I have a chronic illness that stems back to a virus I had as a child and the acute onset of additional complications my freshman year of college. I've lived my entire adult life battling pain and debilitating fatigue and a range of other symptoms, but some seasons are better than others. At my worst I spent 2 years nearly entirely bedridden, so I am very thankful for every day I can get out of bed and function at a reasonably normal level.
Having said that, I am going through a pretty rough season right now and could use some extra encouragement and prayers. I am seeing a wonderful doctor (one of the world's leading specalists in his field!) and am receiving the most in depth care I've had in 20 years. I am very thankful!
But my current treatments are taking a toll on me and I'm struggling physically at a level I haven't faced on a daily basis in several years. My doctor had warned me that this 6 weeks of treatment could make me feel a lot worse before I started seeing any benefits, and for the first 2 weeks I thought I had gotten off pretty easily. But the harder parts hit with vengance a few days ago and I know I still have 3 1/2 weeks ahead of me for this particular treatment.
Thank you for your prayers. I am striving to "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12). These struggles, while seemingly all-consuming to me in the midst of them, are truly "light and momentary" (2 Corinthians 4:17) in the grand scope of eternity and even God's plan for my life here and now! Even so, I can so easily loose sight of God's grace and mercy and start down the path of self-pitty when I know that choosing joy is the better path on all counts! So your prayers are a blessing and I humbly ask you to uphold me before the Lord at this time, yes, for physical endurance and even healing if it is the Lord's good pleasure to grant this blessing. But most of all I ask your prayers that my heart would remain right before Him in the midst of this current struggle and that I would continue feeding on the joy of the Lord.
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4 comments:
Jenni,
You know you have my prayers, and will continue to have them for as long as you need them. You have always been so supportive and kind to me, praying when I need it. I hope that the treatment yields much benefit for you. God will help you through and teach you so much along the way, just trust in Him!
If you feel well enough, I have been doing a series on my blog about life lessons with chronic illness, and some of them might be good reminders for you now!
Hang in there and rest in God's never failing mercy!
Gentle hugs,
Maureen
Dear Jenni,
I have just finished reading through your blogs. I was directed here by a friend at church Ruth Leamy.
I have Secondary Progessive MS and am in the same spot (it would seem) that you are right now.
Please know you have my prayers.
In times like these, and they come more often than I reveal, I like this scripture. It brings me hope and joy in The Message version 2 Cor 12:7-10
7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
Praying for you with Faith, Hope and Love,
Gina McIver
Jenni-
Thank you for your comment over at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee. You are more than welcome to link back to this post.
I will be praying for you (and you know I will).
Blessings to you,
Lisa
Eccleciates7:3
Sorrow is better than laughter,for by sadness of the countenance of the heart is made better.
It IS BETTER TO EXPERIENCE bad to know the grace of God and to relay on him. All lives belong to Him who gave.
Keep steady in the Lord, you reward is life eternal.
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