Walking with the Word
Viewing Chronic Health Issues Through the Lens of Scripture
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
When my health was better and I did not suffer from daily pain, I rarely thought about the suffering of Christ. I somehow compartmentalized His rejection, mocking, and beating into an emotionless image of a cross. However, my experience of chronic pain provides me with endless opportunities daily to remember the sufferings of Christ on my behalf. When I am scared of what my future might hold for me, I am reminded of Christ’s tears of blood as He considered the price He would pay for my sin. When pain radiates down my back, I am reminded of how Roman soldiers flayed open Christ’s back on my behalf. When I am experiencing pain that fully encircles my head, I am reminded of the ridicule and pain Christ endured on my behalf when a crown of thorns was placed on His head. When my legs feel weak, I am reminded of how Christ’s legs felt when carrying the cross for me. When I feel alone in my struggles, I am reminded of how Christ endured separation from His loving Father to pay the price for my sin. My suffering reminds me daily of my desperate need for my Savior, Jesus. And these constant reminders help my love grow daily for the One who saved me. My suffering is a gift my loving Father gives me along this journey because the destination of my journey is Jesus.
Faithfully suffering opens the door to experiencing God and the riches of His glory in an intimate and precious manner, like a child enjoying gifts from his Father. When I embrace my inheritance from God along this path, my life becomes more beautiful, rich, and spiritually fulfilling with every faithful step He empowers me to take. This act of embracing my inheritance of suffering is not an act accomplished once. Rather, it is an act I must choose every day of my life and is an act that is incredibly challenging as I’m tempted to embrace hopelessness, despair, and frustration. But by embracing my suffering through the lens of this passage, I can see the challenges I face now are nothing in comparison to the eternity promised to me as an heir of God.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness or receiving the news that your loved one will be facing health issues for the rest of his or her life can be heartbreaking and overwhelming. Aaron Montgomery experienced this firsthand when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Pain Syndrome, Chronic Migraine, and Daily Persistent Headache in 2012.
This began a journey for Aaron and his wife, Brandy, that changed nearly every aspect of their lives. Walking with the Word chronicles how God, through His Word, met them in the midst of their pain to provide love, comfort, strength, courage, a purpose for living, and hope for their future. The truths revealed in the Word changed Aaron and Brandy’s lives, and Walking with the Word shares these truths to touch the hearts, minds, and spirits of those who are impacted by chronic health conditions.
“I have watched Aaron learn how to cling to Jesus and his word through debilitating physical afflictions and draw strength from the Lord to minister to others and make disciples out of his personal suffering. This book is born out of a journey that is authentic, sometimes broken, yet ever hope filled in the gospel. The perspectives offered by Aaron on these pages offer true healing for the soul and spirit of those battling chronic illness.”
– Scott Long, Discipleship Pastor, Highview Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky
About the Author
Aaron Montgomery is a licensed professional clinical counselor with over 20 years experience helping the suffering and wounded. Through his own personal experience of being diagnosed with multiple chronic health conditions, Aaron shares both his professional and personal insights, assistance, and guidance through his writing. He lives with his wife, Brandy, in Fisherville, Kentucky, and has a private practice in Louisville, Kentucky.