Can Wrestling With God About Your Illness Lead to a Blessing?
30 Sep 2011 1 Comment
in Devotionals2 Tags: Fridays, God, Guideposts, illness, Israel, Jacob, Kristin Chenoweth, rest ministries
“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. . . . Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’ But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ . . . . Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.’” (Genesis 32:24,26)
“How do you cope with your illness?” I have been asked. My reply? “Faith and stubbornness.”
Have you ever felt as though you are in a wrestling match with God over how your illness is going to impact your life? This week I have been dealing with a bad rheumatoid arthritis flare that has frozen up both shoulders, my neck, hands, and knees. I fight to get through the nights and then I fight to get through the day. The medications that help make me barely functional, yet I cannot lay down because I cannot get up without help. My husband had to go to work; he had strep throat last week so missed a few days.
I am to have my first infusion of a medication tomorrow at 8:30 AM. I have had to reschedule three times due to other infections and need to get it into my system! Yet, arising at 7 AM will be very difficult, my husband and I will drive my son to school at 8 AM, likely get to the infusion center by 8:45 (late!) with rush hour traffic, and then the infusion lasts 5-6 hours.
Did I mention our babysitter moved away recently? And on Fridays my son gets out of school at noon-ish? So in the next 17 hours I need to find and interview a babysitter who I trust to pick him up from school, in her car! I have posted the “job” on a service I use, but the idea of not even meeting the woman first makes me very nervous.
Kristin Chenoweth, broadway star and television actress shares in a recent story with Guideposts magazine that she deals with an invisible illness, Menier’s Disease, “an inner ear disturbance that causes vertigo”–though it is a life-changer in the pain and nausea it causes.
“One of my favorite Bible stories is when Jacob wrestles with the angel. He won’t let go until he gets the angel’s blessing. ‘You seem so happy’ people say to me, and it’s true, I’m usually upbeat. Still, staying positive takes work. It doesn’t always come easy. I get depressed, I gripe, I get into the perfectionist’s funk. And yet I’m thankful every day. For my family, my friends, my career, my voice, even for setbacks and struggles like this nasty disease that I wish would go away. I believe in wrestling that angel to the ground until I can claim my blessing.”
This week I have been in a wrestling match with an angel–I know God wants His very best for me, but it’s taking everything in me to fight for it! Every few hours my illness threatens to get me down–literally as my knees won’t unbend, and figuratively, as I want to just want to give into the blues.
But there is a blessing in all of this, and I am determined to get it. I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet hit the floor, Satan says, “Oh no, she’s still going!”
Verse 29 says, “Then he blessed him there.” God blessed Jacob even though he wrestled with God. There are times we cope with our illness admirably, with grace and quiet gratitude. And then there are times we wrestle with it, using our stubbornness and strong will.
Both can lead to blessings from God. Silent surrender has its place, but if you are wrestling with your illness, don’t forget it can still lead to a blessing. You aren’t wrestling with the illness per se, but wiJust don’t forget to ask God for it!
About the Author:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and author of Why Can’t I Make People Understand?. If you haven’t read it yet readers have said it’s a life-changer! She is struggling lately with her illness, trying to parent well, and all life gives her. This particular idea of blessings in the wrestling is refreshing to her!
* Guideposts, October 2011
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
What are you wrestling with God about lately? Have you seen blessings come out of it? Have you remembered to ask God to bless you in the wrestling of it, rather than waiting until you feel you have “got it all together?”
From Painful Attitude To Healthy Gratitude
29 Sep 2011 3 Comments
in Devotionals2
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
The noise of a chainsaw interrupted my morning cup of coffee. Standing to my feet, I walked to my living room window and looked outside. Two men were busy trimming a tree across the street in my neighbor’s yard. After a few minutes, I returned to my waiting soy latte.
Later that morning, I went to investigate how the trimming was coming along. “Oh no!” my thoughts screamed. “It is gone!” Standing in shock, I looked out to the empty place where my favorite tree once stood. Grief entered my heart. Gone was the hope of ever hearing the soft rustling sound of the silvery green leaves gently blowing in the wind.
Feeling the breeze while hearing the sweet song of the Cottonwood leaves had always reminded me of sitting on a warm beach while listening to the sounds of a gentle ocean. My body had relaxed so many times while enjoying this melodic tree. Now it was gone, never to return.
