Chronic Illness Pain Devotionals

Quieting The Storm To A Whisper

"His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and the clouds are the dust of His feet."
(Nahum 1:3)

Living in New England, we are used to storms
and squalls stirring up out of nowhere.
There is a familiar phrase, want rain or
sun? Wait a minute and the weather will
change. One of the worst storms that
New England faces is the Nor'Easter.
High winds, thunder, lightening, heavy
rain or heavy snow. Storms like this
take us running for cover. Are you finding
yourself caught up in the storm of chronic
illness and pain? Are you going from one
doctor to the next, taking one medication
after another to find relief and solace from
living with your ailments? Does it feel
that a storm is churning within?

Take heart beloved, for God is with you. In
the midst of the tempest and the storm, God
goes before you always. "His way is in the
whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are
the dust of His feet." (Nahum 1:3) God can
take your life as you are now and quiet your
soul. All you need to do is to call to Him
and He will answer you. "Then they cried out
to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought
them out of their distress. He stilled the
storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea
were hushed and He guided them to their
desired haven." (Psalm 107:28-30)

Yes, sometimes it seems that life is like
a churning storm. At these times, realize
that God is not only in the quiet seas, but
also the turbulent winds and storms. There
is no place that God will not be found.

"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can
I flee from Your Presence? If I go up to the
heavens You are there; if I make my bed in the
depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings
of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of
the sea, even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast."
(Psalm 139:7-10)

God will quiet that storm to a whisper as
He delivers you from your distress, as He
guides you to your desired haven.

God's Blessings.

********************************************************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Kay DeCarlo, devotional coordinator
for Rest Ministries lives in beautiful New England with
her husband, Joe and two sweet fur-chldren,(dogs) Daphne Mae
and Alice.  Kay struggles with Dilated Cardiomyopathy,
Diabetes, Bipolar Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress and
Anxiety.  As a survivor of Hodgkin's Disease and Congestive
Heart Failure, Kay has never lost sight that God is bigger
than any trial seh faces.

The Little Lost Bird

"Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home."
(Proverbs 27:7 NIV)

Sometimes life gets overwhelming; for
those of us who face each day with
chronic illness and pain, we know this
all too well. We seek for answers,
better yet, solutions to our situation.
Coming to terms and accepting our
limitations, realizing that there are
some things in life we just have to face
can be difficult. How do you cope?

What do you do when your life that was
once predictable becomes unpredictable?
Do you stray like a little lost bird
from its nest? Do you find yourself
straying from your Source of Strength
and Hope, God? O Beloved, God is where
Hope and your Heart lie. As His
Child, make Him your home.

"Let love and faithfulness never leave
you; bind them around your neck, write
them on the tablet of your heart. Then
you will win favor and a good name, in
the sight of God and man."
(Proverbs 3:3,4 NIV)

Remember God came to all. Jesus was born
to Mary, an ordinary woman whose heart
was pure, and to Joseph, an ordinary man,
who skilled in carpentry, built things with
his hands. Jesus, too, was a carpenter like
His earthy father. He however, not only built
things with His hands, but also His heart.
He also used His heart to instill the Love,
Grace and the Mercy of God to all.

Do you find yourself wandering? Stop, look
and listen for The Great Carpenter of your heart.
Listen to His call, "'I The LORD, have called
you in righteousness, I will take hold of
your hand.'" (Isaiah 42:6 NIV)

Are you scared, afraid to move on, paralyzed
with fear? Grasp the Hand of the one Whom
will bring you safely to your home. God will
take your hand, walk with you and help you
stand. He will meet your every need.

"Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home."
(Proverbs 27:7 NIV)

No need to wander any longer. Go to God
today and let His Grace sustain you.

God's Blessings.

************************************************************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Kay DeCarlo, Devotion Coordinator for Rest Ministries lives
in beautiful southern New England with her husband and two
sweet furry dog-type children.  Kay, a survivor of Hodgkin's
Disease and two other life-threatening illnesses has never lost
sight that God is bigger than any trial she faces.  Kay
struggles with Bipolar Disoder type 1, Post-traumatic Stress,
Anxiety, Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Diabetes.

God Will Never Let You Go

"My soul faints with longing for Your
Salvation, but I have put my hope in
Your Word. My eyes fail looking for
Your Promise I say, 'When will You
comfort me?'" (Psalm 119:81,82 NIV)

When will You comfort me? Does this
question sound familiar? It is so easy
to be intertwined with our ailments.
Our bodies and mind that once worked so
well, have now disappointed us and we
have to learn to live within our own
limitations. Family, friends and loved ones
do not understand. We try our best to
be ourselves, but may feel so caught up
in our conditions that we feel we have lost
ourselves. What do we do? How do we get out
of this helplessness that we feel and live
each day?

