How do you..............???

These Last few weeks has been very stressful for me both emotionally and physically.   I would love to share it with you all, but for now, all I ask is prayers.  Only a handful of people knows the situation, including my Pastors.  God knows the situations and hears our prayers.


Last Thursday, I had not one but two people call me and ask me a similar question.  I was expecting one of the person's phone call but  not the other one.   Don't get me wrong, I was glad and always will be glad to be able to help others out and talk to people when they need help or comfort.  These two people doesn't know each other.  They don't know one another situation, their outlook on life is very different; their faith and belief in God is different.

So, what is common in all 3 of us ladies?   Pain......Daily pain.   One of us has been struggling for a good while (Friend A) .   Two of us has been struggling for years (Friend B).   .     What was the basic similar question they asked?

How do you do it?  How do you cope daily with pain? (Friend A)

and

I want to be strong like you.  How do you do it? (Friend B)

I have my days of complete pain and nausea and my usual stomach issues and a new health issue has arisen that has added on to my pain.  I try the best to work through the pain without pain medications but the other medications given to me to help the serotonin levels balance out to re-direct pain receptors.  Days that I'm in pain is the most discouraging as I told friend A and this friend could very well relate.   It's good to try to get out and try to do things if you can.  Since I am under the orders to not to work FT, I try to find little here and there jobs like After School Prg.   I've found when you let your mind wonder is when the devil uses your pain against you; your pain then worsens and you just fell.....well, "crappy!"

God has taught me over the years and especially more recently not to stray away from HIM...not even an inch away.  When I feel that self pity of pain, frustration, fear, no hope, no understanding, etc, I try hard to pray and cry out to God.   Even when you can't say the Words, God knows your heart.   There have been many days, esp the past 2 weeks, I've felt alone, restless, and fearful.   God brought so many Scripture verses to my mind.  In fact one day I was turning on the TV set and I was flipping the channel and heard Dr David Jeremiah and he was teaching the exact thing I need to hear.....and needed to hear that GOD LOVES ME and has a purpose for me.  And that GOD LOVES ME not matter what!

I've also do a lot of shouting to the Lord in Song.  Oh, how I love singing.....how I love and miss the worship team.   Singiing does so much for the soul.   God brings the songs to your heart that will encourage you.  I like to put on music during the day to just hear; it's relaxing and a great way to keep focus on God and you'd be surprised how God can use it for the good as you walk through pain.

Obviously reading the Bible, praying, and singing (or listening) songs is not a physical  cure for a pain free life but it opens the heart to many blessings;  It opens to heart to hope and peace that one day, as Christians, we will be WHOLE again.  That in itself is comforting and gives spiritual healing.   I know then.....It's just a little while longer...  yes, it's  hard to wait

Friend B

Sometimes I get caught off guard with these questions because honestly, I never really see myself as a strong person.   I cry when I hurt, I ask "why" when I'm angry when there are no answers; I throw a temper tantrum when a medication the doctor says "it has been proven to work" has failed for me.    Reality is, I'm human.  Things aren't perfect.  Life isn't perfect.

But I do believe that my previous point coincide.  We need to continue to pray and ask God to increase our strength to endure our pain.  Containing and be in His Word, singing praises to Him----again, it brings only comfort in knowing this pain lasts for a short while.  Songs and Words bring hope and comfort.  So where does the strength come?

My answer to my Friend B was that I truly trust God and His purposes in life: I find strength in talking to God, praying, singing, or even watching the beauty of creations.  She says she trusts; It isn't an automatic answer, but an answer will be in due time.  Of course, as all humans do, we are all sinners and are bound to become, weak, distrusting,   But with prayers, We can keep our trust in God and cope with our daily trials, like pain.

Thank Your Lord, for your unfailing Love