My health had been like this Cottonwood tree, suddenly disappearing as if it had never existed. Gone was my faithful constant companion–the one I took for granted. Somehow, I thought it would always just remain with me.
Emotional and physical pain took the place of good health, and soon I realized how I was never in control of my health leaving. Soon, frustrated anger robbed me of joy. Identifying this robber, I determined to let go of negative thinking, releasing the “why me” of suffering, and instead looking for blessings in my life.
Forcing my mind to thankfully appreciate was not easy at first. It was unnatural for my negative attitude to be surrounded by a thankful heart, yet soon my mind started remembering activities which I had enjoyed while living in a healthy body. I started seeing those times as gifts from God instead of what I lost.
Truthfully, God does not owe me perfect health, as it is a gift from His hand. I had the ability to live a freer physical life for many years due to excellent health. Through remembering this, I have found an understanding of health as a gift, along with a new attitude of gratitude.
Prayer: Thank you for each day, as it is a gift of Your hand. Strengthen me daily, so I can walk in thankfulness despite what the day or my body brings.
About the Author:
Cindy Pocapalia lives in with her husband and two children in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She loves her family, friends, and Jesus. Also, she delights in seeing how God works in and through her life and the lives of her believing friends. The desire of her heart is to bring His encouragement, hope, and truth to others.
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
What things have you found through physical or emotional suffering, and how have you been helped by these revelations?
The Grace We Live By
28 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Devotionals2 Tags: Christ, Divine grace, God, Jesus, Lord, Ohio, Second Epistle to the Corinthians, weakness
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Many of us who have suffered chronic illnesses for years are familiar with the verse above, but I wonder if we fully consider the implications of depending upon the grace of God in our weaknesses?
None of us want to be weak, but chronic afflictions can leave us very weak, and in that weakness the power and grace of God are essential for us to live as witnesses of God’s goodness. Indeed, to thrive at all in the midst of weakness we desperately need God’s grace and power.
Long periods of illness can wear away our ability to live godly lives. Many times I’ve considered that I’ve been in “survival mode” just trying to get through the day. Yet there have been days when I’ve been amazed at how God has helped me to thrive even in the midst of my affliction. So often I think: That was God.
God can take our weaknesses and turn them into strengths. That seems paradoxical and it is. God often works in strange ways to accomplish His purpose in our lives. It is our job to call upon Him for aid in our
weaknesses.
We have different weaknesses but we need the same God and the same grace every day to endure and overcome and succeed in spite of our weaknesses. We can do so only in the power and grace of God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we are weak and in need of Your help, send us grace and strength for the weakness in our lives. Amen.
Have you felt God’s power and grace in your life? Have you found strength in spite of your weakness?
About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. God has given him grace and strength in spite of his weakness.
At the Feet of the King: Arthritis Pain and Yearning for Heaven
27 Sep 2011 1 Comment
in Devotionals2 Tags: Ankylosing Spondylitis, chronic pain, Foot, Inflammation, Pacific Northwest, pain, Pain Management, Rubbermaid
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Arthritis creeps into my feet and for a long week and counting they hurt incessantly. Trying to keep up with active little girls and domestic chores requires a lot of time on one’s feet, and my feet aren’t up to the challenge.
I try anyway–to walk the good walk, fight the good fight, smile through the pain, and remember every moment how very blessed I am.
Because, you see, I have feet. Some people don’t. I have medicine. Some people don’t. I have a wonderful husband, and some mothers with chronic conditions do not.
At the end of a long week, after a grocery shopping excursion that leaves my feet feeling like they’re on fire, I sit in a chair and put them up, because I just can’t walk anymore.
My husband Jonathan makes dinner, bathes our 4 year-old, and because he’s not already busy enough, serves me strawberry lemonade. After I hug them goodnight from my chair, our little girls in footed pajamas are tucked into their beds, kissed, and prayed over.
Jonathan returns and says, “Hey, don’t you have a little inflatable foot soaking tub?”
Ten minutes later, he has arranged my chair, crafted a platform out of a Rubbermaid storage bin, draped a towel across the platform, and filled my (now inflated) foot tub with warm water and lavender scented Epsom salts.