We listen to our physicians, take our medications,
rest our bodies and try to fill our days with
things that we enjoy doing. Things that make us
happy that does not require too much effort
that would effect our conditions. We may write
a letter to a good friend, spend time with a
child, go for a drive in the country.  Or perhaps,
read a much cherished book with scented candles
and your favorite music in the background.

Do we want to do this? Maybe not. Many of us want
The life we had. Professional counseling may be
needed to regain control of our lives again and
accepting our lot in life. The Holy Bible states
In Psalm 23, "The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall
not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.
He guides me in t e paths of righteousness for His
Name's sake." (Psalm 23 1-3 NIV) The LORD God is
Your Shepherd and all your wants are met. He makes
You to lie down in green pastures.... Rest in the
Shelter of His Love. He leads you beside quiet
waters, He restores your soul. God is carrying
you beloved. You are in His precious care. He will
never let you go.

God's Blessings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR;  Kay DeCarlo( 46), Devotion Coordinator
for Rest Ministries lives with her husband and two sweet
dogs in Connecticut.  As a survivor of Hodgkin's Disease and
Congestive Heart Failure, she has never lost sight that God
is bigger than any trial nor circumstance she faces.  Kay
struggles with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Bipolar Disorder,
Diabetes,Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress. 

Let Jesus Quiet Your Soul

”When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' Your love, O
LORD supported me. When anxiety was great within
me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.'"
(Psalm 94:18,19 NIV)

Do you find that living with chronic illness has left
you frightened of the unknown? Worried about your
future?  A few weeks ago, I was watching the news and
a report was stated that patients who have had Congestive
Heart Failure only live about 10 years after their
diagnosis, despite what their doctor's have said. It has
been seven years since I went into Congestive Heart
Failure....if this report was true, I only had 3 more
years to live!  This led me to sheer panic! I phoned my
cardiologist and she eplained that she read the report
and it was not conclusive.  She told me that this report
did not concern me. Also, she reminded me that no one,
but the good LORD knows how long we will live on this
earth.  My fears were calmed.

I have struggled with many fears and sheer panic over the
fear of the present and future.  I can go into the overdrive
mode at any given moment. Fortunately for me, my doctor
placed me on an additional anti-anxiety medication.  It has
been about 4 weeks since I have been on this medication and
I already feel less anxious about the many things that once
gave me much duress.

What about you beloved? Do you fear your future? Do you worry
about things that you have no control over? Living with chronic
illness is a challenge.  When you find yourself lost, afraid and
full of panic cry out to Jesus...He will meet you right where you
are.. "'I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.'"
(John 14:18 NIV).

Listen to what our Beloved God has said: "'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 an future.  Then you will
call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will answer you.  You
will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.'"
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

God will meet you right where you are....you only need to pray
to Him and seek Him with all your heart.  He loves you so much
beloved.  He longs embrace you and comfort you and bring joy to
your soul.  May you go with God today and find comfort for your
weary heart and soul.

God's Blessings.

***********************************************************************
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Kay DeCarlo,(46), Devotion Cooridinator for Rest Ministries lives with
her husband Joe and two sweet fur-children (dogs) Daphne Mae and Alice
in southern New England.  Kay struggles with Dilated Cardiomyopathy,
(a form of Congestive Heart Failure); Panic Disorder, Type 2 Diabetes
and Bipolar Disorder Type 1.  As a survivor of Congestive Heart Failure
and Hodgkin's Disease, Kay has never lost sight that God is bigger than
any trial she faces and prays to Jesus to meet her every need. 

Where Do You Go?

"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.  Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God"      (John 6:67-68 NIV)

    Where DO you go when life falls apart?  I read a lot of different devotionals that are emailed to me.  One particular devotional had the above verse as a reference.  This has always been one of my favorite verses; probably from the time I was going through a pretty ugly and unexpected divorce and being left to raise four children on my own.
    Where else is there to go?  When your spouse leaves, when your child dies, when your health falters, when you lie in bed unable to get up because of the way your body responds … where DO you go?
    In the past, my first response was to run to the telephone and call someone.  I soon realized that was often the only time I called on them – when life fell apart.  What a startling revelation to realize I oft times treated my Lord and Savior that way.  When did I run to him?  When life fell apart.
    Where was He in my life when things were good?  When I had a day I COULD get up and move around?  When my grandchild was born?  When my husband, although dealing with cancer, would bring me a cup of tea.
    What a sobering thought.  Not only “to whom” do I go, but also  … when?

