Chronic illness not only sidelines the life you expected, but tests your ability to persevere through persistent symptoms like pain and fatigue. Dena Dyer knows this strain all too well and shares about enduring hope in chronic illness.
When I was a college senior, I experienced a head-on collision while driving back to campus after the Thanksgiving break. Since then, I’ve suffered from chronic pain and fatigue and have developed two autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto’s and Fibromyalgia).
This journey of chronic illness—which some call “invisible illness” because of its hidden nature—has been a roller coaster. Some days, I feel hopeful and grateful for the supportive friends and family, treatments, and physicians God has given me. I center my thoughts on Jesus, whose strength has been my lifeline. But there are other days when pain overwhelms me, and I allow the enemy to plant lies in my head such as God could have healed you by now; why hasn’t He? Or It’s okay to wallow in self-pity and complain—you’re only human!
One path leads to contentment and peace, while the other leads to frustration and bitterness. Still, choosing to center my thoughts on God isn’t easy. Over the past year, nagging symptoms forced me to resign from my job and have major neck surgery. They also caused me to reckon once again with my limits and to process the different kinds of grief that come with chronic illness.
I’ve been grieving a lack of energy, isolation and loneliness, a position (and paycheck) with a ministry I believe in, shattered expectations, and more. Still, God is faithful and has repeatedly reminded me of fresh, timeless truths. Here are four of them.
4 Biblical Comforts for Enduring Hope In Chronic Illness
1. Set your eyes on God.
A time of stillness, even when forced upon us, can be a blessing in disguise. In Psalm 46:10, God commands us to “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” There is no better time to reflect on God’s attributes and give Him praise than when we are face-to-face with our weaknesses and mortality.
The wounds that weigh our bodies and spirits down don’t have to chain us to despair; instead, they can be the things God uses to draw our attention to His immortal, eternal glory. He is praise-worthy however we feel and whatever we experience. Praise draws our gaze upwards, where our circumstances seem small compared to Him.
2. Practice gratitude.
Science confirms what the scriptures have always proclaimed: thankfulness changes our perspective. No matter how difficult our path is, we can find ways to be grateful. Psalm 100:4 encourages us: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.”
In dealing with continual physical challenges, a daily gratitude journal has been pivotal in keeping my spirits strong and my mind centered on God’s gifts. Entries range from “coffee with hazelnut creamer” and “an encouraging text from my son” to “a skilled surgeon in my insurance network.” Why not start your own journal? You may be pleasantly surprised how a small practice can reap big benefits.
3. Humbly share your needs.
It’s hard to be vulnerable and let people know when and how we’re struggling. However, over the past decades, I’ve found that sharing my needs blesses others because they find joy and purpose in meeting those needs. I’ve learned to text my close girlfriends to pray for me on a painful day and answer honestly when someone asks how they can help.
My husband was my sole caregiver after this last surgery, and he noted how meaningful it was to have meals delivered for the first couple of weeks following my procedure. It freed him to be more attentive to me, and while it was humbling, everyone who provided food was glad to serve us in that way.
4. Remember God’s purposes.
As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Just as the devastation of the cross led to Christ’s victory over death and the grave, our pain is not without purpose in the Father’s redemptive plan.
A friend who’s ahead of us and dealing with a similar struggle can encourage us in specifically helpful ways. Then, we can reach behind us and give someone else a boost when we’re further along the road. This simple truth can provide hope when the days are long and our hope is lacking.
I pray these principles give you the courage to face whatever you’re enduring and seek Christ amid your suffering. Chronic illness can be excruciating, but thanks be to God: His word and character never change.
I’ll leave you with the following verse, which has lifted my spirits recently: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27, NKJV)
Dena Dyer loves encouraging people who are weak and wounded because she has been both herself. As a chronic illness sufferer for many years, Dena has encountered the strength, grace, and joy of Jesus in her broken places. She’s the author or co-author of twelve books (including Wounded Women of the Bible: Finding Hope When Life Hurts) and hundreds of articles in publications such as (in)courage, Christianity Today, Focus on the Family, HomeLife, and Proverbs 31. Dena and Carey, her spouse of 29 years, live in Texas. They have two young adult sons and a sweet rescue pup. Find Dena on Instagram.