My feet slip into warm water and when they emerge, the pain is all but gone.
Jesus once did something similar. He filled bins and knelt to wash His followers feet, and I bet that when their feet emerged from the water, when their eyes met His eyes of love and grace, their pain (both of the flesh and the heart) was gone.
In this life, I may not win the chronic pain battle. People we love will die. But I think often of the day when I will look up and meet His eyes, and my pain (physical and emotional) will be gone. In that Holy presence, all peace, all hope, all love, all grace, all things good will soak through to the heart of His children and I can’t even imagine what that will feel like.
Prayer: Father God, I can’t wait for the day I will sit at Your feet with no more pain. Thank You that I never have to walk alone. Amen.
About the Author:
Jennifer LeBlanc lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of 9 years and their two young daughters. She has been living with chronic pain since 2005, and was diagnosed in 2010 with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that attacks the spine & joints. In the midst of this “chronic” life, she also chooses to live with chronic gratitude. You can read more of her story at her blog, Live Art.fully: http://livelifeartfully.blogspot.com
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
What has a loved one or friend done for you when you were hurting that touched your heart?
Keeping my Eyes Fixed on Jesus Despite the Circumstances
26 Sep 2011 3 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: Christianity, Father God, God, Jesus, Lord, New Zealand, Psalms, Religion & Spirituality
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2)
Where have you been lately? I personally have been on a tumultuous journey, not only in life circumstances but literally as well. I have traveled almost the length of my country, New Zealand, twice this year by car, which includes a three and a half hour ferry ride between the two islands. I traveled 1309km (813 miles) one way, the ferry ride consists of a 102 kilometer (63 miles) sea journey. Then I did this in reverse. So in total I traveled 2618 kilometers (1626 miles), alone!
The details of the past few months have, for me, included great heartache, loss, and despair coupled with new friendships, new skills and growth in many areas–especially in self-confidence–something I have lacked despite my 40 plus years of maturity! (Not that I am always mature, she writes with a grin).
Within these past months the truth of the scriptures helped me to keep going. The truth that everything is God’s and all things are in His hands has been the catalyst by which my life has remained in a forward momentum. There are times when life just does not seem to make sense. But remembering that God does, sure helps a lot when we face the unknown.
When we take our eyes away from God and remove our trust in His omniscience it may feel, most likely will feel, like the seas have risen and we are drowning! But God, through His son Jesus, has founded us upon His grace and established us upon His mercy, so we are buoyant and held above the circumstance of this life by our faith and trust in God’s son Jesus.
John 14:1 says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me.”
Prayer: Father God when my heart is overwhelmed and my distress in this life causes me to take my eyes off you, gently but assuredly draw me back to your strong and faithful arms. Amen.
About the Author:
Julie Munro lives in New Zealand, her walk with the Lord has been over mountains and through valleys but He has remained her constant support and her ever loving Father.
What does “keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus” entail for you? How do you come to realize you have “looked away”?
A Funeral And A Wedding
25 Sep 2011 2 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: Gandalf, God, Hobbit, Jesus, Lord, Ohio, Pippin, Return of the King
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:7)
Tomorrow we go to a funeral. Like many of you reading this, a funeral is the last place on earth I want to be, yet not every funeral is bad. The dear soul whose funeral this is suffered many long months with pain as cancer continued to destroy her health. She was ready to go long before she went to be with the Lord.
It is painful to lose a loved one, yet there is comfort in knowing that the suffering individual has gone on to be with the Lord where there is no pain or suffering or tears or sickness. We mourn our loss of those who have gone on, but we have peace in knowing they are in a better place.
I loved the following dialog from the “Return Of The King” movie when it looked like all was lost and the Hobbit named Pippin turns to wise Gandalf and says:
Pippin: I didn’t think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path. . . One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass. . . And then you see it.
Pippin: What? Gandalf? . . . See what?
Gandalf: White shores. . . and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin: [smiling] Well, that isn’t so bad.
Gandalf: [softly] No. . . No it isn’t.
We recognize the truth in those words. We are on the path to heaven, and there awaiting us is the Great Wedding Feast of the Lamb of God. Jesus is awaiting us, and that isn’t so bad.
