Content in the Storm

Pain is a part of chronic illness. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it; if you have chronic illness there is usually pain involved. Living in pain or having it as part of your daily existence can be a struggle to say the least. It feels defeating, unending and all-consuming. Often, I find it exhausting from one day to the next to be in constant pain. Others don’t understand that. How can they if they don’t LIVE it? It isn’t their fault, but it doesn’t make it any easier to handle. When someone injures themselves, we give our condolences and feel bad for them. But they heal and that part of their lives goes on like normal. With chronic pain, we constantly feel this pain, ache, burning, whatever the case may be. However, society wants us to “get over it” because they are used to things that go away. The problem is that it doesn’t go away. How can we tell people that it never leaves and not seem like we are just complaining? Our families and friends often want to help, but what can be done? We feel like we need to struggle alone because they get tired of hearing about it. How are we to respond when someone asks, “How are you feeling today?” If we respond honestly, others will not understand how we cannot feel good every day; so, we lie. We all do it. It’s the response “I’m fine” that we give often. But what would happen if we let SOMEONE in? What would it feel like to be 100% honest about the pain that is ravaging our bodies? Society says to “suffer in silence”. But who does that help? Certainly not us. Who better to let in than the one who created you? Be honest with God today. Tell him what hurts, how it feels. Tell him your true feelings. Below is an area to write to Him. No one else will see this so be brutally honest about it. Get it out! It doesn’t help to leave those emotions bottled up inside. Cry, scream, be angry. It’s ok. He is your Father and He knows all.