm clouds seem to overwhelm us, and remind us of your presence and your grace in our lives. Amen
About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is grateful that she doesn’t have to face the storms of living with chronic pain, on her own – God’s grace is her lifeline. She enjoys writing about what life is teaching her.
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