Chronic Illness Pain Devotionals

Holding Onto The Hand Of God

"So do not fear, for I am your God.  I will strengthen
you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous
right hand."
(Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

I left the doctor's office stunned and filled with
dread.  It had been nearly five years since I was told
that the lupus was in remission.  I was off all
medications.  To be honest, I had let my guard down
and no longer defined myself by illness.

How could it be possible that I was coming out of
remission?  I didn't want to face the whole barrage of
tests, blood work, and doctors again.  The scar tissue
in my veins was proof of all the previous poking and
prodding.  I felt discouragement rising inside of me,
mingled with fear and apprehension.  How would I find
the strength to go through the highs and lows of this
sickness all over?  What would my husband and children
think?

"Help me, God!"  I cried.  "I can't do this!"

Then, I read this wonderful promise from the Lord.  He
has strengthened me on the days when I wanted to give
in to despair.  He has helped me to organize my days;
to learn to listen to my body; to handle multiple
doctor's visits; and to remain patient during the
trials with my medications.  Yes, He has faithfully
upheld me with His righteous right hand.

"Thank You, Father, for being a very present help in
our times of trouble.  Help us to remember to look to
You for the strength we need each day."

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About the Author:
Dorothea Love lives in California with her husband and
two children.  She trusts in God's sufficient grace to
help her deal with multiple chronic conditions.  She
prays that her testimony will encourage others to
share their stories.

Chat Room Ministries This Week

SCHEDULED CHAT ROOM MINISTRIES THIS COMING WEEK

Please take advantage of these times of fellowship, encouragement and support.

C.A.R.E. CONNECTION CHATS: (all in Daylight Savings Time)

Mondays 10:00 am Pacific/12:00 pm Central/1:00 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Mary

Mondays 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Liz

Tuesdays 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Donna

What is C.A.R.E. Connection?  C.A.R.E. stands for Comfort, Accept, Refresh, Encourage.  We want you to be able to connect with others who are going through similar problems or situations.  There will be a volunteer “Chat Host” at each of these times so you can be sure that someone will be there to make you feel welcome and lead the chat time in an hour of encouragement in God’s Word and fellowship and prayer together.

Other scheduled chat ministries:

Fellowship hour – Tuesdays at 1 pm Pacific/3 pm Central/4 pm Eastern

Hopekeepers Bible Study – Thursdays at 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

TO GET TO THE CHAT ROOM:  Go to www.restministries.org/pro-chat.htm and type in your name in the box and click on “Connect”.  (It may take a few minutes to load the chat room window.) 

C.A.R.E. CHAT ROOM: A special chat room has been created just for the CARE chats to meet together in if the CARE Host chooses to do so.  So when you want to join one of the scheduled C.A.R.E. Connection chat times, you just sign into the Rest Ministries chat room as usual, which takes you to the main room called the Lobby.  Check there to see if the CARE chat is taking place in the Lobby or in the CARE Connection chat room.  To move there, click on  "show rooms" above the user names and then double click the room you want to go to (CARE Connection).

If you are unsure about getting there at the correct time try going to www.timetemperature.com/tzus/time_zone.shtml and below the map you will see the time zone differences (i.e. Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern). 

Carolann Page

Rest Ministries

C.A.R.E. Chat Co-ordinator

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Only A Prayer Away

"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” (Isaiah 59:1 NIV)

Our omnipotent Lord is able to do anything--there is nothing too difficult for Him! The rankest sinner is able to be saved; the  filthiest life is able to be cleansed! The lowest depression is able to be lifted; the highest mountain is able to be climbed! There is nothing too difficult for Him!

But, what about us?  What about those of us who live, day in and day out with pain and bodies that just won't function?  Has God forgotten us?  Has He turned a deaf ear to our cries?  No, not in the least!  In fact, I  believe His ear is fine-tuned to hear the cries of those who suffer greatly simply because He knows physical suffering, He's well acquainted with pain and accompanying sorrow. 

When we cry out to Him from the heights of our pain, His mercy extends toward us in a way others don't know.  The measure of His grace broadens and pours out on us.  We may not always feel it physically, but if we'll take special note in our hearts, we will know it spiritually.  His love toward us gives us invisible strength, making the impossible possible.  His mercy covers us when our profound inadequacies hinder us.   His grace captures us as He throws open His arms to embrace us in the midst of our deepest needs.

