Chronic Illness Pain Devotionals

Worry Free

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

Today we got up and took our Jeep to the dealership because the air conditioning was acting up and being that we live in Arizona, we really need that part of the car to work right. Anyway, we decided to go have breakfast at one of our favorite places.  We asked to be seated in our favorite waitresses tables and got a chance to talk to her. Fifteen years ago she had breast cancer and got a clean bill of health back some 10 or so years ago. This morning she told us that she has to have a bone biopsy on Thursday because they saw a mass and suspect it is back and now in her bones.

Still smiling, she continued to serve us our coffee and breakfast and maintained a "steadfast" attitude even though you could see there was a little uneasiness in her voice. A wonderful Christian woman, still deeply concerned. So we ministered to her and will help her home from her test on Thursday.

Later on this afternoon, I went to the bank to open an account and the lady who helped me had Thyroid cancer removed from her neck 5 years ago and just two weeks ago another suspicious form in her neck was removed. I got her name and assured her that I would pray for her. We talked about God and His role in these times and she seemed to become more calm, the longer we talked.

These two incidents today made me think of why I have cancer and what my role is here on earth. If I am in a constant state of "worry" how am I supposed to minister to people that God brings in front of me? My food, drink or clothes I wear. How do they compare to doing the will of the Father? And so that is why Jesus says, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life..." (NLT)

We have more to do in our everyday lives than worry about so many things. "Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable to him than they are?" I believe so.

Hear God's word and become "worry free" in your walk with the Lord. See how He will bless your life!

About the Author
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Dave Stallings lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife of 37 years, Barbara, Who also suffers a serious chronic illness, and their dog, Captain Jack…along with their kids and grand kids! Dave is a semi-retired pastor and loves to blog on his personal web page since being diagnosed with Stage IV incurable non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma two and a half years ago..his motto is “It is what it is and God is not surprised”….his blog is http://www.nowwhataz.blogspot.com/, his personal testimony can be read at http://www.nowwhut.org/ and he can be reached by email at mailto:dstallings2@qwest.net.

God Has A Plan For You

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38-39 NIV)

It is early morning, 2:30 AM, I am starring at the needle carrying chemo into my body to fight the cancer, and thinking that it is very hard to believe the verses above. And yet, God means what He says. The nation of Israel was in the middle of 70 years of captivity when God told Jeremiah about the plans He had for them. The people were scattered, away from their homeland; they'd lost everything they knew and loved, and circumstances were totally against them. When Paul penned the verses from the Holy Spirit in Romans, Christians were being killed for their faith, thrown to the lions, crucified, burned and imprisoned.

Things don't always look like what we equate to being "plans for good and not disaster." We often have to face some very hard times in our lives. Some of those to be sure are the result of our own sins. But, other difficulties and challenges seem to hit us when we haven't done anything that would bring about financial, health or relational disasters. In fact, some things hit us when we are walking directly in God's will, following Him, taking care of everything in our lives in a responsible manner. Those are the times when it seems there is no rhyme or reason for the pain and suffering we experience.

But what we need to remember at those times, perhaps more than any other, is that nothing that hits us - nothing we have to deal with - changes, disrupts or thwarts God's plan for us. Nothing we go through means we have been separated from His love, means that He has abandoned us, means that we have been forsaken or that God isn't in control. Hold fast to Him in the middle of your circumstances. Submit your will to His and make yourself available to Him and whatever He wants to do with you. Ask Him to fulfill His purpose for you and trust Him to do it. He won't disappoint you. He also won't leave you to face it alone.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denny Dowd lives in Pennsylvania with her two cats, Liam and Shamrock. Denny is a social worker and she enjoys writing, reading, and volunteering. Denny is the world's biggest Notre Dame Football fan. Denny lives with Chronic Inflammatory Demylineating Polyneuropathy and cancer and has strong faith that God will see her through even the most difficult of days