When I was first diagnosed with a chronic illness, I felt like all my hopes, plans, and dreams for my future were ruined. My situation felt hopeless. I was overwhelmed, depressed, and angry.   And in my bitterness and sorrow, I tried to push everyone away.   I didn’t need anyone to feel sorry for me. To have pity on me. And I certainly didn’t want my suffering to cause suffering for anyone else.   Life had knocked me down. But I could handle it on my own. I didn’t need any help. I would pull myself up by my own bootstraps.   I was a strong, independent woman. And I was bound and…

Any loss can be hard to deal with. Whether that is the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, or even our health.   Every loss hurts.   So, how do we practically deal with grief over our health issues? How do we lessen the hurt of those hard moments?   And how do we lean on God to be our strength in our suffering?  What are the 5 stages of grief? When we deal with any kind of loss, including the loss of our health, we often go through specific stages of grief.   The 5 stages of grief are:  How long does grief last for? While most people take a…

My life was almost perfect. I had hopes and dreams. I was going to do amazing things. Everything was going according to plan.   Until it wasn’t.   While I’d always been a healthy individual, I suddenly found myself dealing with some rather strange symptoms. This led to an 18-month-long journey filled with a multitude of doctors, appointments, tests, therapies, and treatments. Until finally, one day I received an answer.   At first, I was elated. After all, this meant I wasn’t crazy. It wasn’t all in my head. There really was something wrong with me.   But then it hit me.   There really was something wrong with me.   The doctor had called it a…

My husband worked hard to prepare a fantastic meal for us. It smelled great and I was looking forward to enjoying it.   We sat down. Prayed together. And began to dig in.   The food was just as amazing as it smelled. I smiled at my husband and thanked him for the food. Then continued eating a couple more bites . . . and that is when it happened.   Again.   I set my fork down and my husband looked at me worriedly.   “What’s wrong?” he asked.   I assured him the food was fine, but that I was full. And he looked at me quizzically and said, “But you only had a couple…

Migraines can cause a lot of problems. They can make everyday life difficult. And they can affect a person’s employment, relationships, and overall well-being.     They can mean missing out on special events, parties, and other fun activities. They can even lead to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and more.     This is why it’s so important to look for ways to find help for migraines What can trigger a migraine? When we know what triggers our migraines, we can find ways to avoid these things. However, migraine triggers can vary drastically from person to person. It might take some time to figure out what your specific triggers are.   Read…

I can hear my kids giggling with their dad in the living room. And yet here I am lying in bed in pain.   The lights are off. My fan is on.   And I’m praying that somehow sleep will come quickly so I can find relief.   The pain of a migraine can be debilitating. It robs me of time with my family. It steals my joy and peace.   But it also teaches me some things.   Like how to lean on Jesus through the pain.   How the Holy Spirit can bring me comfort through a Bible verse I’ve memorized, bringing it to mind at the perfect time.   And how to go deeper…

I could hear everyone laughing and talking. They seemed to be having a great time. Gathered around the table enjoying a yummy Easter dinner.  And there I was.  Lying in the dark on the couch in pain. Because of a migraine.   The frustration of it all made me want to cry. But I fought back the tears knowing they’d only make the pain worse.   All I could do was lay there and suffer through the pain, nausea, and dizziness. While everyone else was having fun.   And I couldn’t help but think, “Migraines are ruining my life.”  What Is It Like Living with Migraines? A migraine is a neurological condition that…

“What’s the point?” I sighed as I stared out the window.   The dark grey skies matched the stormy conditions of my heart.   Recently I had been prescribed a new medication, which had been helpful for other people who had the same health condition as me.   I thought this new medicine would be the answer. To help me walk and stand without feeling dizzy. To help give me more energy.   But after trying it for a few weeks I developed side effects.   Side effects that made it not worth it.   All my hopes were dashed to the ground like giant drops of rain pouring down.    When you live with a chronic…

I stared at my phone in shock and disbelief. Tears filled my eyes as I read her message over and over. Finally, I put the phone down and walked away.   But her words followed me.     “If you don’t come to this event, you will never be healed. You don’t have enough faith.”    This lady had invited me to an event that advertised worship, miracles, and healing for anyone who came.   But due to scheduling conflicts, I wasn’t able to go.     I knew she meant well. I knew she just wanted me to be free from the chronic illness plaguing me.    But her words hurt.     And they made me wonder:    But…

One of God’s names is Jehovah-Rophe which means “to heal and restore”.  I love this name because living with a chronic illness, means I pray to God for healing A LOT.  And yet, every day I still struggle with many frustrating symptoms.   Maybe you are in that place.   You’ve cried out to God again and again. Only to have your prayers met with silence.  When suffering from health issues, it can be hard to wait for God to move. To constantly wonder if today will be the day He will finally heal you.  The problem is we often expect God to heal us in the way we want Him to and…