Living with Strength and Resilience in the Midst of Chronic Illness
Discovering the role of faith and spirituality in the path to your recovery
Have you ever experienced a serious illness or chronic condition that left you feeling lost, frustrated, or hopeless? I promise you, you are not alone.
So many people struggle with the physical and emotional challenges of illness. Some will dive deep and recognize the spiritual opportunity that it presents. Others will moan and complain.
Why not be the person who dives deep into your faith to seek out the meaning of your particular illness as you also sense God’s continual presence?
Oh Spirit, in the stillness of Your presence, I sense You and Your healing life as it flows through me, bringing peace of mind, solace to my soul, and physical energy. Show me how to be intertwined into your powerful healing Love so that I may not wander into the depths of anger and bitterness. I release myself, my thoughts, and my trust into Your Hands. May it be so.
In the depths of illness, we discover the depths of our being. — Parker Palmer
I have struggled with long-term hormonal imbalances. First with hypothyroidism, which thankfully is healed. Then with adrenal fatigue. It has been a long journey.
When I was first diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, I was bedridden for 6 months. I lay in spiritual and physical darkness every day, wondering what God was showing me. If you peek into any of my writing about those times, you’ll know that there were some beautiful things that happened in the darkness.
When I saw Parker Palmer’s quote, it resonated with me deeply because my journey with illness revealed my deep fears and my greatest hopes and desires, bringing me face-to-face with my own mortality, and forcing me to ask some big questions about life and death.
I was not near death, but chronic illness has a way of drudging up those thoughts. In my case, illness became a time of spiritual awakening and a catalyst for some deep personal transformation and growth.
And, while you may never fully understand why you are enduring any kind of suffering, you can trust that it is infused with Grace and Love. You just have to pay attention to it. And, I get it … it’s not easy.
There is no judgment from me if you take a day or a week to be angry at God. Sometimes you gotta’ let that stinky part detox from your soul so that you can uncover the reason why you’re in the situation you’re in.
Chronic illness is a life-changing experience that can make even the strongest of people feel defeated. If you’re that person, you know this all too well.
What if you could find a deeper meaning and deepen your faith in the midst of your journey? What if you could lean on your faith to help guide you?
What if God is trying to get your attention and this is the only way God knows how?
Reflection Questions
How has your faith shaped your perspective of any kind of illness? How has your faith been re-shaped during your season of illness?
In what ways have you turned to your faith in God to help you cope — not just with your illness but with depression, anxiety, and/or the uncertainty of things?
What role does prayer or meditation play in your recovery process? What kinds of examples have you seen from others who have used their faith to cope with their illness? How does that inspire you?
Putting it into practice
Spend each day reminding yourself to be gracious to yourself.
Remind yourself each day that today is today and tomorrow is a new day. Lean into Hope.
Surrender to the fact that you cannot control everything in your life. When you surrender yourself to God you just might “see” a new path for yourself. Listen for the quiet whispers that seep deep into your soul, reminding you how beautiful, resilient, and wonderful you are — even when you can’t get out of bed.
Turn to a gratitude practice. Research shows that a gratitude practice changes the landscape of your brain and how it communicates with your body, which, in turn, helps you be physically healthier.
You wake up every morning to fight the same demons that left you so tired the night before, and that, my love, is bravery. — Unknown
Surround yourself with people who support you in a healthy way. This is a time to set boundaries with people who are not good for you and cannot be encouraging and comfort you. Stand up for yourself in small ways that will help you advocate for your recovery in positive and meaningful ways. It’s important — trust me.
Consider connecting with a support group or online community. Share your story and listen to the stories of others that might offer you inspiration.
Wrap yourself in music. Allow it to seep into your heart, mind, and soul to soothe the deep pain and suffering.
What I have learned along the way is that my journey is my journey and how I choose to advocate and “be” in my recovery process is personal and intimate to me. Not once have I been mad at God. But, that’s me. I have been mad at God for some other things, but never with my illness. Maybe that’s because I saw beauty glimmer in that dark space pretty quickly. I don’t know.
Today, being healed from a 30+ year journey with hypothyroidism and almost healed from my adrenal fatigue, which has been a 10-year journey, I have learned much about God, myself, and what is truly important to me. I hope the same for you.
May you find comfort, peace, and strength, knowing that you are not alone and that the Divine is always with you, guiding and supporting you through your journey of healing. May peace be your guide and Truth.
Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. — A. A. Milne
May you know that you are loved beyond measure because you matter.
May your soul be refreshed.
sdg © Nancy Blackman