Living With Chronic Pain

[trukinlady]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]How to Survive in the Furnace of Adversity[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]By[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kathy Collard-Miller[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The darkness in my bedroom seemed to reflect the despair that pervaded my heart. As I lay bedridden, I couldn’t find any position that brought comfort or an end to the constant and searing sciatic pain that radiated down my right leg into my foot, interrupting my sleep. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]How much longer can I survive this? [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I tried every recommended treatment, even surgery, but that only made my condition worse. I felt like I was being tested beyond my limits. [/FONT]Since I was shut away in my bedroom and seldom went out, I often wondered, "Why should I go through this? How can God use me now?”

But God’s Word stood firm, and I saw the truth of Psalm 119:50: “This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.” When I felt like my fingers were slipping from hope, God spoke to me through His Word and strengthened me.

You may not be suffering from chronic pain, but you may be experiencing some other kind of “affliction,” such as a relationship that is emotionally debilitating or a job situation that is painful and stealing your joy. Life is filled with “affliction opportunities” intended to make us cling to God and grow stronger in Him. No matter what adversity may come our way, God’s Word is the only anchor that will hold us strong as waves of difficulty bash against us.

The Scripture foundation that held me firm when I wondered if I’d ever move or walk without pain and medication was 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Throughout my journey of intense pain, it did not fail.

When I first noticed 2 Corinthians 10:5, I envisioned a “thought” as if it were an arrow flying toward my mind. I grasped it and evaluated it by asking, “Is this true according to God’s Word or is it Satan’s lie?” I “took it captive” by receiving truth and casting away falsehoods.

When I moaned, I can’t do this anymore, I mentally grabbed the thought and asked, “Is that the truth?” Asking myself what God says about it, I reflected on Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” God didn’t want me to depend upon my own strength, but upon Him. Therefore, I refused to entertain a lie. Instead, I asked for God’s power, and He lifted me up when I was down, often in creative ways.

Pain sometimes convinced me that God didn’t care that I was suffering. Again, I faced the idea and identified it as one of Satan’s lies because 1 Peter 5:7 told me the truth: “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” When I worried I would be in pain for the rest of my life, I cast away the falsehood that God didn’t care, and I dug the anchor into my heart that God still truly loved me.

Since I was shut away in my bedroom and seldom went out, I often wondered, Why should I go through this? How can God use me now? I rejected that arrow of purposelessness because 1 Peter 5:10 promises, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all Grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” I may have thought God wasn’t using me, but God’s work isn’t only about representing Him, but also about being transformed. Sanctification most often results from suffering, and I could trust His ability to work in me however He thought best.

Day after wearying day, I was tempted to conclude, I don’t know how to persevere. But I grasped that arrow of thought and refused it, comparing it against the truth of 1 Corinthians 2:16, “But we have the mind of Christ.” Since I was walking down an unfamiliar path, I couldn’t rely on my own wisdom. God guided me, no sooner than needed, and never too late; even to the extent of surrender if God wanted me to be in pain for the rest of my life.

It turns out that wasn’t God’s intention. A cyst of blood and water had formed on my nerve after my surgery. And as it dissipated, my pain subsided. After walking down the dark road of pain for 10 months, I am more convinced than ever that God’s Word is my solid anchor. Warren Wiersbe once wrote, “When God puts His children in the furnace of adversity, His loving hand knows how long and how much. He keeps His eye on the thermostat, and His hand on the dial.”

I’ve lived out that idea. Now that my pain is almost completely gone, I’m able to say with King David the Psalmist, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71).

While I was being challenged, it wasn’t easy to consider my circumstances “good,” and I didn’t go through my journey perfectly. I wish I could have had more joy and trust in God, but I also know that much of the “good” I experienced bolstered my confidence that God’s Word holds me firm. In whatever way I may be afflicted in the future, I’ll be even stronger in taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.


