Encouragement for Christians with Chronic Illness

Last week I was working on an entirely different post but I stopped, set it aside, and decided to write this one instead. I felt the prompting coming from God to write this post, as I was (and still am) going through a rough time with chronic illness. I’ve never mentioned it anywhere on the blog because I don’t like to speak about my illnesses, but I believe it’s the right time to address them. If this post can help someone then I will most definitely talk about chronic illness, my journey with them, what I’ve learned, and how I’ve grown in my Christian walk. So I pray this may encourage my fellow spoonies, you’re never alone.

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I’ve suffered from Psoriasis since the age of 10 and Ménière’s Disease since 2012.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease affecting the skin. It’s characterized by an overproduction of skin cells which causes red, itchy, dry, scaly skin patches which may grow anywhere (and everywhere) on the body. It’s a fairly common skin disease but it doesn’t detract from the terribleness of it. Psoriasis is very unpredictable at times and spreads fast; you can go to sleep being healthy and wake up with half your body covered in Psoriasis rashes.

Two weeks ago I went to sleep with clear skin and woke up with both of my arms completely covered and 2 days later, my whole neck and chest. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty miserable. If you suffer from any chronic illness, you can well understand the depression that can set in.

I’m a bit better as I’m writing this and at least I’m not as itchy anymore and can finally sleep at night.

The other chronic illness I have, Ménière’s Disease is a bit complicated and rarer. It’s an inner ear disorder which causes vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear pain. Thankfully, my case is a mild one. But I remember when I first started experiencing its symptoms, it caused me an incredible amount of anxiety, so much that I plunged into a deep depression. Occasionally, I get episodes but not too much that the Lord doesn’t give me the strength to face them. 

Living With Chronic Illness

For those of us who live with chronic illness, getting up in the morning and going about our day is not so easy sometimes. If healthy people get tired how much more do we? It’s not easy living with an illness and it can get frustrating when others don’t understand you. I have lost count the number of times I’ve heard this one “Pray for healing, God will heal you if you have faith,” and “sickness is punishment for your sins.” I’ve also heard Christians say that God doesn’t want me to be sick and that if I’m sick it’s probably because I’m in sin.

To those Christians, I have this to say to them: READ JOB.

There’s this encouraging portion in Scripture about Paul and how he suffered from an unnamed chronic illness. What did he say? “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). He said this after praying 3 times for healing and receiving none. God allowed him to be ill to keep him humble and so His names may be glorified. 

I encourage you to read 2 Corinthians 12 completely. 

The Beauty of Chronic Illness

There is something beautiful about being sick, hold on I’ll explain myself. I’m not saying that sickness is beautiful in and of itself. Sickness comes from the enemy, God never made anyone sick, rather He allows us to be buffeted for His sake. You may ask, how and why? 

Illness draws us closer to God. Because of our incapacity to do many things, we find ourselves seeking the Lord more often for mundane things healthy people take for granted. We have the privilege of seeing the Lord manifest in our lives very often whether that may be in sudden strength or less pain or mobility. What do we feel after witnessing the Lord move in our bodies? We feel very thankful and praise Him, His name is glorified through our pain and suffering and that is very beautiful. 

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The beautiful thing about sickness is that we realize at the end of the day that no matter the pain we still find the strength to worship God and His name continues to be glorified. Worship is so much sweeter from the trenches of despair. It is His strength that lifts us up. 

Chronic Illness and Faith 

Many things in my life have strengthened my faith but not like illness. There have been innumerable instances where illness seemed to have choked the life out of me and it was in those moments when God’s presence was strongest. Nothing can compare to God’s embrace in hard times, He is a father comforting His suffering child. There is something so powerful, so beautiful, so comforting, so out of this world about God’s love surrounding you during painful moments. 

One thing I love about being chronically ill is the deep understanding of time, events, and feelings. It’s like our senses are acutely keen to these. Life and this world are constantly changing…heck, people change like there’s no tomorrow. Our feelings are fleeting and ever-changing. We watch the world revolve, the seasons change, and society devolves yet there we are… still sick. It’s one of 2 things that as Christians, remain a constant in our lives. The other is God. He never changes, He remains the same. 

We can be depressed, angry, miserable, happy, and yet there will always be something to be grateful for; God’s grace and love. It’s the only constant in this ever-changing world. 

An Experience With God’s Presence

I had just started a Young Women’s Bible study group (this was in 2014) and was getting ready for our first lesson. I was a little nervous and it wouldn’t have been a big deal if I were healthy. But I was actually going through the worst period of Ménière’s Disease so my anxiety level was over 1000. I couldn’t stand it, so I shut myself in my room and wept and wept. It was too much too handle. I pleaded with the Lord to help me because there was no way that I could do it alone. I don’t know how long I prayed but almost immediately I felt that oh, so beautiful warmth of God’ presence sweep from the top of my head to my toes. Instantly the anxiety was completely gone! This anxiety had been growing more and more with each passing day but just in a matter of seconds, it was gone! 

I felt an unrelenting river of peace wash over me at that moment. How could I ever describe it? To this day, it remains one of the most awestruck moments of my life.  

A Hope Greater Than Any Pain

Revelation 21:4 says:

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

This is talking about Heaven. In Heaven, we shall be healthy and whole, no more pain. Maybe our illness is incurable and God has His reasons for wanting us to live with it. But one promise we do have, that we shall not remain thus forever. What is pain for a short time when we have all of eternity waiting for us? It is all worth it in the end when we shall hear the divine words “enter into my rest.”

Till then, onward Christian soldiers! Fight your Battles on your knees, because illness is war and God is our General.