Chronic, Consistent, Faithful
In the midst of a chronic illness flare, it can be easy to forget to turn to God.
Some days are better than others. While this is the reality for all people, it takes on a unique meaning in the life of a person living with chronic illness.
Each day can be unpredictable.
One day feels great! Many tasks get done, the day feels good, and it’s great to feel “normal”. However, the next day, the fatigue sets in. Symptoms flare, and suddenly you’re sick. Not the communicable kind of sick with a fever, sniffles, and cough. No, the kind of sick you’ve been living with for so long. It showed up today, uninvited, making the most simple tasks feel incredibly difficult. Plans get canceled, you rest, and in a few days the flare subsides.
And then the cycle repeats.
Chronic illness is experienced by SO many, yet understood by few. We do the best to manage symptoms, find the cause, and try to get healthy again. But, there is illness that still remains chronic.
In the midst of a chronic illness flare, it can be easy to forget to turn to God. The pain of the present moment can easily blind us from the love that is always present to us. It is difficult to see forward, when the current day’s troubles weigh so heavily.
Yet, even when the symptoms are bad, even when life feels so difficult, He is there.
We can call out to the Lord when we need Him; “From the end of the earth, I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a stronger tower against the enemy.” – Psalm 64:1-3, NRSV-CE
When life gets dark, God illuminates. He is our refuge and who we must look to for strength.
And God’s love is unchanging. It will not cycle like chronic illness symptoms do.
It stays consistent.
When life is changing, when illness becomes chronic, and when things seem so dark, God stays the same.
We can trust in God’s consistent love for us.
He is faithful.
In Christ,
Lauren