Those with chronic illnesses often find that death’s door draws close, but whether we are given more time on this earth, or go on to be with the Lord, God’s goodness is with us always.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You died so that we would have eternal life, thank You for that wonderful gift and the better life awaiting us all. Amen.
About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. Hope in God has given him strength in all of life’s challenges and even when facing death.
Do you have hope of eternal life through Jesus? Do you look forward to seeing loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord?
When We The Last Time You Invited God “In” and Not Just For a Gift?
23 Sep 2011 1 Comment
in Devotionals2 Tags: Bible, Book of Revelation, Christ, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Lord, Lynn Jones
“Here I am! I stand at the the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
As we prepare our hearts to take communion at our place of worship either weekly, bi-monthly, quarterly, or daily perhaps in our home environments, let’s stop and think about this very significant directive from our Lord. This scripture from the book of Revelation is very applicable and yet not often used in conjunction with this personal, reflective time. We often see this scripture in the light of salvation as rightly we should.
Is there another corollary meaning for the one who is already a believer and a student of the Bible? May I suggest that this particular scripture could refer to the Lord calling each of us into a deeper walk, understanding or communion with Him that can only occur if we hear with our spiritual ears and then can obey the instructions our Lord has for us to accomplish.
Especially in times of pain or injury, the Lord bids us to move forward in our faith towards in Him.
It is only as we are familiar with His voice that we even venture to obey and open the “door” of our hearts to Him. The richness of communion with Jesus is symbolized in the latter part of this scripture. When healing appears to elude us, we can know nothing could be more satisfying than our Lord’s Presence with us!
About the Author:
Lynn Jones lives in Tulsa, OK with her husband Michael and together they have four children, a son in law and two adorable grandchildren. Lynn is a former home school and private school teacher of history, English and speech. She now focuses on writing and speaking.
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
It is easy to get so busy asking God for comfort and healing, sometimes we forget to just sit in His presence. What does “sitting in His presence” look like to you?
Counting on God’s Guidance Each Day
22 Sep 2011 2 Comments
in Devotionals2
“Yet I am always with you, you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. . . . My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:23-24, 26)
For 20 years I have had chronic illnesses. Each year it has gotten more and more severe, and more illnesses have crowded into this body of mine. In the past 2 years my body has deteriorated a lot! So much has changed so quickly! My pain levels have been much higher, and my muscle weakness has driven me to the use of a wheelchair almost exclusively now. My fatigue is often all encompassing. I become afraid as I face flares that come more often and last longer.
As I look back, there are many times I see God’s Hand holding me up when I keep my eyes on Him. I was a very frightened young mother and pastor’s wife when I first received my diagnosis. I had two preschool kids, and my husband and I were in our first full time Pastorate!
Now, I have raised my family, and my kids are young adults with a close relationship to the Father. My husband and I have celebrated 20 years in the ministry and are semi-retired now, with two little country churches part time. I can see very clearly that the plusses far outweigh the negatives by a long shot! If I would have been told what all would lie ahead I would not have believed what a joy my life would be!
Look at the promises in our scripture reading. “My Father is holding my right hand, guiding me with His counsel, and afterward will take me into glory!” I have heard it said that 1 out of every 1 people will die. Living is not forever. But if we realize that He is holding our hand, guiding and counseling us even in our pain, and then will take us to glory; we can not really find too much to pout about.
Our current pain may be severe, but holding our hand is the loving Father who is with us now and forever.
Prayer: I am so glad and relieved that You are always with me. When I am afraid I can trust in you always. You are my Rock and my strong tower. I praise Your name for all the joy You have brought into my life. Amen.
About the Author:
Sandra Platt lives in beautiful rural Indiana, with her family, and her very spoiled and precious kitty. She has multiple chronic illnesses and lives in pain every day. She is enjoying the fellowships and friendships that she receives with Rest Ministries. You can reach her in the Sunroom.
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
The scripture tells us that God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. When you become afraid, I encourage you to list the times He has held onto you before. I promise you, you will find yourselves counting many blessings.
Taking Little Steps Of Faith
21 Sep 2011 4 Comments
in Devotionals2
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”(Hebrews 11:1)
Though ultimately it is our faith in Jesus Christ that is most important, everything in life takes faith. It takes faith to get married, to have children, to go to work every day, to get out of bed every morning–everything in life takes faith.