No, He's not forgotten us, neither has He turned a deaf ear.  He's there for us in more ways than we realize. 

Isaiah was right:  the LORD's hand not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  His hand is only shortened by our failing to reach out.  His ear is only deafened

by our lack of prayer.  He's always there for us--He's only a prayer away!

Prayer:  Father, forgive me for "shortening" your hand and "deafening" your ear through prayerlessness.  Thank You for Your tender care.  There is truly nothing too difficult for you!  Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jan Ross lives in Willard, OH, with her husband,  Ron; they have six adult

children and twelve incredible grandchildren.  Jan  serves as a women's

minister and missionary with Heart of God International Ministries and she

enjoys teaching and writing Bible Studies.  Jan has seen God move in her

life as His strength is made perfect in her weakness  from fibromyalgia,

psoriatic arthritis and other chronic conditions.  www.heartofgodinternational.com

In Our Darkness

"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?"

(Psalms 27:1 NIV)

The room was dark, except for the television that sent rays of light dancing through the shadows. I sat reclined on one end of the sofa with our new puppy on my lap, and our daughter's old terrier lay on the other end snoring softly. A sudden barking and growling interrupted the peacefulness. I opened my eyes to see the terrier standing where she had slept. Her "ruff" was standing tall and growls filled the barking intervals and got louder and louder. She was not looking at the front door. Instead she eyed the table the television was on..... seemingly barking at nothing but the darkness beyond. Thoughts of creatures filled my head.... a mouse or a snake coming inside to warm themselves due to the sudden drop in temperature outside. I yelled for my husband to come to the rescue.

Walking into the room, he could see the dog looking under the television. Her "ruff" was standing as high as I had ever seen it, and if I had one myself, it would have been standing taller too! I reached over and turned the lamp on, while my husband retrieved his flashlight and began to look for the culprit. That old terrier jumped off of the couch and walked over to a shoebox that stood on its side under the television table. (We had put it there to keep the puppy from crawling behind the furniture.) Together we began laughing! On the front of that shoebox was a picture of a Bassett Hound. You guessed it.... Hush Puppies! The light from the television brought that picture to life in the darkness, and the terrier thought it was a real dog!

How many of us, in the darkness of our illnesses and pain, let our fear take control? I have to admit that I am guilty sometimes of letting darkness take over my mind. Like that terrier, I let thoughts get confused with reality. It's then that I have to remember that Christ fills every part of my being with His love and Light! "When I am afraid, I will trust in You." (Psalms 56:3 NIV)

When darkness threatens, we can pray: I trust God's Light to guide me. I am lifted out of darkness and fear into the light of confidence and love.
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About the author: Nancy Carr lives in western Kansas and has had to retire from teaching music and conducting church choirs due to degenerative disc disease and now Fibromyalgia and heart problems. She is very thankful for all the Lord has done for her and her family everyday.

In Our Darkness

"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?"

(Psalms 27:1 NIV)

The room was dark, except for the television that sent rays of light dancing through the shadows. I sat reclined on one end of the sofa with our new puppy on my lap, and our daughter's old terrier lay on the other end snoring softly. A sudden barking and growling interrupted the peacefulness. I opened my eyes to see the terrier standing where she had slept. Her "ruff" was standing tall and growls filled the barking intervals and got louder and louder. She was not looking at the front door. Instead she eyed the table the television was on..... seemingly barking at nothing but the darkness beyond. Thoughts of creatures filled my head.... a mouse or a snake coming inside to warm themselves due to the sudden drop in temperature outside. I yelled for my husband to come to the rescue.

Walking into the room, he could see the dog looking under the television. Her "ruff" was standing as high as I had ever seen it, and if I had one myself, it would have been standing taller too! I reached over and turned the lamp on, while my husband retrieved his flashlight and began to look for the culprit. That old terrier jumped off of the couch and walked over to a shoebox that stood on its side under the television table. (We had put it there to keep the puppy from crawling behind the furniture.) Together we began laughing! On the front of that shoebox was a picture of a Bassett Hound. You guessed it.... Hush Puppies! The light from the television brought that picture to life in the darkness, and the terrier thought it was a real dog!

