Have you been given a chronic illness diagnosis or struggle with chronic health issues undiagnosed?
A chronic illness is defined simply as an illness that persists for a long time or is constantly recurring.
What is the chronic battle within your body? Arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, allergies, depression, bipolar disorder, Lyme’s disease, and the list could go on and on.
Those who suffer from chronic illness tend to identify themselves by their suffering. How many times have you said, “I am sore. I am tired. I am inflamed. I am (fill in the blank)?”
If the word “chronic” resonates with you in regards to your health, today is a new day. You are a bearer of God’s image and I grieve with you over your battle. I pray for the miraculous healing power of God to touch you today.
As I journey through chronic illness with you, here are a few things I’ve learned:
1. Cultivate the treasure of friendship
In Mark 2, we read about the healing of the paralytic man. Verse five states, “And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.”
Friends who are willing to lift you up, tear off a roof, and lower you down to Jesus, these types of friends are a treasure.
Do you have one? Who are your friends who will go the extra mile to set you before The Lord? Take a moment to give thanks. Take a moment to pray for such a friend or those you have in your life.
Pray with me:
God, we thank you for friends willing to pick us up when we can not move. We thank you for friends who will point us to you when we are unable. Lord, bless these friends. Teach us how to be this kind of friend to others, willing to go the extra mile to have them meet Jesus.
2. Engage in faith-fueled movement
Pause and read the story of Jesus healing a sick woman in Luke 8:45-48. This is a passage to get your hopes up. I love how the woman received healing when she moved in faith toward Jesus.
In the midst of training for Rim to Him, the Holy Spirit used this passage to encourage me. He reminded me that I only had to take one step at a time, in faith, to move forward and believe God was healing me in the movement. Look up. What we look for, we find. Move towards Jesus.
Pray with me:
Dear Lord, I pray today that these warriors would have worry removed from their being. I pray that their faith would be stirred to move towards you. May they rejoice over the movement within their being, however it may look today. I pray they rejoice in mobility in Jesus name. May they reach for the hem of your garment in belief of your healing power in Jesus name.
3. Renew and D.O.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
These questions will help you renew your mind:
-What are you thinking about today?
-What do you think about your battle with chronic illness?
-Do these thoughts align with God’s truth?
-What is God inviting you to do or believe?
Discern and Obey (D.O.)
It begins in our thoughts, which brings me back to the question “who are you?” Take a deep breath, set your mind towards God, and exhale.
These warriors, fighting battles within their bodies, will be known as chronic worshippers.
Pray with me:
Lord, help me be defined by who you say I am, not by how my suffering makes me feel. I ask for a refresh and a reset in who YOU say I am Lord. May I breathe in your Truth. May I hear your rhema word over my life today in Jesus’ name.
God, I thank you for healing me and others now and through this journey. Stir up hope in hearts today, Lord. Healed. Whole. Made new. Chronic WARshippers birthed today on the earth in these people, Lord.
Where “chronic” has been a negative label, we redefine it today. These warriors, fighting battles within their bodies, will be known as chronic worshippers – worship coming forth from the suffering that the world cannot eradicate in Jesus’ name.
I thank you for dances of deliverance and testimony of your goodness. All glory to God, for your Gospel message to go forth to all nations in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
In the comments below, share your experience with chronic illness and the practices that give you hope in suffering.
Michelle Brumgard is Prayer Coordinator for Revelation Wellness and carries the heart of the Father. She seeks to inspire, equip, and encourage you to be intimately connected with the Holy Trinity and whole-heartedly activated as a follower of Christ. You can connect with her on Instagram or her website.
Come away with us!
If you’re longing for community, a fresh message of hope, and the transforming love of God, then join us for this in-person retreat at Lost Canyon!
IMPACT will help us to grow in Intimacy & Activation together so we all return to our communities refreshed and full of fresh vision.
Registration closes April 15, 2022
20 Responses
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos 2 years ago. It’s a constant battle of knowing it’s best for my body to workout, and working out, but never seeing any results from it, physically. I had previously lost 150lbs, but put on I would say about 100 back with Hashimotos… And it won’t let go.
I’m so sorry, Gina. When our bodies don’t work the way we expect them to, we can cling to our hope in Christ, but the pain and suffering are not ignored or swept over. Have grace with yourself as you navigate Hashimotos. Exercise may look different for a time. I’ll be praying that you feel God’s comfort and that there is a community around you to lean on.
Dear Gina-
My battle w/Hashimoto’s has been over 2 decades now and has impacted my life greatly; God is bigger !!
I see a naturopath that understands this disease and provided me hope. Blessings over you and healing prayers.
Gina, I too battle Hashimotos, along with fibromyalgua, depression and anxiety. I have been on the roller coaster of weight loss and weight gain. I am so sorry that anyone else suffers with this terrible autoimmune disease. It does change how our bodies respond to food and temperatures and stress. But God has a plan for each one of us. He wants us to love ourselves and lean into Him through every struggle. It may be a bit of a slow go and sometimes we may take two steps forward and a step back or one step forward and two steps back. But keep smiling and believing that God is with you no matter your size or situation.
This post could not have come at a better moment for me. I live with chronic undiagnosed illness. I have plenty of diagnosis on my record, but so far they only describe symptoms and doctors have failed to identify the root problems so they treat the symptoms until something new happens as eventually it always does change. Yesterday I began to experience some of the symptoms that my current treatment has been holding at bay for the past ten months. I was woken up very early this morning by my symptoms and I laid there in the dark realizing the the symptoms have been there all along just on the other side of a leaky dyke. I’m tired, I’m hurting, and I’m waiting to see if this treatment is failing and everything is going to come crashing down again or if this realization could be the final clue to real diagnosis. And in the midst of that thought whirlwind I had the thought of “Jesus where do I set my perspective?” I expected him to be near to me and to guide my thoughts, but I was blown away when I opened my email minutes later and read “you aren’t your chronic illnesses” I will be keeping these words near to me as I face whatever comes next. Jesus has been with me every step and that will never change. Diagnosed or undiagnosed, I am a beloved daughter of my savior. Tired, in pain, or completely flaired up, I will serve him in whatever ways I am able.
