A Letter From Me to You
September 2006
My Dear Friend,
Chronic pain. Yuck. I’m so sorry that you are hurting. It’s like having your worst nightmare show up, suitcase in hand, for an extended visit. How do I handle it? I wish there was a simple answer to your question.
Just last week I had an epiphany of sorts. On Saturday night the pain in my arms was so bad that I just cried. I asked Rob, “Why won’t God heal me?”
Of course, he doesn’t know any better than I do. He did remind me as he prayed of the song, “He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater . . .” I knew that to be true, but at the moment my pain was speaking louder than the grace.
But, not so loud that I couldn’t hear God’s whisper to my heart, “I know that you are hurting.”
Sometimes I forget. If He knows, then I know He cares. Still, so far He has said, “No” to my prayer for healing. While I don’t like His answer, I do know that He must, therefore, have a bigger plan in mind that I do not know about or understand.
At the same time I am questioning, “Why?” I am reminding myself that He is God and He doesn’t have to give me a reason why. Perhaps one day He will. He’s been nudging my heart a lot lately about surrender and finding sanctuary in Him. If this is the degree of health God deems best for me to have, then I have to surrender to His will, accept the pain, and find sanctuary in Him.
Life is not about us, though it’s hard to remember that when we're hurting. We are here to prepare for eternity. We’re also here to help others prepare for eternity. If they can be brought closer to God through the testimony of our pain, then that is a good thing. I know that God needs people who are willing to go through the fire, and come out strong on the other side. I just can’t remember volunteering for this particular assignment. Sigh.
There is always good and not so good in our lives. I find it hard to focus on the good when the not so good is so deafening. Still I know that in this pain, God is preparing us, working out our character flaws, making us more like Jesus.
Hold steady my friend. One day these days will only be a memory. God is teaching you so much, and He will use what you are learning to help others. I know that He will. He won’t waste the pain. Keep your eyes and ears open and when you hear of someone who needs a listening ear, take the initiative and go to them. Ask them out for coffee or tea and just listen to their hearts. I know that you can do that, because you have done it for me so many, many times.
I love you, Thanks for sharing with me.
Love, Ronda
Mary Scott, a godly woman, died in the care center where she spent her final days. Shortly before her death a friend, Helen Temple, came to visit. Helen stopped short of entering the room when she heard her Mary praying. Mary was offering a prayer of surrender to God, "Lord, if this degree of health is all you want for me, I accept it and will be content." source unknown
"One of the best things we can do for those in pain is to encourage them to slow down, FOCUS more on being than doing, and adjust to a more limited energy span. When we're suffering, whether from chronic pain or deep sorrow, we must remember to FOCUS more on what we can do than what we cannot, more on the privilege of being alive than on the deprivation of energy." unknown
