Chronic Illness

“Prayer for Recovery from Grave Illness

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, rebuke me not with your anger, nor chasten me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is sorely troubled. But you, O Lord – how long? Turn, O Lord, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your merciful love. . .” -Psalm 6:1-4, RSV-CE

I have witnessed grave illness. My twin brother was diagnosed with a rare seizure disorder when we were three years old. Through my childhood, I watched him suffer through hundreds of seizures. My paternal grandfather died from pancreatic cancer when I was 14. My husband suffers from autoimmune hepatitis and ulcerative colitis, likely caused by a chronic bartonella infection. I suffer from anxiety, depression, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and migraines that are all contributed to by Bartnellosis and Lyme disease.

Through all of these medical conditions, I continually offer up my despair to God. There have been numerous times when I have felt completely and utterly defeated by my body coupled with witnessing the suffering of those I love. From hospital rooms to doctors offices to pharmacies, I am often tempted to despair and panic. But, the Lord reminds us in the book of Proverbs, “Do not be afraid of sudden panic. . . for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught” (3:25-26, RSV-CE). The Lord can teach us something through the suffering we experience. I would never have to lean on Him if I had no troubles in my life. While God himself does not cause suffering directly, God can teach us through our suffering how to love Him more and turn this suffering into something beautiful. We can have compassion for those who are in even worse condition than ourselves, and we can be humbled by the fact that we are not indestructible. Our bodies will fail, and we will fall ill.

Yet we have hope for a life after this one. Jesus assured us of a life with Him forever and of His sovereignty over the world. We can “be of good cheer” because of this knowledge.

“I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, RSV-CE).

In Christ,

Lauren