Chronic Pain
It’s an understatement to say pain isn’t fun. After all, it hurts. Why would you take joy in something like that? Let alone if we bring chronic pain into the discussion.
Some backstory first: I’ve experienced a deep level of physical pain in my back since I was about ten years old. For the longest time, it felt like someone had super heated a knife and pressed it into my low back. Everything hurt. Laying down, sitting, standing, breathing.
For many years, doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me. We couldn’t figure out the source of the pain, and even when we did, it took many more years of active care for me to see any improvement.
It’s only been recently in this past year (through getting the physical care I need as well as letting people pray over me) that my pain has (praise God!) significantly decreased. But for many years I thought that this pain would be what defined every aspect of my life… for many years, it did.
Chronic pain is a battle. There’s no way to sugar-coat that. It bleeds into every aspect of your life, and it’s so easy to lay back and give up. How can God expect me to be joyful when every breath sends shaking, racking, debilitating pain through every atom of flesh I am made up of?
It’s not easy… But here are three things I kept in my mind that made the battle worth fighting.
Pain Isn’t Forever.
As Christians, we have a foundational belief that, one day, we will be in Heaven.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:4
One day, when we are with our Father, there will be no more pain or crying. This pain you’re experiencing is not permanent, no matter if you receive physical healing on this earth or not—it will not last forever.
Give Yourself Grace
It’s going to be hard. You cannot compare yourself. There is so much that goes into this battle that people aren’t going to understand. That’s okay.
Some tasks are going to be harder than others. You are not less than just because you’re in pain and need to take care of yourself. Deep breath. Give yourself grace.
God Did Not Create You For This Pain.
You were created and originally designed for the garden of Eden. Pain gets stuck in you, emotionally and physically. God did not want this for you. He didn’t create you to be in pain. He weeps and cries and struggles with you.
It’s so scary when you’re in pain, and you can’t figure out why. It weighs on your brain, it drags you down, and you never know when it’s going to leave or come back. But God is with you.
If you experience chronic pain, I highly recommend you seek out a mental health professional for help through this season of your life. Your mindset is half of the battle. And please, drop a comment below so I can pray for you!
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Fantastic perspective.
I love these thoughts. It is so easy to be judged by others or even judge ourselves when our health is keeping us from doing what we want and need to do. Thanks for sharing your story.
Love this. Very good. I am so sorry you have had to deal with so much pain.
It’s hard as a mom to watch my daughter face so much pain everyday, we ask God every day, why her? What’s the purpose?
But we trust God’s plan, and it helped me, to read your perspective and to have the reminder that God didn’t plan for this to happen.
One thing to remember is that everything goes through God first before it gets to us. We may never k own the reason, but there is a purpose somewhere. Even if for you, it is to encourage and educate others. That’s huge!
Thanks for your comment! I’m glad my story was able to help encourage you. 🙂 As my pastor says, God doesn’t take joy in your pain, but he does take joy in what it produces. He will use it for good.
There’s so much wisdom in your words. Grateful you can share it with the world.
Thanks for reading! ^_^