When someone with good intentions presents the latest new cures for your illness, how do you respond with grace and not resentment? Michele shares.
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:20-21)
Almost daily I receive messages from someone who suggests I try something that has helped them. Knowing they are well meaning, I appreciate all the suggestions; although I feel that they do not understand my chronic illnesses; for what may help one, does not mean it will help me too. Even when I’ve tried the latest “fad” or treatment, months later my body becomes immune to the positive effects it once had upon me.
No one wants to find some new cures for what ails me more than me! For 27 years I have tried almost everything that is out there. Some things have helped–for a time, and others have actually made me feel worse. If I don’t seem all that appreciative or excited about something that someone has recommended it has nothing to do with the fact that they are trying to help me. I may be a little cautious because of the 27-year track record of all the things I have tried.
Currently, I am on a quest to a healthier me. This quest is first and foremost placing God and His leading first. Next, realizing that my body belongs to God, through His leading I am trying to make wiser and healthier decisions as to what I put into, on and do with my body.
So, as I continue to receive all the suggestions from others regarding my health, I will welcome them with a gracious heart as I pray for God’s leading on whether or not I should heed to these well-meaning helps.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to realize that most of the time when someone sends me a suggestion of something that may help with my chronic illness that they are really saying, “I care about your pain/health and I would like to help you”. Help me to weigh everything through You Lord, and wait for Your leading.
About the author:
Michele Williams along with her husband of 38 years live nestled in a mountain community in eastern Pennsylvania. They have a beautiful grown daughter, caring son-in-law, an awesome teenage grandson and three furry children. Through the years Michele has been involved in various ministries including: pastor’s wife, teacher, public speaker, counselor, writer, children’s, women’s, and wellness ministries. Michele has experienced various life challenges including living with multiple chronic illnesses since 1985. Some of those include: Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Interstitial cystitis, IBS, Asthma, and Sleep Apnea. Michele has an encouraging and informative blog, at http://www.beelieveyoucan.net
You can now read this on your Kindle. Find out more at http://TodaysDevotionOnKindle.com
How do you react when others suggest you try one of the many new cures or something that they have read about or have used and have helped them?
Let’s worship! Yolanda Adams belts out, “Battles Not Yours” reminding us that God is in control of it all, including the medications, the costs, all of it! Can we hear an “Amen”?
Lisa, Thank you for adding that wonderful song! I play it so often. One of my favorites!
Michele, thank you for this! I love the reminder to weigh everything through the Lord and to wait for His leading especially in response to other’s intentions toward us. God’s best to you! Gentle hugs…BeBe <3
Michele – I know your devotional and its message strikes a cord with all of us. Those who reach out to us mean well as they, too want us well. Surely we want to be well. I usually respond with a, “thank you” or if it is something I have already tried or a therapy I have been through, I succinctly tell them about it.
Where I have the greatest difficutly over these 30 years with my challenges, is with being told in “some” churches or with some well meaning Christians that all I need to do is pray. Within a church setting or times at an evening specifically set up for those who need healing prayer and nothing changes for me, there are those who say I just need more faith. Right – we all have been through those kinds of times, too.
My personal belief it that it takes more faith – a deeper faith – to endure the years of pain and still know that God is helping us to persevere. He IS our strength and in His guidance He is our “cure” as we accept His help and surrender to what He allows for His purposes.
Thanks for sharing with us!
Hugs – Lynn
BeBe, thank you for your gracious comment. I am reminded daily to weigh everything, especially before I speak. Sometimes I will get frustrated, but then I have to bit my lip and say, thank you.
Thank you for Lynn for sharing. Oh yes, I too have heard the same comments about having more faith. I had a dear friend who passed away from breast cancer 12 years ago. During her 18 month struggle she was told that she was not healed because she had unconfessed sin and that she needed more faith. All that did was place more stress in her life as she prayed dilligently for the Lord to forgive her. My husband and I sat down with her and shared through scripture that there are other reason too that one must suffer. Sometimes to glorify God. After that she no longer worried and lived the rest of life with joy, faith and peace even in the mist our her suffering. She was a great example of Living out her Faith.
love you dear friend.
Michele – thank you for sharing about your friend. I know how hard it is to watch a dear one suffer and I pray you can rejoice in the dearness your care – and your husband’s care – brought to your friend to lighten the stress others had put upon her.
It is hard to understand suffering whether it is our own or others. In the acceptance that Jesus understands and walks with us and walks with others who let Him be a “co-walker”, we are not alone and His strength is heightened in our weakness. What a paradox but it is true. He has purposes beyond what we can understand and, as you say, our walk then becomes a walk in faith.
Sharing the journey with you –