On our wedding day, among the other pledges we make, we pledge to love in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. But, we are so excited and happy we cannot fathom really needing this commitment, "how bad can it be if we are together for ever?". Oh when the reality of chronic illness comes it takes us by surprise. Somewhere we get the idea that a problem or illness may come, but we will find a solution or cure and we will be back stronger than ever, especially when we are young. Our faith will get us through anything and our love for each other will make even the long illness seem but a blink. Oh, but when the illness drags on and is not fully understood, the medical bills mount up, time from work is adding up while the pay is dipping dangerously low, patience gets thin and faith begins to disappear, encouragement is limited and everyone is focused on the cause, questioning the spiritual state and condition of faith and praying for a cure--removal of this affliction.
I have suffered for many years, with headaches (migraines, clusterand tension), fibromyalgia, chronic pain, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Anxiety/depression, sore throats, difficulty swollowing, swollen glands, and anemia. Many doctor's visits, tests, scans, theories, and medications and not much relief or answers. And then finally things got worse, and then we found answers, misdiagnoses and untreated conditions. Anger, pity and confusion came in a great flood, and then a revelation. All the suspected conditions, were all "incurable" but the medications were supposed to make things better, but caused other problems. Chemicals are not designed by God, the drug makers do not know how my body was designed to function, they are trying to make all bodies function to the accepted norm. (Wish I would have realized the humor in that, me functioning "normally", the girl with the normal temp of 88.4 and whose blood pressure was never normal, who thinks and speaks in parables (associations) being normal, that makes me giggle!!! :) )
I began to irritate the doctors with my own research and 20 million questions, "If this result comes back, can this be truly managed or are we going to throw medications at symptoms and hope for the best". With many prayers and a few changes in the doctors that I saw, we decided to try the "non-medication route", diet, exercise, sleep management, stress management and viola in 6 months I was a new women. I could go 3 to 4 days without a headache, which made thinking much easier, my disposition improved and I was actually able to function "normally". Weight loss is a desire for many, for me it was mandatory for several conditions and it made a world of difference. Exercise is like a medication, it helps with the muscle and joint pain, improves the moods and helps with sleep. As I look back over the process we went through to get to a point of "health" I realized this is like many trials in life, it was such a teaching moment, (being the slow learner, it took awhile) but God is in control of even my health, he was there even in the dark moments, in the hospital, even when everyone else was giving up and getting very frustrated. Man thinks and tries to work everything out in his mind, knowledge and understanding are limited and until God is called in, things tend to drag on and go around and around with little progress. The worldly desires of easy and comfortable plague every aspect of life, we have to make sure people understand we are different and committed to the endurance and really want to do whatever is best to persevere through the trial, and that we understand not all difficulties are going to be removed, sometimes the cure is in changing our ways and respecting our design and resting as God intended.
Verses that I used and still use when dealing with health and healing:
John 16:33
I have (he is repeating himself!!) told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you WILL have many trials and sorrows: but Cheer up (that is an command!!), for I have overcome the world.
Philippians 4:7
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Jer. 46:11 (this verse was sent to me in a card, it took me many, many months and prayers to get the message on this)
Go up into Gilead, and take balm (healing gum), O virgin daughter of Egypt; in vain dost thou use many medicines; there is no healing for thee.
Mal 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with Healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.
James 5:11,13,-15
Behold, (Attention!!) we call them blessed that endured. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, (the most faithful man in the bible, who suffered greatly) and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful. Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. (or write them)Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.
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