How many of us, in the darkness of our illnesses and pain, let our fear take control? I have to admit that I am guilty sometimes of letting darkness take over my mind. Like that terrier, I let thoughts get confused with reality. It's then that I have to remember that Christ fills every part of my being with His love and Light! "When I am afraid, I will trust in You." (Psalms 56:3 NIV)

When darkness threatens, we can pray: I trust God's Light to guide me. I am lifted out of darkness and fear into the light of confidence and love.
*************************************************************************************

About the author: Nancy Carr lives in western Kansas and has had to retire from teaching music and conducting church choirs due to degenerative disc disease and now Fibromyalgia and heart problems. She is very thankful for all the Lord has done for her and her family everyday.

God Chose Us!

"He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--to the praise of His glorious grace, which He

has freely given us in the One He loves". (Ephesians 1:4-6 NIV)

How exciting it is to come to the realization that God personally chose me as an adopted daughter even before the passage of time. God had a plan that included you and me, right from the very beginning! And He also chose to use His only Son, Jesus Christ, to carry out His very intriguing course of action.

Our heavenly Father loved us enough to send His only Son into a misguided, messed-up world so the world could be changed and made better. His glorious grace is now poured out upon us freely, made available through the sacrificial death of his Son, Jesus, who hung on the cross at Calvary, dying so we might have forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. This was the ultimate sacrifice!

How do we, who live with chronic illness and pain, respond to our "adoption" and to God’s ultimate sacrifice? Do we treat Him like a Father, who knows what is best for His children? Do we prayerfully come to Him with our hurts and pain? Do we accept His comfort, His grace, His mercy, and His answers to our questions? Or, do we accuse Him of being unfair to us? Do we cry out, "Why me, Lord?" Do we ask Him to remove our pain and suffering?

God can use our illness and our pain to draw us closer to Him. He wants us to trust Him and accept that He does know what is best for us. As I look back on my life, I now have some understanding of why I was "chosen" to live with chronic illness. I’m learning to give thanks for difficulties and for blessings, learning to take the bad along with all the good things God has done. I’m "(giving) thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for (me) in Christ Jesus," (1 Thessalonians 5:28). God is with me every minute of every day. His presence is my strength and my joy!

PRAYER: Father, I am thankful that "my God will meet all (my) needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus," (Philiippians 4:19). Amen..

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nancy Wilcox lives in North Carolina with her husband and furry dog Mandy. She lives with chronic illnesses, and gives glory to God for the things He is doing in her life!

I Love A Surprise

"Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will
heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace
and truth." (Jeremiah 33:6 NKJV)

I just love a surprise - always have. Like the
Saturday, when I went fishing with my husband on the
shore of the lake, I got a surprise. I'd caught my
first fish, and then I stepped on the boat ramp where
some algae had grown. Yes, I slipped and fell!  Not
only did I fall, but I couldn't get any traction to
get back up! My husband asked if I was OK, but I was
laughing too hard to answer, because of course there
were people around who witnessed my transition from
dry to wet! 

I've got a "black thumb", but my "green-thumbed"
mother-in-law Ruth can grow anything. Not long ago she
mentioned her "surprise lillies" (Lycoris squamigera).
I'd never heard of them, so the name caught my
attention. "The stalks grow quickly in the spring,
then the leaves get yellow and die," Ruth explained.
"But, surprise, they come back up in August, and then
the flowers bloom!" The death of the spring leaves
causes photosynthesis which feeds the lily's bulb
during the summer, allowing it to later re-grow and
blossom.

We may be suffering now, and there may appear to be no
end, but at some future time God may allow a beautiful
surprise to grow out of our pain. Maybe we inspire
someone else to keep going. Maybe we become more
sympathetic to others' suffering and respond to it
more readily. Or msybe we just get a better sense of
humor when we fall down and can't get back up! Like
the surprise lily, God has a plan for our future, and
it isn't all bad!

-Melissa Callis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melissa, age 49, has been married
29 years to her super-supportive husband, Ron. They
have 2 adult sons, a daughter-in-'love', and dog K-9,
adopted from an animal shelter. Melissa, an
administrative assistant, has had fibromyalgia
syndrome and osteoarthritis for over 21 years, and
wants others
with pain and depression to know they can have hope in
God.

