“So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island” (Acts 27:25,26).

At some point after diagnosis, in our cycle of grief, we stop looking for a cure and begin to advocate being “as well as possible”–for as long as possible. It stops being about delaying life until we are cured, but enjoying the moment.

Most days I handle the losses of illness pretty well. I will likely have rheumatoid arthritis all the days of my life. I am okay with that. God has used it astronomically more than I ever could have imagined. I deal. Many days I smile.

But other days I face a new challenge: a fractured rib, a reaction to medication, pain due someone’s error, a dip in finances, changes in plans, hurtful words. And I grow frustrated. It is exhausting to cope well with it all the time, isn’t it?

That is why I like this verse. Like Paul, I am confident that God is in control and all that He has promised will come to pass. And yet. . . first I must run aground on some island. Those shipwrecks really get in the way of our plans, don’t they?

For Paul, running aground on some island meant the loss of a ship and the end of a journey, even prison for 276 men. But it also meant life. The way God orchestrated it–right down to that shipwreck–saved the lives of the men who would have otherwise been killed.

Shipwrecks wreck havoc on our lives, our body, our relationships, our careers, and so much more. But they aren’t surprises to our Lord. They are planned, orchestrated, given purpose, and sometimes even life-saving.

I hope when tough times come I can confidently yell out “SHIPWRECK!” with a sense of humor. It is my way of acknowledging God leaves nothing to chance.

Prayer: God, You are my anchor, my calm in the storms, and ironically, the wrecker of my ship. To You be the glory, however, because You always have a purpose, You always have a plan and nothing will thwart it from coming to pass. Amen.

About the author:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and she lives in San Diego with her husband and son. She is currently working on a prayer book for those who are chronically ill and balancing motherhood with foot surgery in March. Be encouraged by one of her books today! 100% proceeds go to Rest Ministries. Check out Why Can’t I Make People Understand? at the Rest Ministries shop.

Will you join me in seeing the disruptions, pain, and overwhelming feelings as shipwrecks? Next time something starts going wrong, remember that God promises you it will all work out, but first you are going to run aground for a bit. Together, let’s holler, “SHIPWRECK!” and keep praising God.

In this video Plumb sings “Need You Now (How Many Times)” and I think the lyrics will touch you. She asks God to take away the pain, but he strength to bear it if necessary. A beautiful song with heart. Enjoy. -Lisa

“Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. It keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will You let Your faithful one see decay” (Psalm 16: 5-10).

Jazz, chocolate and tea. What in the world could these have to do with God?

It is early on a Tuesday morning and after a stressful few weeks my kids are in school and I am at my favorite coffee house, feet up, sipping black iced tea–even though it is cold outside. I am eating a chocolate-covered graham cracker and writing. There are a handful of customers in the shop, some reading, others drinking, studying or visiting.

I’ve been waiting for God to resolve a problem and today he opened a door slightly towards resolution. A burden was lifted, so much so that even though I did not sleep much, I still had enough stamina to get to the coffee shop to relax. God could have turned His back on me as He knew how angry I have been recently. But that is the amazing part–He allows us our time of annoyance, frustration, anger, confusion, and sadness. Even if we direct it at Him–He does not abandon us.

I sit in this coffee house with a heart filled with gratitude and love. I know my problems are not over, and I know the stress they have produced have put a strain on a body challenged by chronic illness. My job is to continue to take care of myself, despite what occurs in life. I failed a bit recently in self care. Sure, I exercised a little, wrote, prayed, talked to trusted friends, and spent time with family, but not nearly enough as necessary.

It is a quiet blessing this morning as I sit in the coffee house and do what I enjoy. And despite my circumstances, I need to embrace these gifts from God and live. After all living is what we do best.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Please help those struggling with problems to remember to rely on You for guidance and strength. Amen.

About the author:
Laura Seil Ruszczyk lives in New York with her husband and three children. She is a retired elementary school counselor who discovered her love of writing about 35 years ago. Laura is the disability/chronic illness advocate for her church and also enjoys running a HopeKeepers group. She is writing a book about her illness, dysautonomia: the deregulation of the autonomic nervous system. She had a pacemaker implanted in October 2013 as a result of dysautonomia slowing her heart rate.

How do you take care of yourself when added stressors enter your life?

Regardless of what life gives us, we can know that God and His love for us remains. I hope this song, “Remain,” by Royal Tailor blesses you. I like his music and the lyrics in this song touch my heart as a good reminder that –no matter what–God loves you and I. -Lisa

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them all garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him” (Philippians 3:8-9)

Have you ever had one of those days that you knew without a doubt that if your head wasn’t physically attached to your body you would have left it somewhere, the location of which was never to be found again? Recently I had just such a day, and of course it coincided with a day that I was at my worst physically.

This particular day I was constantly misplacing things. Unfortunately one happened to be my set of house keys! My husband joined in my search but we were unsuccessful.

Ironically I wasn’t super upset, knowing my husband and how he takes these things in stride–he would just change our locks (which he did that day). Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of my losses that day.

Next was a ring he had given me when we were first married. Again we searched, but to no avail. Now came the tears. This wasn’t an expensive ring; but I knew that he had scrimped and saved at that time in our marriage, to have it made especially for me. It was special, unique and created out of love just for me.

As I dwelled on this the next day, it occurred to me how God must feel when we, His precious children, are wandering lost in this world. So often we allow the garbage that this world so easily produces, including illness, to weigh us down or lose sight of who we are in Him.