Father God, I pray you take Peter’s words and anchor them in my very soul and underline that it is not only in the times of trials and tribulations that I can run to You, but also with the small joys and gifts You give along the way.  May I always humbly realize You are with me in the good times as well as the bad – that You love me enough to be there, always.  I pray I always give  You Your rightful place as Lord of my WHOLE life, not simply the Lord of the days when my life falls apart.  Amen

About The Author:

deni weber  lives in Valpo, Indiana and has been challenged with Ankylosing Spondylistis, Celiac Sprue, Atrial Fibrillation, and other chronic conditions.  deni sees God leading her on a “parade of daily adventures” towards knowing His love, mercy, and grace.

Contentment

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)

How do we get to the place of contentment? And is there a way to remain there, while going through the changes and challenges of life? The Word of God can give us spiritual guidance as we ponder the answer to such questions.

There we learn that Paul, the great Christian missionary, knew something about human weakness. He refers to a “thorn in the flesh” that troubled him (2 Corinthians12:7). The apostle doesn’t reveal his particular malady, but he seems to have had a problem with his eyesight (see Galatians 6:11). And he speaks of visiting the church in Corinth “in weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians. 2:3).

Paul did know a lot about suffering. In Second Corinthians 11 (verses 23-28) he speaks of being beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked (three times!), and more. Yet, in Philippians 4:11, he says significantly, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Whether in plenty or in want (vs. 12), he had discovered an abundant sufficiency in Christ (vs. 13).

And did you notice the phrase “I have learned”? That suggests Paul did not always possess this characteristic. As he had various experiences, he gained spiritual wisdom, and co-operated with the Lord, who produced this fruit in him as part of a maturing process.

How does this growth come about? I’d like to mention a few practical things that have helped me in this regard–though I do not want to give the impression that I follow these guidelines without fail, or that I’m contented all the time. We are each a work in progress! But here are some things to try:

    1. Live here and now, and one day at a time. 
    2. Don’t hurry unnecessarily.
    3. Turn worries over to God.          
    4. Learn to live with things undone.
    5. Pursue excellence, not perfection.   
    6. Practice gratitude.

Perhaps it would be helpful to take even one of these, asking the Spirit of God to imprint it on your life. And trust Him to make you more content.
________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beth Cottrill lives in a small town in rural Saskatchewan, Canada, with her recently retired pastor/teacher husband, Bob. She finds living with Attention Deficit Disorder, depression, osteo-arthritis and a stroke of several years ago a challenge, but also training for a ministry to others. This couple have one child, a dear son, a special daughter-in-law, who with their two wonderful young children are living in Mexico, preparing for a church planting ministry.

Hope Will See Us Through

HOPE WILL SEE US THROUGH

 

Throughout my life I have to say the Lord’s been good to me,
He’s poured out many blessings, given life abundantly,
I know I need to praise Him more, but lately things have changed,
It seems like everything in life is being rearranged.

 

There are still some good days, but oh my, I never knew,
That trials could come so suddenly, from somewhere in the blue,
I now have days where all goes wrong, at least that’s how it seems,
I fight fatigue and sleepless nights, the pain is so extreme!

 

The doctors have no answers, and my friends don’t understand,
Oh how I yearn at times for just one friend to hold my hand,
And, listen when I cry and say, “I need someone to care,
Not try to “fix” or “give advice,” but simply “just be there.”

 

Dear God I know I’m not alone, I know that you are here,
There’re others, too who need to know You’ll wipe away their tears,
Lord, help us in our struggles to be all You’d have us be,
To be “Your hand extended” to all those who are in need.

 

We’ll all go through our trials, and some will face much pain,
Lord teach us to “reach out and touch Your robe,” and then we’ll gain,
The strength to keep on “pressing on” and helping others, too,
And then we’ll know the blessed “hope” we’ll find only in You.

 

There are no answers always to the questions that arise,
You didn’t promise sunshine without some cloudy skies,
But, You did promise we have “hope,” that “anchor for the soul,”
And, someday if we just endure, Your face we shall behold.

