Chronic Illness and The Bible

Given the circumstances of my life, this is something I’ve been doing some reading into and research on and I’d like to share what I’ve found.

In Luke 8 and Mark 5 there is s story about a woman with a chronic illness:
"And a woman was there who had a haemorrhage for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering."

The Bible talks a lot about suffering, but what about physical pain?

Jeremiah 10:19 My wound is severe, and my grief is great. My sickness is incurable, but I must bear it.
Jeremiah 15:18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?

These questions are normal because even David, a man after God’s own heart, asked these questions:

Psalm 13:1-3 How long O Lord, will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O lord my God. Give light to me eyes, or I will sleep in the death.

Why does pain have to exist in our lives? Here are 10 reasons found in the Bible:
1. Silences and refutes Satan (Job 1-2)
2. Gives God an opportunity to be glorified (John 11:4)
3. Can make us more like Christ (Phil 3:10, Heb 2:10-11)
4. Can make us more appreciative (Romans 8:28)
5. Teaches us to depend on God (Exodus 14:11-12, Isaiah 40:28-31)
6. Enables us to exercise our faith (Job 23:10, Romans 8:24-25)
7. Teaches us patience (Romans 5:3, James 1:2-3)
8. Can make us sympathetic (2 Cor 1:3-6)
9. Can make and keeps us humble (2 Cor 12:7-10)
10.Brings rewards (2 Tim 2:12, 1 Peter 4:12-14)


Dear Lord,
I don’t like this illness, but by faith, I rejoice that You are up to something good in my life. In this sadness I pray that I discover a new aspect of Your character, and reach a new understanding of You that I could not have known without this loss in my life. I know You are acquainted with grief, and so You understand. I know You are present, and there is never a moment that You aren’t walking with me. You have not abandoned me. And although You don’t always explain why we go through these things, it doesn’t mean You don’t care. You are the center of all things, and that means you must be the center of this suffering. Through this, help me become more like You. Stay close with me.
Love, Rebecca

Life is Not Always Easy

Unfortunately, life is not always easy. As I sit here typing this, I'm aching and hurting all over. I played in the baseball tournament yesterday and I have come to realize there are limits to what I can do. I knew this in my head but now my body knows this. If you read my June post called "Dear Body of Mine", I'm having to accept it all over again. I pray that God will give me peace as I trust Him, remember to be thankful for what I can do, focus on the positives in my life and give all the glory to Him for me being well enough to serve Him at Teen Challenge.

Isaiah 43: 1-3
I have called you by name Rebecca, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you-when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Isreal, your Saviour.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in these weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest on me. For the sake of Christ then, I am content with this weakness. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


I have said these things to you, that in me you have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Joy!

There's nothing much new for me to post, except the same ol' "I'm so thankful to be here" jazz. So instead I'll just post some lyrics which sum up my thoughts these days:

JOY by the Newsboys
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it
You shine Your light of amazing grace
I recieve it

WALK BY FAITH by Jeremy Camp
I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

SPOKEN FOR by MercyMe
Covered by your love divine
Child of the risen Lord
To hear you say "This one's mine"
My heart is spoken for

SMILE by Uncle Kracker
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

Shout Unto God!!!

The enemy has been defeated and death couldn't hold you down.
We're gonna lift our voice in victory, we're gonna make your praises loud.
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph, shout unto God with a voice of praise.
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph, we lift your name up, we lift your name up!


What a great song.

Its been 1 year today since I returned from England, so so ill.

Its been a very long and very tough year, but here I am. And I am so thankful to God for bringing me this far. All praise goes to Him, and to Him alone. *big smile*

Baseball!

I played baseball this week for the first time since I became ill in December 2008!!

It felt SO good to get back out there and play. I was mentally preparing myself for the aftermath of playing - the pain and aches and everything that comes with CFS. BUT nothing came. Nothing happened. I felt fine. I didn't have any swelling or redness, or joint pain or muscle aches or weakness. I couldn't believe it!

I can't believe how far God has brought me over the past 2 months. It's unbelievable! It's a miracle, really. So hard to believe that at one point I had to give up the hope of every playing again, and now here I am! I am so so thankful.