To the Mama who’s battling chronic pain, who longs for normal, the life that once was… who craves the energy to get up and cook, clean, and care for the family without help, I feel your pain. I know the sting of envy at women who can carry a baby on each hip or tend to their garden or power walk around the neighborhood. I’ve felt the insecurity that comes from comparing my body now to what it was before chronic pain stole so much of me.
The debilitating muscle spasms and stiffness, the humiliating brain fog, and fatigue. Canceling fellowship opportunities, missing out on ministry obligations. Wincing through church hugs from well-meaning friends.
I could go on and on about the difficulties of chronic pain and illness, but I’ve circled that mountain long enough.
I have a critical mind and naturally see all the negatives, so it’s easy for me to complain and wallow in self-pity. But that doesn’t bring God glory or do me any good, so I have to be intentional to think on the Lord and His word when I’m suffering. I need the proper perspective as I suffer from chronic pain and in every area of life.
The Lord is teaching me how to cultivate thankfulness instead of complaining about my chronic pain. He’s taking me from griping to grateful as I count my blessings instead of focusing on the burdens.
Psalm 116:17 KJV~ I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
What I’m grateful for in the midst of chronic pain:
- Jesus. He provides for my every need. His love, peace, strength, and support are invaluable.
- My patient and loving husband who takes such good care of me.
- Prayer partners who faithfully pray for and minister to me.
- A great team that I can delegate responsibilities to, so I don’t have to shoulder all the burden of ministry.
- The scriptures that bring me comfort, courage, and change my attitude.
- The lessons the Lord has taught me through these infirmities, and the heart issues that have been worked out because of them.
- I can relate to and minister to other women with chronic illnesses.
There are so many other things I am grateful for that I might not have experienced had I not been afflicted with chronic pain. I’m going to make a list and keep it on my phone so I can refer back to it on the flare-up days that are harder than the rest. If you suffer from chronic pain that would be a fabulous exercise to cultivate thankfulness in your own walk with Christ.
There is ALWAYS something to thank God for. Click To Tweet
Cast all your cares on Christ to cultivate thankfulness with chronic pain
Like Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth says- “Anything that makes me need God more is a blessing.” It may not feel like a blessing, but if it drives you closer to your Savior, draws out sinful behaviors or attitudes, and develops peace and patience within you, it’s a blessing!
So to the woman who’s battling deep sorrow or debilitating sickness, I hear you, I feel your pain, and I’m praying for you.
Even greater comfort than having someone relate to your infirmities is having someone who can remedy them.
Only God can do that.
He sees, he hears, he knows, and he’s listening. Cast all your cares upon Him and let Jesus carry you through.
Psalm 29:11 KJV~ The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
More articles on chronic pain and illness:
3 Prayers for Someone With Chronic Pain
A Day in the Life of a Christian with Chronic Pain.
Strength for the Weary: My battle with chronic illness
3 Keys to Helping Someone with Depression
18 Psalms for a Sober Mind in Suffering
Pray With Confidence
Prayer is a spiritual discipline that is essential for all believers, but especially helpful for those who battle recurring illness. It helps us cultivate thankfulness with chronic pain. If you would like to grow in your prayer life, you should check out Pray with Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I am one of the regular contributors. Here are some links I think will be a blessing to you:
3 Short Prayers for Spiritual Stability
2 Things to Remember to Find Peace in Chaos
5 Things to Thank God for When You Don’t Feel Thankful
15 Bible Verses About Rest When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
19 Bible Verses that Reveal the Will of God
Check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and tough questions tabs as well. There are so many great options to boost your spiritual growth!
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Wow, yes this so needs to be addressed. You are truly being used by God to show others that you can be thankful for everything in your life. Bless you in this season of your life.
Praise the Lord Terra, thank you for reading and for your sweet comment! 🙂
Excellent perspective! Such a great point that anything that drives you closer to the Savior, draws out sinful behavior, or develops patience etc. is a blessing! Thank you for this post.
Thank you for reading Gwen! It’s taken years for me to get to that perspective, and some days I fall back into old habits. I’m a work in progress! Thank you for your comment, blessings! 🙂
Hey! I saw your post and wanted you to know I had chronic pain. I did SCD diet for gut issues and unbeknownst to me, it also got rid of chronic pain. That and taking Tumeric. Gaia brand, I don’t sell or have any affiliation to either of these. The Paleo diet will get rid of a lot of your pain, too. This is diet related. I promise. Hope you feel better.
Hi Julie! Thank you for reading and sharing what has helped you get rid of chronic pain. I’m glad that you’ve found something that works for you! I appreciate your suggestion, but everyone is different and what has worked for you may not work for me. I’ve been on a strict Paleo diet and taken turmeric before. While they lessened the severity and frequency of the fibro flare-ups somewhat, they didn’t eliminate my chronic pain. In addition to fibromyalgia, I have scoliosis, osteoarthritis in the spine, and bone spurs in my neck and low back. There are things that help me to manage the symptoms but only a miraculous healing will cure my chronic pain. Blessings to ya!
You are a truly remarkable woman of God! I have a sister who also is in constant, chronic pain, and she is also very stubborn about living above the pain. You are both amazing! Thank you so much for your insight, and I will be praying for you.
Jan, thank you so much for the prayers. I’m sorry about your sister’s chronic pain, but glad to hear it’s not keeping her down. I appreciate your kind words, but I’m definitely not remarkable. Just an ordinary woman with an extraordinary God who gives me the grace and grit to push past the pain. I fail at having the proper perspective so many times. But I’m learning, and He is gracious! Blessings to you and your family! 😊