We can become so protective of the image we have created, we never gain intimate friendships since we don’t reveal our true self. Julie shares.
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
I was recently watching a Christian show with an audience of women. As the camera scanned the room, I noticed the women with smiling faces, make-up put on just so, and hair styled to be presentable for the TV show.
But as the speaker got into the message about God caring for hurting people, she touched the pain that had been hiding behind a facade of happiness.
The camera again scanned the room, and these same smiling faces now had tears running down their cheeks with mascara smears that ruined the perfect make-up job they had done that morning. You could tell there was some very deep hurt in those hearts. Their pain was exposed.
Even though many of us have an illness that is not visible to the world, we want to keep it that way. We hide our pain behind a facade of smiles to appear “normal.”
We want everyone to think we have it all together. But in doing so we are vulnerable to being overpowered spiritually, as the above verse says.
Christians need other Christians for strength in trials. And that means those of us who have an invisible illness need to open up to other Christians for spiritual and even physical help.
Many times God will work through others, but we need to be open and honest about our situation with Christians who can help.
By revealing your illness to others you may also be that help to someone who is hurting as well. God may be wanting to use you to be a blessing in someone else’s life.
Think about it, pride is the main reason to not disclose an illness. God hates pride, and it can be a great obstacle to His work. He wants to work through others and through you.
Prayer: Lord God, it is hard for me to let others see my frailties. I want to be strong, but I know I depend on You as well as others You are working through. Lead me to those people who can help, and if I can be a blessing to someone through my illness, then guide me and give me wisdom to be that blessing. Amen.
About the author:
Julie Buckley was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease in 1995 (scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and polymyositis) along with fibromyalgia. She lives in the midwest with her husband and has a grown son. She also has a blog site called “Healthy Souls,” which encourages Christians to grow stronger through their physical weakness, http://jabuckle.wordpress.com/
Have you stepped outside your comfort zone and shared a deeper part of yourself and then gained a true friend? How do you know who is trustworthy to share yourself with?
This is “All Right Here” with Sara Groves. In trying to find the words to describe this song to you I felt a bit lost. The lyrics share about how none of us are perfect. Some days are okay, some aren’t. But whatever happens, including the times anxiety got in the way, times friends were lost, times when we just didn’t pursue what could have been a special friendship… it’s all right. Because we know God is taking care of us and we will go from here. Hope it blesses you today. -Lisa
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 