Rheumatoid arthritis 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

“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: 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

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

Devotion: Be Teachable, Even When Illness Threatens to Make You Feel Ignorant

October 21, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14-15) I have my moments of feeling vulnerable, like I am failing at life. I feel blessed that I am not a negative person by nature or easily depressed, so it is only a momentary feeling when I begin to think I am in over my head. But even as I think the words to myself, I feel like such an idiot, I can see the damage they can inflict on my mood, my outlook. I cannot fathom feeling this way all the time. Whether you are someone who is typically in control of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christian, Chronic, God, Jesus, lisa copen, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego

When I Really Cannot Do It

September 20, 2011 By admin 8 Comments

I can't do it. Oh, God, I really can't do it, can I? I rarely utter the thoughts, much less the words, "I can't do it." I usually say, "not today," or "maybe some other time." But one night in July I was standing on the bottom step of the 3 steps that led into the camper where I was to sleep for the second night. My husband was inside trying to arrange the foam cushions and make it as comfortable as possible for me. I jokingly say, "If I get in there I don't know if I will be able to get out!" and smile. But then, I tell him to let me try out the bed first before he arranges the next cushion. I grasp the large handle by the door. I think to myself "now pull up." The body doesn't move. "Now pull up." I am in so much pain I cannot … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New? Tagged With: Campsite, God, husband, Motel, Mother, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego

Devotion: Strength For This Journey When Illness Overwhelms Us

September 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

"Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in His mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10) Every so often I have been going to the local animal shelter to cuddle the cats and kittens. I have recently been thrust into a situation where I had to leave my pet’s long term with my parents. I miss them and was happy to go and give some kisses and cuddles to little fluff balls without permanent homes. Entering the enclosures you are met with expectant eyes and then persistent meows. Cuddle me, pet me, me- me- me- me- meow! You pick up a furball and cuddle it and another one purrs and rubs around your legs. If you stand too close to the climbing frames another one tries to climb on your shoulder, and before too long you’re overwhelmed with fur and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic, Epistle to the Ephesians, God, Jesus, Lord, New Zealand, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis

Devotion: Our Sure Foundation Despite Illness in Our Lives

September 12, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

"So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See! I am lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation: the one who trusts will never be dismayed. (Isaiah 28:16) Some months ago I had some excitement in my neighborhood! About a quarter mile from my house an old building was knocked down and the ground prepared for a new building. Closer to home though, the house beside me was loaded onto a large flatbed low loader truck and driven away to a new location. The men came in one day and jacked the three-bedroom wooden house up on specialized jacks and lifted it off its piles. A few days later they came and drove a large hydraulic trailer under the house then lowered the house off its jacks and on to the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Chronic, God, Health, New Zealand, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, Zion

Devotion: Recalling Our Purpose in a ‘Meaningless’ Life

September 11, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

"Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun--all your meaningless days." (Ecclesiastes 9:9) My husband turns 46 years old today. For the first 35 years of his life this was just another day, one we celebrated with gifts, cakes, even a trip to Disneyland when we were dating. But in 2001 this day changed for my spouse before I even got out of bed. As the towers fell, I remember his mom calling to not only grieve the loss of lives, but a mixed bag of emotions, feeling sad this happened on the day of her son's birth, and relief that we were safely on the other side of the country. The scripture above sounds a little sarcastic in my opinion. It emphasizes a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic, Disneyland, Ecclesiastes, God, Lord, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego

Withdrawls

September 8, 2011 By admin 7 Comments

I am down to 10 mgs of prednisone. It's taken 4 months. I was at 20 mgs for nearly 3 years. "Prednisone is not good for you!" people told me. I know. If only you knew, I wanted to say. See this fat? See my eyes with huge cataracts? My swollen feet? . . . I know. But I don't know what to do. I flared out of control at 19 mg. After a decade with the same rheumatologist, I found a new doctor in April. Please, Lord, let him be able to help me. He is helping me. I like him. I believe he knows what he is doing. He treats chronic symptoms with long-term help, acute symptoms with temporary relief so my life can continue. I am now down to 10 mg from 20. A miracle. My goal is 5. I will likely be at 5 the rest of my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coping Skills, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New? Tagged With: Cold turkey, Counties, Health, Lord, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego, United States

Devotion: Finding True Rest When Exhausted From Illness

September 1, 2011 By admin 10 Comments

“And God blessed the Seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating He had done.” (Genesis 2:3) Recently I read about a research study addressing the amount of oxygen a workman needs each day. On average, a person breathes 30 ounces of oxygen a day, but uses 31. By the end of the day he has a 1 ounce deficit. While sleeping, he breathes more oxygen than needed to sleep, so he awakens with 5/6ths of the lost ounce, not completely refreshed. At the end of the week, he again has a 1 ounce deficit. He needs a days rest to restore the oxygen. Over time, without regular rest cell death occurs. Enough cell death and the person dies. But as long as he rests every seventh day, he will be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Book of Genesis, Chronic, Conditions and Diseases, God, Health, Lord, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis