Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support
Chronic illness support for those with invisible or visible illnesses and disabilities with Christian foundation.
We are collecting blogs of ill parents! We would love to know more about your blog or article that addresses parenting when you are in pain. To submit your own link, put the code to our "Link Party button" (opens in a new window) on your own site. Then click the little blue button below that says "add your link" to submit your link! … [Read more...]
Dana Kennedy An antiseptic smell I couldn’t quite place permeated the air. Perhaps it was a combination of Pine Sol and Clorox. Industrial carpet woven in blues and reds needed a vacuum. A lone ant traveled by my foot. I took the damp tissue in my hand and squashed it. A few fluorescents created shadows which revealed the starkness of the room. The barren environment mimicked the fact that I was the only occupant waiting. It was the middle of the night, and I lay curled on my side wondering if my husband was going to live through surgery. I also--possibly selfishly, yet realistically--wondered if my body would allow me to make it through the ordeal. Having postural intolerance, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia severely … [Read more...]
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’” (James 1:5). I have quoted this verse many times in recent years regarding different situations in my life, one of which is dealing with my illness. I know many of us have probably prayed for healing and in God’s sovereignty, He has chosen not to do so; however, He doesn’t leave us empty-handed. There are many tools God gives us to help us on this journey and wisdom is definitely one of them. When dealing with chronic illness, there are always decisions that need to be made. Sometimes long term decisions about treatment and care or many times it’s just daily decisions like deciding how to … [Read more...]
As we begin the new year, it's easy to feel that obligation to make plans and set resolutions. But goals can be difficult for those with chronic conditions. this lovely article by Ann can help us put our goals into perspective and learn more about why we can feel anxiety when we start that "to do" list. Trusting God’s Goodness When Fearful of Making Plans By Ann Ferguson “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid” (Psalm 56:3-4). I often live in fear. I know I shouldn’t, but I do. I’m not so much afraid of the big picture. I have accepted fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome for what it is and I know God is in control. Mostly, I am afraid to make plans. … [Read more...]
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34) Stray cats always appear on our doorstep. Most of the time, they are adult cats that disappear after we feed them. Recently, however, Norman discovered a tiny kitten at the edge of our driveway. He was utterly helpless. He limped and trembled as he followed Norman around the yard. My daughter and I watched while Norman and our son, Josh, fed the kitten and made a shelter. We cared for the kitten for three days. When no one came to claim him, we called the rescue shelter. During those three days, Josh became really attached to the little kitten and named him Knoxville. Because our daughter has … [Read more...]
"Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7) What does it take to be a man? Must one be stoic, never showing any weakness? Should a man hide his feelings, and pretend that everything is fine, even when it isn't? It is my experience that women are generally more willing to discuss their problems than men. There are exceptions, myself being one, but I think it is safe to say that men do not easily admit weakness, and they rarely share problems with other men. This is especially true of the older generations of men. My guess is that many men suffer affliction in silence, feeling it is their duty to bear their burden … [Read more...]
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." (Proverbs 17:7) When we first moved into our neighborhood many years ago we were the youngest couple here. That has changed over the years, and seeing older neighbors die and move on to be with the Lord reminded me in my youth just how quickly time flies and circumstances change. I had one neighbor who was bound to a wheelchair. He was a tall guy back when he could stand up, and solidly built. Sometimes he would fall out of his wheelchair, and his wife would come over and ask me to help him back up again. I was younger and stronger then, and did not at all mind helping him back into his wheelchair. As I would lift my friend back into his chair, often I … [Read more...]
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress." (Isaiah 33:1-3) After a year of the steady decline of my health, then to see my health rapidly improve, you would think I'd be jumping up and down for joy, and to some extent I am. But at the same time I find myself in a sort of post-distress state of mind where my temper is short, my patience is gone, and my tolerance for problems is non-existent. I don't know if it is the fact that I'm still dealing with the chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, or if it is that all the stress that piled on during the worst of my health crises has finally caught up to me, but I find myself trying to work through anger and stress issues … [Read more...]
"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession." (Deuteronomy 14:2) The world places so much value on how much we can get done in a day. It's more concerned with job titles, accomplishments, and rewards than the character and worth of a person. As a new mother and wife, nineteen years ago, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Suddenly I wasn't able to do all I once did. I couldn't help comparing myself to other mothers. I had a picture of what a good mother and wife should look like and it didn't leave room for inadequacies. All my priorities changed. I couldn't hold down a full time job or make plans in … [Read more...]
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. " (2 Corinthians 10:5) Lately I seem to be full of all kinds of emotions. When I'm in a flare I tend to feel helpless, lonely, and depressed. One would think that after spending seventeen years with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia I would not have these feelings anymore. But they are there. Thoughts creep in like: Who will take care of me if I can't even take care of myself? Who will help me with my children? Will my husband run out of patience or be cold and distant? I know I need to bring ever thought captive to Christ. How do you do that when you feel like your … [Read more...]
"For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 116: 8-9). My husband calls them phantoms. No, not "Phantom of the Opera." The dictionary defines phantom as "a nonexistent person or thing, something elusive." Phantoms can also be called unfulfilled dreams or lost opportunities. For those of us who have or live with someone who has chronic illness, they are our "if only" moments which often cause us to live life with regrets. My husband was diagnosed 25 years ago with Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS). We had two young children, ages 4 and 1, and I really wanted to have a third child. Prior to his diagnosis, we … [Read more...]
"The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him." (Exodus 15:2) The philosopher Epictetus liked to remind his students that had there been no lion, no hydra, no challenges for Hercules, there would have been no Hercules; he would have been just another uninteresting Greek man. Perhaps it is the same with those who suffer affliction. Though we might prefer a boring life free of problems, we would not be the person we are today had we not been shaped by hardships and trials. I admit I would rather be bored than afflicted, yet I suspect that had it not been for afflictions and trials in my life I might not have set down the spiritual roots … [Read more...]
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4 Steps to Take to Get Rid of Resentment You May Hold Against Others 3 CommentsResentment does not give us any benefits, yet many of us still hold onto it. Even if we may not want to feel resentful, we aren't sure how to get rid of it. Leslie explains. By Leslie Vernick When someone hurts us, is foolish, or sins against us, the consequences of their…
