Pain is white and blue, the hottest center of a flame.
Not a gently flickering candle, but an explosion of blistering heat, a fire that blazes without burning out. It starts at the base of my spine and reaches out to my hips, radiating down my right leg with fiery tentacles that entangle themselves around my bones, wrapping tightly around nerve endings and tendons. My ribcage aches while pain slices back and forth across my spine until I’m certain my body will snap in two.
It might feel better if it did.
Continue reading the rest of this post here….
Friends,
I’m guest posting at Emily Lofgren’s blog today. Emily writes often on living with a chronic illness, and since I have a handful of autoimmune diseases that held me captive to pain for a long time, she asked me to write about that while holding on to faith in Christ. I was honored to write a post on the anxiety that comes with pain for her blog, and I hope you’ll skip on over to her page to not only finish reading my post, but to peruse her most recent posts as well. If you live with a chronic illness, you’ll appreciate where Emily is coming from as she seeks to see God’s hand in her life in the midst of illness. I truly appreciate the opportunity to write intimately on such a difficult subject. It was a challenge in more ways that one, as you’ll read in the post.
Blessings,
-Glenna
Glenna Marshall is married to her pastor, William, and lives in rural Southeast Missouri where she tries and fails to keep up with her two energetic sons. She is the author of The Promise is His Presence (P&R) and Everyday Faithfulness (Crossway), and Memorizing Scripture (Moody). Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
This was exactly what I needed to read this morning. I was recently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and it’s been such a difficult journey, both physically and emotionally. This wrapped words around many of the things I’ve been thinking and feeling, especially with regards to fear. I’m so thankful for God’s unending mercy and the gift of his presence in the midst of it all. Thanks for your honesty and vulnerability!
Amy, I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. RA is a tough diagnosis. One of my close friends has RA as a result of Lyme Disease, and it’s been so difficult for her. Watching her handle her constant pain and fatigue has been a great encouragement to me as I grappled with my own pain and diagnosis. I love that the Lord uses our suffering to help others in similar circumstances as well as drawing us to a deeper level of trust in His presence.
Thanks for your kind comment.