Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Our Source of Strength" for Sunday, 19 October 2014 - Read Matthew 11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Carry each other’s burdens.(Galatians 6:2 (NIV))
I used to be ashamed of my chronic illness. I pretended that everything was fine, even on days when I couldn’t move and it was obvious that something was terribly wrong. I was afraid to admit my need for help or to disclose that I had a disabling condition.
One day, my frustration with having to come up with yet another excuse overwhelmed me, and I started talking to others about my illness. Even though I felt liberated, I feared that I would be shunned or criticized. Instead, something wonderful happened; sharing my brokenness, neediness, and weakness caused those around me to open up about the challenging areas in their lives. When I shared my trials with them, they responded compassionately, helping me to see evidence of God’s mercy, power, love, and grace in my life.
I realized that being honest about my hardships was a way of encouraging others in their own hardships. And as they told me how God had helped them through tough times, my faith and hope grew stronger. No matter what we are going through, letting others know how God is helping us and strengthening us will bless their lives in ways we can’t begin to imagine.
Read more from the author.
"We Are Not Forsaken"
When we have challenges, we often think that no one will understand. We believe that we are all alone in our difficulties. It is tempting to isolate ourselves or to wallow in self-pity. We wonder if others think of us as inferior. Where do we find the courage to keep going? How can we trust that our lives will be useful to God?
Chronic illness takes many forms. A lot of them are invisible. That makes it tough for others to realize how our conditions limit our lives. When I first was diagnosed with a chronic illness, I constantly heard, “Well, you don’t look sick.” It frustrated me. Some days I wanted to cry. Other days I wanted to scream. I felt out of control. Sometimes my fears overwhelmed me. Learning to deal with doctors and specialists; needing to have tests and procedures; managing medications; and adjusting to physical limits made me wonder if I would survive. I started to doubt God. I lost hope. My faith faltered.
Over the years, I realized that having an invisible illness changed me. I developed a new level of compassion, patience, and sensitivity. Chronic illness forced me to think differently about others. Meeting someone new was no longer an opportunity for me to make a snap judgment, but a chance for me to get to know the person and their story.
God never allowed me to wallow in self-pity and opened my eyes to the family and friends around me. All of us were in the midst of trials. Although our child’s teacher was diagnosed with cancer, her main concern was finding her teenage daughter who ran away from home. A close family friend went through a messy divorce. There were those who lost jobs, went through bankruptcy, cared for sick parents, and coped with rebellious teens. Yes, my situation was serious, but I wasn’t the only person facing unexpected hardship.
John 16:33 makes it clear that suffering is a part of our world. But it also assures us that we should not despair. No matter what we must endure, we can be confident rely on God’s love (Romans 8:35-39). Even when we feel like we are too weak to go on, God will give us the strength we need to make it (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Second Corinthians 4:7-18 brings me comfort because it reminds me that no matter what I’m facing, I am not defeated. My victory is assured because of Christ.
I would like to encourage you to take heart. No matter what your situation is, hang in there and trust God to see you through. God is the key to successfully dealing with your trials. It may not be easy, but God has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:9). That gives us the courage we need to keep going.
God uses our challenges testimonies uplift others. Never be ashamed. Your life is evidence of God’s mercy, love, and power.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your precious Word. Thank You for the wisdom, love, guidance, and hope we find there. Help us to have the faith and courage need to live our lives to the fullest, in spite of our adversities. Amen.(Dorothea Love)
The Author: Dorothea M. Love (California)
Thought for the Day:
Sharing our brokenness can strengthen our faith.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, help us to view our difficult situations as openings through which your glory can shine. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those suffering from chronic illness
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