a
“This is My doing.” (1 Kings 12:24)
The struggles of life come in many forms, whether it be a prodigal child, unemployment, illness, or the loss of a loved one. We all suffer because we live in a world that is tarnished with sin.
There are many hot-fueled emotions, however, about whether God causes this pain or if He simply allows it to touch our lives. 1 Kings 12:24 says, “This is my doing.”
We all long to believe in a God who comforts us and has a lap we can curl up into. We do not always want to think of God as a Father who must also use discipline, even when it is painful. As parents, however, discipline is not punishment. It is a tool to raise our children to be more Christ-like, just as God desires us to be.
Coping with my own disease, I have chosen not to think of my illness as Satan’s doing, because it is in fact, a part of my identity. My weakness is God’s strength. I find the most comfort in trusting that God has always and fully been in control. My illness is not Satan’s brainstorm with God being expected to make something out of the leftovers. Since I was formed in the wound, God knew rheumatoid arthritis would be a part of who I am.
Jesus is a man of many sorrows and familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:3). Despite them, He always turned to God to talk about them, asking for strength, comfort, and even for the cup to pass.
Regardless of where the source of our struggles come from, we must follow Christ’s example and always turn to God because this is His doing.
Prayer: Father, help me to know that though I may not know the reasons behind my sufferings, You are always there to comfort me and that the situation has never once been out of Your sight.
About the Author:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and the author of “How to Start a Chronic Illness Small Group Ministry.” You can read more about this book at http://startasmallgroup.com . It’s packed full of 320 pages of information to help you decide if a HopeKeepers illness support group is in your future and where to go from the calling to the practical steps.
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 
AMEN TOO ALL OF WHAT YOU ATAED.IT IS HOW I TURNED THE CORNER ON MY RSD,WHEN I LISA;HI THOMAS HERE.I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE AWESOME DEVOTION .ONCE AGAIN ITS LIKE YOUR ALKING AROUND INSIDE MY HEAD.ITS LIKE DISCOVERY TIME WHEN I TURNED IT ALL OVER TO HIM LEAVING NOTHING BACK FOR ME.THEN THE GREW I COULD SEE SCALES FELL OFF MY EYES.IT ALL STRTED MAKING SENSE WHY I HAD RSD.I DIDNT THINK I WAS ALONE ANYMORE .REST MINISTRIES CHANGED THAT,THEN AS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRITCONTINUED TO GROW I LEARND ALOT ABOUT SUFFERING.EVEN JESUS LEARNED OBEDIENCE THROUGH SUFFERING.TAT BLEW MY IND WHEN I HEARD CHARLES STANLEY SAY THATBUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ALSO .I THINK ITS GOOD YOU ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS AGAINST SPAMMERS.BECAUSE LETS FACE IT NOTHING IS SAFE.ALL YOU CAN DO IS YOUR BEST. PROTECTION AND PREVENTIVE WISE AND PLACE IT IN THE LORD`S HANDS.I WAS HACKED BUYING AN ANTI VIRUS PROGRAM!YOU BELIEVE THAT THE VERY SAME THING I WAS TRYING TO PREVENT GOT ME.SOMECLOWNS IN MOSCOW.CALLED ULTIMATE ANTI VIRUS 69.99 HAD TOO REPLACREDIT CARD BANK UTILITIES ETC.I THINK IT IS AGOOD IDEA FOR ANEW STORE LISA .I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE OLD ONE MUCH.MY COMPUTER DESKTOP I JUST GOT RID OF TOO OLD.THEY SAY AFTER 3-4 YEARS IT IS TIME FOR ANEW ONE.ITS NOT GOING TO PERFORM WELL ENOUGH.SO IM UPDATEDNOW. BUT HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF LASER THERAPY FOR CHRONIC PAINTX/ITS CALLED CUREELASE LASER SYSTEM FOR MOST CHRONIC PAIN.IT ISDRUG FREE,SURGERY FREE,PAIN FREE.SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?http://www.reliefbylaser.com MY LAST P.M.DR IS DOING IT.JUST WONDERED IF YOU HEARD OF IT.THEY ARE DOING IONAPHORESIS ON MY ANLKE CAUSED BY INFLAMATION OF RSD CAUSING TARSAL TUNNEL.MY WHOLE APPROACH IS TO AVOID THE KNIFE.WHEN I SAW MY P.M.DR LAST HE SAID THEY ARE STRONGLY LOOKING AT SCS FOR ME.THAT WOLD BE SUICIDE.AND NO GUARANTEE IT WORKS.I HAVE RESEARCHED THE HOROR STORIS.I HAVE SEN THE SUCCESS.BUT IM NOT FOR ANYMORE CUTTING.AFTER 15 SURGERIES YOU GET AMENTAL THING ABOUT IT.IM NOT THAT YOUNG ANYMORE.IM56.SO ANYHOW HOW ARE YOU DOING/IHAVE READ YOUR NOTES AND POSTS.HOW IS PAIN?THE ORTHRO DR SAID I HACE SPINAL ARTHRITIS IN EACH SECTION OF THE SPINE.SO IM SURE AS I HAVE ALOT OF DISCOMFORT IN MY BACK.BUT ASIDE FROM ALL THAT I AM IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE SHAPE IM IN.GOD BLESS YOU LISA.THANKS FOR LETTNG ME VENT.YOU KNOW I DONT THAT OFTEN.PEACE.HUGS,TOMAS