I met Melinda Means in line the very first morning of my very first writing and speaking conference. I was a wet-behind-the-ears beginner and she’d just published her first book. Her warm smile and kind invitation to her book release party were the first of many graces of that conference. Melinda has gone on to write another book — one about her journey through chronic pain and how God changed her in the midst of suffering. It’s a joy to welcome Melinda today.
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This opportunity didn’t come along very often.
I was about to visit my college-age daughter at her apartment almost three hours away. Between school and work and the social life of a very outgoing young person, our time together is limited and precious.
Traveling is tough. Twenty years of unpredictable chronic pain and illness had made me fearful of making plans that took me very far from home. And yet I wasn’t going to miss this chance to spend with my daughter.
The night before I arrived I felt it coming. The tell-tale signs of a migraine were beginning to emerge … pressure, muscle spasms and a foggy-headed feeling. I prayed and prayed that it would not materialize.
The next morning it was worse, but still not full-blown. There was still a chance it could slink back into submission. I prayed hard and asked others to pray. But by early that afternoon, there was no denying it. It was full-blown and it was not budging.
I was at an out-of-town conference. I now had to drive 200 miles to my daughter’s apartment. Every mile was excruciating. By the time I arrived, I was in tears. Not only from the pain but from the disappointment of much-anticipated time with my daughter that would be ruined. I hugged her and her roommate and then headed straight for a bed in a dark room.
All night long, as I continued to wake from the pain, I prayed for God to lift it by morning. Around 6:30 a.m., I realized it just might not happen.
I sent a text to a praying friend. “I’m a teary mess. I’ve run out of prayers … Guess I’m going to have to endure the day instead of enjoy it…”
She texted back this prayer to me: Father, I thank You that you specialize in teary messes … give Melinda strength moment by moment and hour by hour. Sprinkle encouragement, and even laughter, throughout her day … Be the strength Melinda does not feel, be the comfort she needs at every moment.”
The Holy Spirit spoke directly to my heart. I could concentrate on the pain or I could fix my eyes on the Healer. I dried my tears and made a choice: Lord, give me the strength to enjoy rather than endure this time with my daughter.
I suddenly felt a strength and resolve I hadn’t had — HIS.
I wanted HIM to change my circumstances so I could find strength, peace and joy. HE said: “Focus your mind and eyes on ME and you will find strength, peace and joy in the midst of your circumstances.”
Simple, but not easy. So how do we do that? Slowly, patiently, He is teaching me to make these choices:
Choice #1: Dedicate your mind to Me
Months ago, God led me to buy a plaque for my kitchen with this verse on it: “You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You, for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
As I headed for the shower that day, instead of concentrating on the pain, I shifted my focus to asking Him moment-by-moment to give me strength so I could experience true joy — not simply a pasted-on martyr’s smile that masked internal turmoil.
This is not a Pollyanna way of praying. This is not about denying our circumstances and pain. It’s about saying, “This is awful. I am suffering. Lord, I know you understand my suffering. I don’t understand why you won’t lift it. But I trust YOU.”
Choice #2: Trust Me even though you don’t understand.
I respected God, feared God, but it took a very painful health breakdown two years ago to bring me to a place where I finally began to understand that I could trust the One who died for me. In desperation, I said, “Jesus, You are my only hope.”
I began to say, “I choose to trust You, Jesus” over and over again throughout the day — even though I often didn’t feel it or fully believe it at first. I quit trying to figure out all my overwhelming health issues, but just trusted Him to lead me step-by-step, moment-by-moment. I began to feel a peace and freedom I had never experienced before.
Choice #3: Choose to see the good
Gradually, I trusted Him more and let go of other things I’d put my trust in to “save” me. He gave me eyes to see the evidence of His love and provision for me everywhere — both in my past and my present.
As I began to share more and more about God and His goodness, my strength and joy began to grow exponentially. 1 Chronicles 16:11 tells us: “Talk about all His wonders. Brag about His holy name; let your heart rejoice in following the Eternal. Always follow the Eternal, His strength and His face.” (The VOICE).
I also realize that what Paul encourages us to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is possible: “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
That painful day with my daughter, God took me to a new level of trust with Him. He was challenging me to find joy in the midst of my pain. Because He IS joy. I can always choose to ask the Holy Spirit to help me see God and His love in ANY circumstances. As I do, His strength, joy and peace flows through me — no matter what my mind and body are telling me.
As I sat and ate dinner that night with my daughter, her roommate and her roommate’s mother, I smiled. My migraine was better than at the beginning of the day, but not gone. Yet, I truly was able to enjoy the day — moment-by-moment. Because JOY had held my hand and walked me through every step.
