lisa copen Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

If God Never Gives Me More Than I Can Handle, Why Is Life So Hard?

August 12, 2012 By admin 19 Comments

If God never gives me more than I can handle, then explain what is going on in my life! Have you ever felt this way? By Lisa Copen, this is a reprint from http://thinkingaboutsuicide.com where Lisa is a contributor. The web site is a good place to turn during those rough days to help you remember that God cares about you and is here beside you even when you don't feel like it. Over and over I have heard the saying, "God doesn't give you more than you can handle." But what about the pain. . . the grief. . . the depression. . . the darkness? It is more than we can handle. Much more. There are days that we wonder is life worth living if we have to get up every day and fight to be strong? We look enviously at others who seem to not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Depression, Spiritually Struggling, Suicidal Thoughts, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic Illness, depending on god, god doesn't give you more than you can handle, Health, lisa copen, Matthew West, Pain, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis

Devotion: National Handshake Day Could Be a Painful Day For Chronically Ill

June 28, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

[Love] does not boast, it is not proud." (1 Corinthians 13:4) Today is National Handshake Day. For those who are acknowledging the day, it is likely about teaching people, especially women, how to have a firm and confident handshake. It is about how to extend your arm in the right manner, and how to grasp firmly. For those of us who live with painful chronic conditions, however, it is a moment for us to talk about the second you instinctively reach out to shake someone's extended hand-- and instantly regret it. You can see his or her hand coming at you with gusto, and yet, your etiquette doesn't allow you to jerk your hand back. And then comes the squeeze. Maybe even the "crunch" while it's being pumped. Having lived with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, What's New? Tagged With: California, handshakes and arthritis, how to shake hands when your hands are sore, lisa copen, Lord, national handshake day, Rheumatoid arthritis, shaking hands when you have arthritis

Devotion: Illness Can Bring Splashes of Hell or Noticeable Gifts

June 18, 2012 By admin 8 Comments

"How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?" (Psalm 13:1-2) How long, Lord? Have you asked this question recently? A couple of months ago a man behind me in line at the dollar store started rubbing his temples and moaning. I asked him if he was okay and he said, "Yes, just tired. Someone young like yourself wouldn't really understand that." I told him that yes, I did understand; I hadn't slept in three days due to an RA flare, but I had to pick up some milk and bread. He responded with sympathy and said, "This is just hell, isn't it? We are living in hell, aren't we?" I smiled and said, "Oh, no, we are just … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: God, Invisible Illness Week, Jesu, Joni Eareckson Tada, lisa copen, Lord, Rest Ministries, San Diego

“You Are Too Young to Be That Sick!”

June 14, 2012 By admin 16 Comments

"You are too young to be that ill! Oh, you are too young to be dealing with that kind of pain." Why do simple, even well-intentioned words hurt so much? By Lisa Copen At the age of twenty-four, a thousand miles away from my family and living in a new city, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Over a period of four weeks and about eight doctor’s visits, I finally found a physician of internal medicine who listened to me explain my symptoms; in less than two days I had a diagnosis. Despite the terms “chronic” and “forever” I felt relieved to know the label that described my chronic pain. Few of my friends, however, shared my enthusiasm for a diagnosis. The managers at my office were more concerned about the fact that I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Depression, Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, Friendships, Invisible Illnesses, Need to Know, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Arthritis, Chronic, Conditions and Diseases, Fibromyalgia, Health, hidden disabilities, Illness, invisible disabilities, invisible illness, Life Disrupted: Getting Real About Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties, lisa copen, Pain, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego, you are too young, you dont look sick, you look fine

Devotion: How Sitting on The Floor At the Store Reminded Me Weaknesses Show Strength

June 11, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." (2 Chronicles 15:7) Last week I made a trip to one of my favorite stores, IKEA. We go about once a year or so, and had made a trip, a twenty-minute drive, the week before. But I had a rug to exchange and wanted to go without my son, who quickly had become bored. It was my first trip down "south" on the freeway with my new car and I was feeling confident. I could easily see my car's blind spot with the special mirrors and I felt free! As I went to look at lampshades, however, I backed up by a pallet on the ground and flailed in the air in slow motion before falling down on it. I had to sit there about five minutes before someone noticed me. I asked the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, What's New? Tagged With: allow people to help, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, fall, ikea, lisa copen, pallet, stubborn

Devotion: The Highs and Lows of Living with Illness During Summertime

June 2, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

"For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah." (Psalm 32:4) Summer. As the temperatures rise, and kids get out of school, many people, are celebrating. Summer is a time of vacations, memories, barbequing with friends, going to the beach, camping, and so much more. For one who lives with a chronic illness, however, it can be bittersweet. Last weekend my family was invited to a birthday party--about 4 hours before it began. I told the host we would come, but I was physically worn out from my rheumatoid arthritis, sore from falling the day before, and didn't think I could sit outside, in any hard chair for six hours. I did not know anyone and I just didn't feel up to making small … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic, Chronic Illness, God, heat, humidity, lisa copen, Psalms, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego, seasons, summer

