How Can Illness Be God’s Greater Path For You?

We see illness as an interrupter of our plans and dreams, but Kay reminds us to seek God–who may have been preparing us all along.

“’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts'” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in late April of 2001, at the age of 42. When I became ill I was hoping the doctors would find a way to “fix it” so I could go on with my life. After all, I had things to do and people to see. . . Let me share the setting.

Starting August 1, 1999, my husband and I were allowed to follow our passion by ministering to married couples in crisis through our church. It was in the form of a marriage reconciliation lay-ministry.

On May 1, 2000 I was given the position of administrative assistant to one of the associate pastors at our church, which was very rewarding.

September 1, 2000 my husband, myself, and our youngest daughter (she was attending college at the time) moved into a 2-bedroom apartment. The purpose of our move was so that my husband could fully concentrate on classes he was attending at seminary.

I then became ill in January 2001.

I continued attempting to work until my diagnosis in late April of 2001 and then resigned May 1, 2001 due to my illness.

In retrospect, it looks as though we were preparing for my illness. We thought that we were being obedient to God in His call to my husband’s return to school so that he could minister to couples through christian counseling.

Instead, God had planned all along for my husband’s first call to couples ministry to be to his own wife and her care. He left the classroom and became a living example of God’s sacrificial love for His church–through our marriage.

My husband and I thought our plans were in accordance with God’s will. They were.

Yet, His thoughts and His ways are higher than ours, which meant illness for me was the greater path.

Prayer: Father, I pray that You remind us that Your ways are not our ways and Your thoughts are not our thoughts when life takes an unexpected turn. Help us to trust in Your love and grace through our illness to bring You glory and honor. Thank You for who You are and for the difference You make in our lives because Your ways and Your thoughts are not like ours. Amen.

About the author:
Kay Davis lives in Texas with her husband, Ron. They have three married daughters who have blessed them with their eight precious grandchildren. She was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2001 and has subsequently been diagnosed with Raynaud’s Phenomenon, Crohn’s disease, Addison’s disease, Interstitial Cystitis, and arthritis. She has had Asthma for many years. Her blog, singingbirdcage@blogspot.com focuses on praising the Lord, no matter our circumstance. She prays it brings Him glory and hope for those who read it.

How did God change your path in life after your illness?

Jesus has overcome it all–illness, infections, pain. And yet, while we still reside on this earth, these things will impact our life. The glorious thing is that He uses it all–to mold us and refine us, to witness to others of His strength and grace. This is Jeremy Camp singing “Overcome.” With His strength we can overcome the daily challenges we face, and we can know that He has already overcome it all. We know how the story ends. Hanging in there with you… -Lisa