Healing...

I'm still waiting on my healing of my fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis to come. I've been living with this now for 10 years. Some days are especially hard, but I feel like I'm on my way to being healed. I think back to when Michael and I first got married, and I had to withdraw my acceptance to UofA for the Master of Accountancy program. That hurt me so much, but I just couldn't function as well as I needed to. Anybody who knows me well knows that if I say I'm going to do something, I do it. I don't go back on my word, and I'm very dependable. So, it really bothered me when I withdrew my acceptance because I felt like this illness was causing me to be someone I didn't want to be. I remember most days not leaving the couch except to get a bite to eat for lunch or to go to the bathroom because it hurt so much to walk. I'm so thankful for the medicine that got me over the worst of that excruciating pain, even though it took a year to do so, and I was completely scared of the medicine's side effects. Anyone with arthritis knows you have reasonably good days and then terrible days; the weather plays a huge part in how you feel as well. But, I'm thankful that at this time, I'm having more good days than bad days. I thank the Lord for giving me pain relief when I was pregnant with my two girls. Except for the first few weeks, when you're dealing with the pain from having to stop your medications, most pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis will go into remission for the endurance of their pregnancy and nursing period. This was the case for me: while most pregnant women complain of back pain, swelling, and fatigue, I felt better than I had in a long time. And I'm still not back to the worst pain that I ever had with these diseases. I think God is pointing me in the right direction, and I just need a willingness of the heart to follow. A new group called "Fit for A King" is meeting at church, and the socialization and fellowship with other people trying to better their bodies through nutrition and exercise (by scriptural basis) helps motivate me. In the back of my mind, I really feel like God is telling me if I took better care of myself that I might be healed of this pain. And I want to be here for my girls as long as I can, so I'm working towards that goal with them in mind. Mom gave me a calendar that had this devotion on it that really spoke to me, so I wanted to share:

John 10:10 "I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly."

"Bank on Healing" Faith in God is key to coping with illness. Not because God only heals those who believe in Him, but because a faithful heart is by definition on the road to restoration. When you believe in God's healing power, you put yourself in contact with a vital current of life-giving goodness. It will heal your soul, giving you peace and confidence that God is working out all things for good.