We have to trust people every day. When we pick up food, or go out to eat, when we drive down the road we are trusting that others will obey traffic regulations like stopping at red lights. Nearly everything we do involves some small act of faith.
It is no wonder that God values faith so highly. He wants us to trust that He is taking care of things even when we cannot see how He will do so. We trust doctors, dentists, health care workers of all sorts. We trust that the pharmacist has correctly filled our prescriptions when we take our medication. Life revolves around faith and trust.
For those who suffer from chronic afflictions faith and trust can be hard to come by. We have at times been disappointed, from doctors and other health care providers, from friends and family, and at times we are even disappointed in ourselves when we fail to meet our own expectations. I think we also are sometimes disappointed in God. We wonder why He allows so much heartache into our lives, and why He doesn’t put an end to our hardships.
This brings us back to faith. The myriad of hardships and frustrations in our lives can cause us to question God’s goodness. But if we dig a bit deeper into the question, beyond the obvious problems and hardships in our lives, we could just as well ask ourselves–why not me? Why am I still alive when so many others have passed on? Why am I allowed to spend time with my family and friends when so many have neither family nor friends for comfort and support? Why does God continue to bless us even in the midst of our afflictions?
We may not feel capable of big leaps of faith, yet every day we live on this earth takes an act of faith, or more precisely, many little acts of faith. We can take our frustrations and disappointments to God because we have faith that there is a God. We can lean upon family and friends in tough times because we have faith in the love of family and friends. We can find our way through every difficult and trying day because we have faith that there is a God that cares about us, even when we feel frustrated toward Him because of life’s circumstances.
I would encourage you this week not to focus on huge leaps of faith, but instead to focus on the many small everyday ways we incorporate faith into our lives, then expand that understanding of the small steps of faith to begin piecing together the larger mosaic of faith that ties together all the elements making our life one continuous walk of faith hand in hand with God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes we feel frustrated at the irritations in our lives, but we can step over everything blocking our path because of our faith in You. Amen.
About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with His lovely wife. He has found God faithful through the daily challenges in his life.
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
Have you considered how much faith you use every day in your life? Do you have faith in God on a daily basis?
God Believes in You
19 Sep 2011 2 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: chronic, God, invisible illness week, Jesus, Lord, Noah, rest ministries, United States
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16)
This last week was Invisible Illness Week, sponsored and founded by Rest Ministries. There are so many people who are hurting. As I read through dozens of blogs, the many people who filled out the Meme “10 Things You May Not Know About My Invisible Illness” so many people poured out their hopes. . . and their hurts.
Nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA have a chronic condition. And so many of them are trying to figure it all out, grieve, hope–live–without knowing Jesus.
I have heard the saying “You may not believe in God, but God believes in you.”
God sees it all–the good, the bad, the joys, the sins. He wants us to come to Him. There is a reason He saved Noah and His family from the flood, and there is a reason He gave the life of His son, Jesus, so that we could be forgiven. There is nothing you can do that will stop God from loving you!
Isn’t that amazing when you think about it? You can disappoint Him and sadden Him when you turn away or avoid Him, but You cannot stop Him from loving you.
In the next few days I ask you to stand beside me and lift of those around us who are trying to cope with illness alone, without God beside them. Pray that their hearts will be open to getting a little encouragement from a Christian ministry, pray that they will see the difference in how those of us who know Jesus cope with the difficulties of illness. When the strains of life discourage them in a few months, pray that they will remember Rest Ministries behind Invisible Illness Week and come visit our web site and find a friend.
And if you are on the fence yourself right now, wondering how God can believe you have anything left to give, know that God has already chosen you just like the scripture above tells us. There is a huge giftwrapped box just sitting on your doorstep, but you must open the door and bring it in. Unwrap it, and see what is in store.
Need an uplifting song? Here is a video of Ted Winn singing “God Believes In You.”
Prayer: Lord, please never let me go, never let my feelings impact my belief in You.
About the Author:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries. She has lived with rheumatoid arthritis since 1993 and is turning 43 today! She is learning to balance chronic illness, motherhood, family, ministry and whatever else life throws at her, but it’s a slow process.
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
When you start to doubt God is there or He cares, does it help to remember your belief never changes the reality that He exists?
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