One of the strangest struggles I have dealt with on this pain journey has been fear and anxiety. It's not because I don't think I should have to deal with them, but because God allows them to draw me to Him. Yes! Anxiety and fear are great gifts! You see, when I am afraid or start to feel anxious that my pain will be with me for the long haul, or I am tempted to dwell on the fear of pain getting worse over time I turn that fear into praise. God's word is so helpful for when fear grips us.



Are you in God's word daily? If not you are missing a huge blessing.
This pain you and I have consumes our thoughts and lives, but it doesn't have to!

Read Isaiah 41:10 with me-

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand!

Those words are dear to my heart. I know God is close to me, tenderly taking care of me. When He tells us not to fear we can trust Him.

Who are you trusting today? Still trying to do this pain thing by yourself? Surrender the control you think you have and find comfort from the Lord who loves you! Meditate on these verses today and watch Him work! Your fear and anxiety will leave when you decide God is all you need and that He is fully in control.

Thank Him!

I came across these verses as I was reading a few days ago and they completely stopped me in my tracks! Yes I have read them before but this time- WOW- I got so much from them and I hope in a few minutes, you too will be blessed by them. We read in Deuteronomy that Moses is recalling what God did in the wilderness for His people. He says-


"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Our health cannot be our treasure! If our hope is in getting better or getting over this we need to change our focus. The Lord needs to be our treasure!
When we are going through pain of any kind our first inclination is to pray, "Lord get me out of this! Heal me! Take this pain away!"
But God lovingly may re-directs our focus...
When I was diagnosed 10 years ago with Trigeminal Neuralgia I was not going to accept defeat as I saw it! My dreams of getting my Master's degree and having a family and just enjoying life were all that mattered. I couldn't see how pain would become the means that God used to take my focus off of this world and all that allured me, to a life of constant pain but closeness with my Lord and with His people.
He promised me He would never leave me or forsake me. (Deut 31:6b)
He promised me that He was working out all things for His glory and my good. (Rom 8:28)
He promised me that His grace is sufficient for me and that His power is made perfect in my weakness. (2 Cor 12:9)
I started to believe He had something way better for me than health.
If we count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as our Lord, we will have everything we will need for this life and the life to come. (Phil 3:7)
Don't let your treasure be found where moth and rust destroy: in things, in people, in titles, in power, in all things of this world. Let your treasure be in Christ alone. Stop feasting on this world. You will be too full for the things of the Lord.
Feast on Him!
In your pain,
in your weakness,
trust Him!
He is doing amazing, beautiful things in your life.

Before you get frustrated that your pain has interrupted your life, remember, God has a purpose:
IN your pain
THROUGH your pain

In John 11 we hear the story of a much needed response from Jesus.
 
BUT, He delayed because His purpose was much bigger than His friends thought.

Psalm 145

Great Is the Lord

 A Song of Praise. Of David.

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.

One of satan's most tempting seductive lies:


YOU ARE ALONE IN YOUR SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

somehow everyone else's life is easy and you are the only one with this issue.
He wants you to question "where is God in my life?!"
"Doesn't he care?"