Don't Waste Your Pain

The best thing to happen to you...Hmm
 I bet you are thinking I am going to say:

a new job

a great spouse

obedient kids

ideal vacation

money in the bank

 but, no, none of these are what I want to talk about today.
 The best thing to happen to you is a trial. Yes I said it, a TRIAL.
 What???
 Why would a trial be the best thing to happen to you?

James tells us in chapter 1:2
           "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,"

You may say, "Well that's easy for James to say! He doesn't have my pain. If he did, he wouldn't say to count it ALL joy." 

But James shows us an amazing treasure if we could understand it.

You see, our faith isn't proven until we face a trial. When things are going really well our faith isn't tested. In fact, when things are going well in life we hardly go to the Lord. We feel we are doing a pretty good job, but then....when difficulty comes we go running to God.

"Please God take this problem from me! I can't do it anymore. I need you!"

WOW...I hope you see the error in this conversation. God is not our genie. He doesn't show up on the scene to put out the fire. 

He is: 
Almighty God
Prince of Peace
Our Savior
King of Kings
The First and the Last 

When a trial comes, how do we react? Do we go to God, seeking HIM rather than relief? Can you truly say you trust the Lord whether you are in pain or not? How is your prayer life when your pain is gone? I want you to really think through these questions today. This tells a lot about what you truly believe. 

You and I are standing on a road we didn't plan...

But God has it all planned out. He is in complete control and that should give you so much peace! Nothing that happens to you is outside His control. Amen. So in your pain, in your trial, thank Him! He is growing you and showing you your dependence on the Lord.

Proverbs 16:9

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Merry Christmas to you. I know it is a hard time of year for those of us with chronic pain...All the shopping, interacting, demands on us, etc. It can become overwhelming. Tonight I want to reconnect you with the meaning of our lives...this baby, this God-man, our Savior-Immanuel who is God with us.
I love Spurgeon. If you've never read his works I highly suggest you break open a book by him. He loved the Lord and brings God freshly to life! I have included a part of one of his sermons for your reflection. I pray your Christmas is pain free, but if it is not, I pray your eyes stay on our Immanuel.

Here is the link. My favorite part is when he says,

"God with us," is the sufferer's comfort, is the balm of his woe, is the alleviation of his misery, is the sleep which God gives to His beloved, is their rest after exertion and toil.

God bless you!

I was reading a quote from Andrew Murray who lived in the 1800's and was riddled with intense back pain. A woman came to him for advice and this is what he told her:

"In time of trouble, say, "First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I rest." Next, "He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child." Then say, "He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow." And last, say, "In His good time He can bring me out again. How and when, He knows." Therefor, say, "I am here (1) by God's appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time."

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is: trigeminal neuralgia
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2007
 3. But I had symptoms since: 2006
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: not doing so much and being active
5. Most people assume: I have a headache
6. The hardest part about mornings are: wondering if this day will be really hard
7. My favorite medical TV show is: untold stories of the ER
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: ha-I would say my ice pack pillow(not really a gadget)
9. The hardest part about nights are: nothing to keep me occupied while I am in pain
10. Each day I take 15 pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: have tried everything
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: tough one-sometimes it's helpful for others to see my pain but I don't want it to be a distraction either.
13. Regarding working and career: my public school teaching career is over, although God is using me at home to homeschool.:)
14. People would be surprised to know: I'm in pain 24 hrs a day but try to put on a happy face in public.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: not being able to play with my daughter and take her places as much, and to watch healthy people enjoy things I cannot enjoy.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: write a book about chronic pain to help others! You can get it HERE
17. The commercials about my illness: are non-existent
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: running and being away from home at church or with family for extended amounts of time.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: thinking I was in charge of my life.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: knitting, sleeping and reading God's word more-although that's a life shift not really a hobby.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: laugh a lot, go to the beach, run, stay out really late, enjoy each moment.
22. My illness has taught me: I need to rely on the Lord in everything, to trust Him, to be more compassionate to others and to be thankful!
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: you seem to be fine.
24. But I love it when people: pray for me, let me know they love me, visit me, tell
me genuinely they care
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Romans 8:18 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us "and Revelation 21:4 "and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: so many others who are suffering and need help or just an ear to listen as well as how much I need God daily.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: come over regularly to visit and care how I am.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: more people need to know how these diseases affect us.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: thankful you care enough.