As I reflected I realized anew what a precious gift I was given from the One who created me, uniquely, out of love, just like the ring that I lost. Then He, my Savior, gave up everything that I could be “found in Him.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for creating each of us unique out of yYour unconditional love for us. As we walk through our daily lives, each of us with our own illness difficulties, help us to remember that all this “garbage” and loss we may deal with is worth the joy we gain in knowing we are “found” in You. Amen.

About the author:
Diane Kalata lives in Florida. She has three grown children, and a wonderful husband who offers much support. She enjoys leading a women’s bible study group as well as an online chronic pain and illness support group. She enjoys art and writing as well. It is her hope to bring encouragement to others as she deals with various chronic illnesses and pain; comforting others as God has comforted her.

Where are you today? Are you feeling lost, or have you been found by the one and only Savior?

I know I have had days like Diane where I seem to misplace everything! This song, “While I am Waiting” is from the “Fireproof” soundtrack. We spend a lot of our time waiting–and looking for lost things.” This song shares how we can be in the midst of waiting for things to get better and still be hopeful–even those times when tears are falling. Be encouraged. -Lisa

“But He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

We have lived midway between our nation’s capital and our state capital for more than thirty years. Traffic has always been challenging, but over the past decade it has gotten much worse. Construction is always going on somewhere. A trip that should take thirty minutes can take two or three hours.

I try to avoid construction areas whenever possible. They cause delays. Sitting for long periods aggravates my back pain. I get frustrated and impatient. If I have to take a detour, I may get lost. But there are times when construction zones are unavoidable if I want to reach my destination.

My health problems remind me of construction zones. My ongoing pain, discomfort, and problems cause delays. I lose out on things I want to do. I sometimes have to take detours and follow new routes, such as trying a new medicine or exercise, eliminating a certain food, or changing my sitting or sleeping position. I become frustrated and impatient. I want to move on.

But what is the purpose of construction? Usually to build something newer and better. God has a purpose for the construction zones in my life. He knows what thoughts, attitudes, and responses needs to be improved to conform me more into the image of Christ. The changes He is making in me are part of His grand design and roadmap for my life, so that I will accomplish His purposes for me here on earth and for all eternity.

The Lord knows the difficult roads I must take now. My patience and my faith are being tested. But by that same faith, I must believe it’s worth going through this construction in anticipation of the heavenly roads that lie ahead.

Prayer: Lord, this life would be easier without the construction zones of pain and problems. Give me patience, perseverance, and a willing attitude to travel the roads You have planned for me, knowing the trials they bring are for my benefit. Amen.

About the author:
Bronlynn Spindler lives in VA and is blessed to have the support and encouragement of a wonderful husband and three grown daughters. God’s grace and strength have brought her through thyroid cancer and continue to sustain her through ongoing back pain, depression, headaches, multiple sensitivities, eye pain, and fibromyalgia. You may view her blog of devotionals at http://www.aplaceofsprings57.blogspot.com.

What are the most challenging construction zones you are going through now? What changes do you think God is trying to work in you through them?

God never deserts us. Life is full of detours because of the construction going on in our life, but He is with us every curve and valley along the way. This song, “Alive Again” with Matt Maher, is a reminder that God can give us refreshment and make us feel alive again even when we are weary of the journey. -Lisa

“The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).

Many of you will be familiar with the parable of the Sower–I’ve read it many times–but the other day something I’d not thought about before came to mind.

The above verse talks about the “worries of this life” and how they choke the seed so it is no longer fruitful. Worry is something that I often have on my mind and at times it even escalates into anxiety that can be quite paralyzing .

The Bible is full of references to why we should not worry, but it’s still a trap that I easily fall into. Those of us who have chronic illness, might feel that there are plenty of times when worry might be justified, considering our circumstances–but God still calls us to trust in Him and leave the worries of our health, or whatever else we are prone to worry about, in His hands.

Earlier in the parable in verse 6 Jesus tells us that other seed was wasted:

“But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”

We all want to feel that our lives are fruitful and that our efforts are not wasted–even those of us who may not be able to serve in ways we might once have.

These verses reiterate to me that we need to trust God with all of our worries and concerns–not dwell on them so they paralyse us from doing other things. Also the reminder that we only survive the trials of life, because we have our faith firmly rooted in God, so that we are not scorched, withered or rendered useless.

Illness should never be an excuse to become unfruitful–faith and trust should continue to spur us on in God’s service.

Prayer: Father, with Paul I would pray that we might live a life worthy and pleasing to You, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in our knowledge of You. Amen (from Colossians 1:10).

About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful that God walks each step of her life with her, and that He is teaching her new things as she learns to live with chronic back pain. She enjoys finding time for reading, writing, and photography, and to share those things with others. You can contact her in the Sunroom, or read more of her writing on her blog there.

How do you ensure that faith and trust replace worry in your life?

We may feel like there is nothing dramatic we can do for God, that we are just stuck in maintenance mode indefinitely because we are ill. But you may never know what God can do with you. This was a video I saw recently and it touched me deeply. This woman waves to the teens going by her window on their way to school every day.

It was something she did with her husband until he passed away and now she is still changing lives by encouraging these kids and being someone they can depend on. I hope it blesses you and reminds you that there is not “small thing” you are doing. God makes whatever you offer Him into a big thing! -Lisa