A storm is coming. My pain is rising.
I feel the anxiety rising up in the pit of my stomach. I try to run. I try to hide. Then I make my feeble attempts to move into a place of accepting it.
But the body fights – it fights for its rights.
All to no avail.
So I stop trying and just….exist. I just commit to exist in the midst of it. All expectations must be thrown out of the window – smashed. Except for one.
I won’t do this alone. I will NOT do it alone! And that’s not because of my own expectation, but because of a promise made by Christ Himself.
He will meet me here. He will draw near.
My heart is crying out along with every fiber of my body and being. Not only does my heart cry, but real tears stream down my face throughout these last 24 hours. How much longer? How much longer, God?
These are the times. These are the times that make me realize that the DAILY pain I have ALL THE TIME with Fibro, is nothing compared to the stuff that jumps off the scale when there’s a weather situation or an illness on top of it all that exacerbates it. I can live with that stuff (the day to day aches and pains), and still offer something of myself to others; experience a good mood even though it is a wicked little thorn in my side that never leaves.
But THIS.
“Don’t you know, Jesus – don’t you know that THIS is where I draw the line? I have to deal with the daily crud of Fibro and I don’t like it, but I’ve been a good girl and I suck it up. I seek you in the midst of it all. But why do I have to deal with THIS on top of it all. It’s not fair.”
Jesus didn’t draw a line with regard to how much suffering HE was willing to endure, now did He?
Ha Ha. Silly little girl.
Gut wrenching, bone crushing, deeeeep, deeeep pain.
Practical paralyzation – just bad enough to make EVERY SECOND excruciating to get through, but not bad enough to be given a pass not to do life – work, tasks, chores. That little tidbit right there? THAT is one of the WORST PARTS ABOUT FIBRO! Or – is it a blessing? Got me!
But then there’s this one too…..
Attacks from the ugly enemy.
“this is nothing compared to what Christ did for you. Why are you compaining? There are people out there suffering far worse than you. Why don’t you just pull yourself up from your bootstraps little girl and persevere for once? Geez. What a little baby.”
I long for rest. I want to run, but there’s no where to hide. It’s inside of me and I can’t get away from it, friends. I have no choice but to move through the pain. One ugly and long, drawn-out second at a time. Each hour seems like an entire day. Each day seems like a long, bad, drawn out week.
Where’s the end? Where’s the destination? Where’s the party, yo?
Vice grip, trapped in concrete. Unable to move to the left or the right. Even being still comes with its own level of crushing pain.
I want my mom! Oh yah – she’s in heaven with Jesus. I’m happy for her. I really am.
But what about ME!!!!
Are we at the peak yet? When will we move down the other side of this evil bell curve? I’m ready for the fall, because after its done, it spells a semblance of relief. Right?
We are going to get off the ride eventually, right?
Can Jesus just meet me here in the midst of it all? Do you think its possible that He would?
Will you, Lord? Will you bring me peace through the pain? Will you carry me through these excruciating moments, minutes, days in which this suffering wreaks havoc through my body? Will you massage my soul and my mind that is growing weary as I trudge through this? Will you pour Your grace out upon me – more of it, even though I am stamping my feet right about now?
A storm is coming. My pain is rising.
My heart is crying out along with every fiber of my body and being.
Gut wrenching, bone crushing, deeeeep, deeeep pain.
And a peace –
And a joy –
And a comfort provided by the only One who can offer it.
The Great Physician.
My Almighty Savior.
The One and Only Divine Healer of all our hurts, all our pain.
My Lord Jesus Christ – He shows up in the storm and through the rubble it leaves as we move through it. He clears the path.
And through this, I shall know Him better.
Through this ugly, His glory shall be made manifest.
This I know.
I look to YOU, Lord. I see you clearly even when my eyes are closed. I can see you when I am in the middle of the darkness, inside the tunnel when it seems there’s no way out. I can see you even on the roller coaster ride that is spinning my head and blurring my vision. I can see you, Lord!!!
And I know that YOU see me.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. …1 Peter 4: 12-19
Eyes Wide Open 