God is SO GOOD! You are a good idea, friend. God is with you in all of this!
Powerful! Thank you Michelle! Such a good perspective and word and prayers!
Thank you, Kim! I’m so glad this blessed you!
I started seeing a holistic practitioner in early 2019 after not getting answers from my doctor. I got answers from her that I had adrenal fatigue which led o my diagnosis of type 2 diabetes 22 years ago. I have had alot of healing but still tired all the time. All I can do for movement is walk. I used to teach REFIT but had to give that up because it was too much cardio for my body.
Thank you for sharing, Kim. We are praying for you and Jesus is with you in your suffering. Have you tried any of the Rev on the Mat workouts in RevWell TV? They are low-impact and more gentle on your body.
I have multiple diagnoses but God sustains me. I was much sicker and held on to the thought that I was still alive so God had a purpose for all of this. Over the last 6 years I have been gradually healing. God is healing me and many times I have woken up to another symptom gone. Sometimes I only notice it’s absence after days or weeks. I keep believing that I will be completely healed one day. I pray all the time and talk to God about my health. God guided me to different things to do for my health concerning food and exercise. I’m looking forward to what God has planned for me and I am getting ready to start working again
Thank you for sharing, Lea! We praise God for the healing you’ve experienced!
Thank you for this timely post. I struggle with multiple “chronic illnesses” and have for many years. It’s so easy after so many years of illness for it to become your identity. To not know who you are aside from it, when most of your day to day revolves around it. But I am on a new path these last few years, of detaching from that identity to a new identity in Christ, and renewing my mind that is set on the Lords truth and not on the lies of the enemy that whisper “it will always be this way”. It may, or it may not. But I know God will equip me, even here, in this season regardless of any illness he will go before me and make a way even when I think there is no way. That is when he does his best work. Hopefully and expectantly continuing to pray for healing, but knowing I am more then any illness and may I discover greater purpose then just healing my body and not having symptoms. I believe there is still joy, still peace, still freedom and still purpose to be lived. God can and still will use me as I faithfully step forward.
What a beautiful testimony, Jamie! I especially love how you said, “It may, or it may not. But I know God will equip me, even here, in this season regardless of any illness he will go before me and make a way even when I think there is no way.” It is good to pray for healing, but we can relate to Christ in our suffering as well. Our hopes are set on Christ and His return where our bodies will be made new and he’ll dwell with us!
Thank you for this blog post. For quite a few years I’ve been battling chronic fatigue caused by adrenal fatigue and diabetes. I still have hope in healing. Despite all this I do go to church and every Sunday I go forward for prayer. It is working because I’ve had other health issues healed when I first started attending this particular church since last fall. At some point things will get better. I’ll continue to fight !
Yes! God is with you through it all!
I also say this article came at just the right time!! I am battling adrenal fatigue. I too was diagnosed with Hashimotos about 8 years ago. A five year journey, the cycle repeats every February. I get slightly better for maybe 9 months and then right back into it. There are so many factors.
I’m your article echoes stuff God has been speaking into my heart in this 2022 version of fatigue! So thank you for your gift of words that bring hope and encouragement to my spirit.
This year what is unique about the journey is that I’m in platoon 28!! And my Dr just revoked my exercise privileges for a small period of time for healing an over stressed body. What a disappointment! But the beautiful thing is that he knows all about the RevWell mission because his wife trained a few years ago.
This all came crashing down on me the day my classes started- Feb 8th. Coincidence? Of course not!! God has me in his purifying fire so that I can shine for him when I emerge again. I WILL emerge again!! And I won’t keep silent about how God has meet my needs!!
The ways I keep my hopes up in the more difficult moments:
1. Feast on Gods word as often as needed during the day. Read it in your head. Read it out loud. Copy it on notecards and carry it with you. Copy it in notebooks you can re-read later. Listen to it read out loud to you with Bible apps. Send Gods word to others when God tells you to. Study any passage a friend sends you because the Spirit probably told them to share with you.
2. Worship by singing worship songs out loud, really loud as often as needed. Especially songs of declaration of who you are and who God is!
3. Take long soaking baths daily. There is something healing about water.
4. Let the sun shine on your face, literally. And when it does remind your heart that Gods face shines on you too.
5. Ask God for healing pictures for your mind to dwell on.
6. Especially embrace the stories of Jesus healing in the gospels. Slow down and imagine yourself as the recipient of the healing. Journal about that experience.
7. Remember to receive love from others. There’s no shame in chronic illness. God uses it for his glory. Be loved in the midst of it no matter how hard. Pray and ask God for the ability to receive if this is hard for you due to any woundedness.
8. Make declarations of wellness and ask God for belief.
9. Don’t neglect the interconnectedness of body, soul, and spirit. Include mental health, emotional health, spiritual health, dietary health, and anything that God directs you toward for a complete healing and wholeness.
10. This year I am especially in agreement with your first point. Friendship!! Deep friendships in which complete honesty is valued and respected.
Love, love, love this Amy! Thank you for sharing these beautiful ways to keep your hopes up in challenging situations. God is so good!
Beautiful words Michelle!! Thank you Lord for inspiring hope through something the enemy means for bad. Rise up warshippers!!
Amen!