About the Author:

Kathy Collard Miller-- KathyCollardMiller [dot] blogspot [dot] com is a women’s conference speaker and author of many books including “Women of the Bible: Smart Guide to the Bible.”

 

[Saintscruiser]

Living in chronic pain in this day and age shouldn't be a factor in anyone's life....but it is, and I do it everyday. On the other hand, pain can be an awesome ally. Back in Biblical times, when one would get leprosy, it killed the nerve endings and people couldn't feel anything. They could burn their hands while cooking and never feel it. So, pain can be a blessing. Sometimes, I don't want to be soooooo blessed!

The fibro went from a couple of areas on my body to all over. The medications they advertise to tv, my system cannot tolerate. Repetitious activities like painting, crocheting, work in my husband's business can trigger great pain. When the chronic fatigue kicks in, I can do nothing. I feel like I ache from the flu when that hits. When I am sick and run fever, I feel the aches and pains triple. I cannot be poked anywhere on my body, say by a finger without it aching for 20 minutes. I am sensitive to bright lights, loud noises, bad sleep patterns, and forgetfulness.

My bladder is another story. It could be worse, and I know that. I am so blessed that I don't have it as bad as many people. But I couldn't believe they could diagnose me, but couldn't cure me. Interstitial Cystitis is a bladder disease that shrinks your bladder over time as it hardens. The problem is in the bladder wall. They don't know what causes it. It's not a bladder infection. That's why they over extend your bladder to break up the nerve endings and help to increase your size. Most people can hold 16 ounces or more. I hold 6-8 ounces......sometimes less. My bladder spasms from the inside of the wall all the way down to the urethra. I tried Detrol and it really did help, but then found out I couldn't take it because of my glaucoma. There are days that I feel like my bladder is trying to fall out. You can be fine one moment, and in #10 pain the next. Your abdomen cramps and well as your back. Sometimes a 'blue' analgesic and pain pill helps and sometimes it doesn't. When it's really bad, you become immobilized and try to stay as comfortable as possible until it gets better. I finally figured out that wearing clothes with a waistband keeps me messed up, so I now only wear dresses and caftans. I have not had to have my bladder stretched in 3 years this June, since I've stopped wearing waistbands.

I have had these autoimmune ailments since 1993. I had to quit work in 1999. I just couldn't do it anymore. It's amazing how God works in your life. I have learned so much and come so very far in my Christian walk, and I finally realized that I would choose to be like I am and close to God, than to be healthy and not walk as close. These ailments have done a number on how I can live my life, but I would still rather be close. As most of you know, I've been to 3 healing services. Years later, I finally asked the Lord why He didn't heal me. He answered by saying, "Because I can use you better like you are." So, I have a 'destiny' to fulfill, just like I am, and I'm okay with it! Just because I'm in pain, like I am right now, doesn't mean that I can't sympathize and understand emotional and physical pain for others. I can hear it in people's voices.

So, after all of that, I'm happy to be right where God wishes me to be! That's what living with chronic pain will do for you!

 

[trukinlady]

Awesome testimony, Sis!!!

 

[Saintscruiser]

I give all the Praise, Honor, and Glory to Almighty God!!!! If He had let me know in advance how my life was going to be, I'd have run like Jonah....FAR AWAY FROM BIG FISH, TOO! This isn't how I would have chosen my life to be like, but God knew I could handle it. It hasn't always been a piece of cake, either. It's all in how you look at it. In comparison to my sister and her energetic lifestyle, I have no life, but in comparison to a war vet in a wheelchair, I am mobile and he/she would give anything to be able to walk again. Is the glass half empty or half full. The glass is God's and it doesn't matter if there is liquid in it or not. He won't drop the glass! That's where the Treasure is.......security. Do I trust Him? Yes I do...........I trust Jesus, I trust Jesus, yes I do, yes I do, I trust Jesus, I trust Jesus, how 'bout you, how 'bout you, I love Jesus yes I do, I love Jesus HOW 'BOUT YOU!!!!!!! (Taken from a Carman song.)