Devotion: Are You a Rebel? When We Rebel Against Our illness

May 30, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." (Proverbs 28:13) Have you ever done something--or not done something you should have--as a little power trip that you are playing with yourself and your illness? Let me explain. I confess, there have been times I have remembered that I needed to take a certain medication, and yet, I have just not gone and done it and then it has slipped my mind. Though I I have known that a certain action, like using a heating pad or an ice bag, may very well alleviate some of the pain and yet I have resisted. Sometimes I am in so much pain that the day seems like it is wasted already, so a part of me figures, "why bother?" I have procrastinated on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coping Skills, Devotionals, Founder's Blog, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic, doctors orders, God, Illness, Kindle, lisa copen, Pain, preventative treatment, procrastinating medical tests, Rest Ministries, San Diego

Fight Thoughts Of Suicide With A Random Act of Kindness

May 30, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

Feeling suicidal or blue can be normal when you live with chronic illness. One way to fight them each day is by doing a random act of kindness. By Lisa Copen, this is a reprint from http://thinkingaboutsuicide.com where Lisa is a contributor. The web site is a good place to turn during those rough days to help you remember that God cares about you and is here beside you even when you don't feel like it. Experiencing that rock-bottom depression and pain--both physical and emotional--can quickly convince you that there is nothing worth getting out of bed for one more morning. You may even be wondering if you should keep fighting those thoughts of suicide, or if it is finally time to just give in. Perhaps you are tired of fighting and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Depression, Fear, Founder's Blog, Loneliness, Person w/ Illness, Suicidal Thoughts, What's New? Tagged With: acts of kindness, Chronic, Fight Thoughts Of Suicide, get over depression, God, Jill Scott, Lisa, lisa copen, make someone feel loved, One Random Act of Kindness, Random act of kindness, Rest Ministries, Website

Devotion: How Does God Provide for Your Practical Needs When You Are Ill?

May 24, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

"During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet." (Deuteronomy 29:5) I have a family history of poor feet and mine, along with hammer toes and nearly two decades of rheumatoid arthritis, have left my feet quite a mess. About ten years ago I was down to one pair of sandals. I literally could not find one pair of shoes that my feet fit into or that I could put weight down onto my foot. I wore those sandals every day for over six years. Thankfully I live in San Diego, but even in the rain I would make a dash for shelter, as a few drops of rain could make them fall apart. By the time a doctor helped me find a pair of shoes that fit, I had glued the straps over and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic, Clothing, God, Kindle, lisa copen, Rest Ministries, San Diego, Sandal

How to Handle Hurt Feelings In Health Social Networks

May 22, 2012 By admin 2 Comments

Health social networks can be a tremendous support for the chronically ill, but they can also be a source of many hurt feelings. How do we prevent this? By Lisa Copen The Internet has provided us with a support community environment of online health social networks that are unique and always available. In the illness community, it is no surprise how helpful it can be when you are awake at 3 AM and there is someone online who is also awake due to pain. However, with this easily accessible health social networks of people also comes the frustrations that typically occur with our in-person relationships. Add to this, the fact that many people are not feeling well and may be moody, in addition to the likelihood that people are much more … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Anger, Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, Friendships, Hurt Feelings, Loneliness, Person w/ Illness, Support Group Leader, What's New?, Worry Tagged With: God, health social networks, hurt feelings of people online, lisa copen, Lord, Luke, online social medical networks, relationships online, Rest Ministries, when people online attack you

Why Bother Living When I Am Facing a Serious Infection Without a Hand to Hold?

May 9, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

By Lisa Copen, this is a reprint from http://thinkingaboutsuicide.com where Lisa is a contributor. The web site is a good place to turn during those rough days to help you remember that God cares about you and is here beside you even when you don't feel like it. Have you ever wondered where God is when no one seems to hold your hand through those tough times? When you cope with health problems, you hold on and fight to stay positive, but there are days when you can easily wonder, "Why bother living when I am facing a serious infection without a hand to hold?" It was the seventh day of being hospitalized with the flesh eating bacteria and I felt so alone. The couple of people who had visited were friends my husband had emailed or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Depression, Loneliness, Person w/ Illness, Suicidal Thoughts, What's New? Tagged With: Arthritis, Chronic, dealing with a serious infection or illnes, debridiment, depression and illness, God, Illness, life is just not worth living anymore, Lisa, lisa copen, loneliness, Pain, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, Suicidal Thoughts, Why Bother Living When I Am Facing a Serious Infection Without a Hand to Hold