After years of hearing and reading “The joy of the Lord is my strength! (Neh. 8:10), I am finally understanding it for the very first time.
The choice to seek JOY has freed me. It will free you too.
Melinda Means is an imperfect follower of Jesus Christ. As she chooses to trust Him — one step at a time — He is blessing her with a new revelation of who He is and healing her body, mind and heart. She is Women’s Director at her church, co-author of Mothering From Scratch: Finding the Best Parenting Style for You and Your Family (Bethany House, 2015) and author of Invisible Wounds: Hope While You’re Hurting. Melinda is a professional speaker and life and writing coach. She and husband Mike are parents to a teenage son, Micah, and a college-age daughter, Molly.
I am grateful you shared this post. We can either endure or enjoy our days and the choice is truly ours. Just this morning, I opened and read and shared Nehemiah 8:10 with my small group. Thank you both for sharing these words!
Thanks Lisa… just what I needed.
<3 Love you, friend.
I haven’t walked Melinda’s walk, but I love her testimony that though God didn’t remove her suffering, He gave her joy IN it. Thanks, Joanne!
Thank you for sharing. I have a prayer list of those who do walk in these shoes! So encouraging. I will pass this along. God Bless! We have a good good Father!!
These are tough shoes for sure, Linda. Thank you. xoxo
Thank you for this post. I have had the Words: the joy of the Lord is my strength on my mind all week. I’ve been meditating in the truth of those words. This was a perfect way to complete that thought process. God is so good to speak to us!
He is, Melissa! I know you’ve seen this.
Great reminder of how God gives us choices of how to react to and live through the different life situations He allows us to experience. Sometimes it seems like the only thing you can do is cling to him and hold on for dear life. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says “‘…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Those difficult moments are the times when we step aside and let God’s power shine through.
Isn’t it amazing that He wants our weakness? Thank Goodness we don’t have to muster up enough for Him. Thank you, Sarah.
Oh, how I love the statement, “Dedicate your mind to Me.” That really touched home. Thank you!
Jennifer
Yes!!
It is a choice to seek joy in the middle of pain. To change our mindset is to change our life.
Thank you Lisa and Melinda for bringing us this hope-filled post.
Yes, so often we want the healing…to move past the hurt and yet Good has so much for us IN the hard.
Thank you!
❤
Thank you for your words, Melinda. I’m in the middle of some health issue and while the days can feel hard, I cling to the hope I have in Christ. I love your encouragement to be intentional in trusting God moment by moment. Thanks, Lisa for sharing this with us.
Praying that you will mine every bit God has for you in this place, Tiffany.
Beautiful story, Melinda. My older daughter starts college this year (although she’s attending locally this year … yay!). But I so love your desire to enjoy your limited, precious time with her. Thank you for showing us how to choose joy in the midst of pain …
What encouragement this brings me today! I’ve been discouraged lately by a health issue and by summer heat here in my Middle East home with no air conditioning. Thanks for this reminder to look for the joy! His joy truly is our strength! And maybe I need to put that Isaiah 26 verse up in my house too. It’s one of my all-time favorites! So good and true!
Posted scripture is so helpful for our attitude. Good reminder, Betsy.
I am still struggling with pain and have a hard time finding joy when it is at it’s worst. Thank you for sharing this with us. I also write about the struggle-http://job6-3.blogspot.com/
What awesome encouragement! Isaiah 26:3 has been a special verse to me this year too:) It’s amazing to think about God keeping us in perfect peace, even in the midst of incredible suffering.
So true. That’s God’s supernatural, isn’t it? That when we should be falling apart, God cloaks us with His peace.
I truly loved Invisible Wounds, and I used it as one of my comparison books in my book proposal. Melinda is an inspiration to me for perseverance, honesty, and vulnerability. Thank you so much for sharing her story on your blog, Lisa!
Melinda is one of the first writers I met at She Speaks a few years ago! Love her testimony. Thank you, Sarah!
I am a lightweight when it comes to pain, Melinda and your post was a great display of God’s grace and leading in a day that could’ve turned out much worse if you hadn’t determined to turn to Him. Thank you for your testimony of grace and strength from the One who loves and knows us best.
So many good insights here! This is one of my favorites and one of the things I’ve tried doing more and more the past couple of years: “Instead of concentrating on the pain, I shifted my focus to asking Him moment-by-moment to give me strength so I could experience true joy.” It’s sometimes hard to find that joy in the midst of pain, but moment-by-moment, God is always with us. Thanks for your encouragement to keep seeking it!