 

 

 

Written by: Alice Ervin
                  Dayton, Ohio

 

                  July, 2006

 

 

In The Stillness

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

In one passage in John, Mary and Martha come running to Jesus, asking Him to heal Lazarus, who was critically ill. Since Lazarus was a good friend of Jesus, I’m sure they were expecting that Jesus would come immediately to his aid. The scripture says, however, that “Jesus stayed two more days in the place where He was.” It was in those two days that Lazarus died. It’s so hard to understand why it is that God waits to do the things we ask of Him. It’s good for us to remember, though, that He has His purposes for waiting. God was about to teach everyone involved a much deeper lesson. As Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He made sure they all understood that He is the resurrection and the life for all who believe.

This week I have been keeping this Bible story in the forefront of my mind as another good friend of mine succumbed to cancer. I have fought my initial response, which is one of "why her, why now?" I don't know what His purpose is in taking my friend Theresa home to be with Him - but I know He does. She is now free of pain and cancer and no doubt rejoicing with Him.

As I inch closer to my own death, I pray that I have the courage and strength to accept the path that He has chosen for me on this illness journey. I am positive it is preordained and already mapped out, yet it is left for me to discover hour by hour and day by day. For me, who has no patience with myself, this is a particular challenge. The challenge is keeping myself focused on the deeper lesson He wants me to learn through this illness.

While each of our individual paths may differ on how we get to Him, for all of us, whatever our illness, we must trust and rely on His words, "Do not be afraid.....be still and know that I am God." 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denny Dowd lives in Pennsylvania with her cat, 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

Salt Is Good

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other. (Mark 9: 49-50)

I have often wondered how my now changed life can have any benefit.  I’ve felt hopeless, helpless, useless, like salt that has lost its saltiness. I  look at my losses and count the things I cannot do, the things I wish I could do.  I can easily slip into the negativity of it all.

Then, a new thought enters. I can still be “salt”.  I can still create a “thirst” for Jesus. How?  By bearing this life as best I can and giving the credit to God.  I realize my illnesses can help create that thirst for those who need him.  Suddenly I see opportunities instead of losses! 

“I don’t know how you get through all of this, deni.” Says a friend, someone doctor’s office, or my physical therapist.  (Seems most of my “social” life is spent at some medical facility!) What an opening to talk about my Lord!  What a chance to witness to the greatness of God, the goodness of God, even in the midst of tribulation and trial, pain and heartache.  Perhaps, just perhaps, this all makes stronger witness.  Perhaps, my illnesses are a gift.

How do I survive my illnesses?  Daily, a moment at a time, seeing my illnesses as a sacrifice of love to my Beloved.  Trusting Him to sustain me and carry me through – even when I don’t see a way.  Now I am realizing that others are watching and listening to my words, taking note of what I focus on.  My world may a smaller one, but there are still people watching how I respond to life, people who might see no other Jesus, than the one who lives in me.

Father, grant me the grace to be salt in a world that is thirsting for you.  Thank you that you can use me, no matter what circumstance I am in. Amen.

About The Author:

deni weber  lives in Valpo, Indiana and has been challenged with Ankylosing Spondylistis, Celiac Sprue, Atrial Fibrillation, and other chronic conditions.  deni sees God leading her on a “parade of daily adventures” towards knowing His love, mercy, and grace.

Be Not Afraid

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
The Lord is God and he has made his light shine upon us”.  (Psalm 118:6-7,14,27)

Its been a tough few weeks and I have to admit to being fearful of what the future holds for me.  In my heart I know and believe that God will bring me through this – just as He has so many times before, but my head is full of fears and uncertainties and finds it hard to see anything but the problems.

Isn’t that the time when we need to cling harder to the Lord and His promises for us – but sometimes its hard to remember that in the midst of all the things that are jumbled in my brain.

These verses remind me that when I feel weak and inadequate to face my future, or my fears:

- The Lord is with me – when I may feel alone with my fears;
- The Lord will help me – when I feel I can’t cope on my own;
- The Lord is my strengh – when I feel so tired, I wonder if I can go on;
- The Lord is my song – when I can no longer sing;
- The Lord will always be my salvation – that never changes;
- The Lord is God – there is no other;
- His light shines on me – I can never escape His sight, or His care.

When I look at these verses like that, I should have no need to fear at all – but I am still human and sometimes I forget what a wonderful God we have.  God cares, God listens and understands our fears, but He also promises to always be there for us.

Father God, help me to trust my fears to you and trust you for my future, whatever it will bring.  Thank you for your promises that never change.  Amen

Fiona Burrows is single and lives in Melbourne, Australia.  She has had chronic pain for a number of years and is grateful for the lessons God is teaching her through it.