Having God's Peace

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)

*"You keep me in perfect peace."

Christ coming into your life can be anything but peaceful on this earthly plane. The first thing that Christ does is to destroy every peace in your life that is not based on Him. The early Christians certainly didn’t know peace in their circumstances but knew unbelievable peace in their minds that were stayed on God. They had peace even as the lions approached to devour them, chained in jail, or had their families ripped from them.

Jesus rebuked the waves with, “Peace be still!” They immediately responded. Peter had the peace to walk on the water, as long as he kept his focus on Jesus. As soon as his mind, vision, focus, and thoughts drifted to the waves, lightening, and wind, he sank in the waves.  

Keeping your mind stayed on the Lord takes a conscious concentrated effort, minute by minute, and thought. It takes catching your-self in unhealthy thinking, willing yourself to

stop those thoughts, and then replace them with the Lord with breath prayers. 

It can take an average of 8 years for the diagnosis of a rheumatic disease. Pain, fatigue, fever, and many symptoms can come and go in a weird fashion. All sorts of exotic tests can be run. Everything can come back normal when you feel anything but normal.   When your internal reality doesn’t correspond to your external reality, you experience a strange kind of insanity. You know you are sick but all the tests in the world don’t bear it out. You begin to doubt yourself, as do those about you. You may make your body your main focus and not the Lord. You can sink in the waves fast with illness as your focus

instead of the Lord.

*Breath Prayer- Take a scriptural promise, turn it into a seven syllable affirmation give or take a few, in present tense and second person, and say it on the perfect breath (in to a count of 3 out of a count to a count of 6) as you breathe out.

----------------------------------------------------

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Kathleen S. Lewis, RN, MS, LPC, CMP: has lived with SLE

> and many other rheumatic diseases for 29 years; is the author of CELEBRATE LIFE … NEW ATTITUDES FOR LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS and PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING … BREATH PRAYERS; runs a counseling ministry, Celebrate Life, by phone; is a Stephen minister; has 2 sons and 3 magical grandchildren; resides in Marietta, GA with LB, the best Peek-a-Poo ever; and knows “In my weakness is Your strength.” Check out and meet me for a chat at http://www.letscelebratelife.com.

Meeting God Under The Mango Tree

Chat Room Ministries This Week

SCHEDULED CHAT ROOM MINISTRIES THIS COMING WEEK

Please take advantage of these times of fellowship, encouragement and support.

C.A.R.E. CONNECTION CHATS: (all in Daylight Savings Time)

Mondays 10:00 am Pacific/12:00 pm Central/1:00 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Mary

Mondays 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Liz

Tuesdays 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Donna

What is C.A.R.E. Connection?  C.A.R.E. stands for Comfort, Accept, Refresh, Encourage.  We want you to be able to connect with others who are going through similar problems or situations.  There will be a volunteer “Chat Host” at each of these times so you can be sure that someone will be there to make you feel welcome and lead the chat time in an hour of encouragement in God’s Word and fellowship and prayer together.

Other scheduled chat ministries:

Fellowship hour – Tuesdays at 1 pm Pacific/3 pm Central/4 pm Eastern

Hopekeepers Bible Study – Thursdays at 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

TO GET TO THE CHAT ROOM:  Go to www.restministries.org/pro-chat.htm and type in your name in the box and click on “Connect”.  (It may take a few minutes to load the chat room window.) 

C.A.R.E. CHAT ROOM:  A special chat room has been created just for the CARE chats to meet together in if the CARE Host chooses to do so.  So when you want to join one of the scheduled C.A.R.E. Connection chat times, you just sign into the Rest Ministries chat room as usual, which takes you to the main room called the Lobby.  Check there to see if the CARE chat is taking place in the Lobby or in the CARE Connection chat room.  To move there, click on  "show rooms" above the user names and then double click the room you want to go to (CARE Connection).

If you are unsure about getting there at the correct time try going to www.timetemperature.com/tzus/time_zone.shtml and below the map you will see the time zone differences (i.e. Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern). 

Carolann Page

Rest Ministries

C.A.R.E. Chat Co-ordinator

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