Coping With Chronic Illness

It is not what God had in mind when He created this world. He created it perfect, but He also created us not to be robots. We have a will and our own mind; a conscious choice to make the right or the wrong decision. Because of that and because of bad choices, we were forever cut off from the perfection that God created. This let sin enter the world and with it disease, sickness, illness and pain.

But those who choose to come back to God can have life and have it more abundantly than ever before!

Illness Changes Everything

“Do you think that God has completely forgotten you?”

Are you dealing with a sickness or illness that seems constant or never-ending? Do you feel that it just won’t ever get better? Do you think that God has completely forgotten you? Do you wallow in your sickness thinking, “This is just how it is.”

We believe so many lies, especially in today’s society. We believe genes, heredity or family history will automatically cause illness in our lives and bodies. We are turning away from the perfection God has created and called good evil and evil good. We are allowing stress and unforgiveness to wreak havoc in our lives and our bodies, and many times we don’t even know it.

Coping with Illness

If you have chronic or constant pain or sickness or maybe you are just always getting sick and are literally “sick and tired” of it, I want you to know there is relief that you don’t have to just cope with your chronic illness. There is healing, there is a way of escape.

We must look at all the root causes of the sickness to see if there is something in us that needs to change. First, let’s look at physical attributes. The

Bible says:

“We reap what we sow” (Galatians 6:7-9) which is a universal law. One which does not only apply to Christians, it works for everyone, everywhere, no matter what or who you believe. It is the basic premise that states that our actions create consequences and in most cases, creates more than we sowed.

Think of a seed; one seed does not produce one fruit or vegetable but many. The same is true for our actions. One poor choice can produce many hardships.

“Our actions create consequences.”

Alternatively, one good move could produce multiple benefits. If we choose to smoke, we may encounter numerous health issues. If we abuse our bodies with food, drugs or alcohol, we reap numerous health problems and one issue can cause multiple problems like low energy, rashes, weight gain, low immune system, pain and aches and many more problems. We must look at the damage we may be causing to our bodies first, and ask God to help identify things in our life that are harming us physically.

Stress can also cause multiple health issues. If we are worried or stressed, our bodies can react with shortness of breath, panic attacks and constant pain such as fibromyalgia. Philippians 4:6 says we are to be “anxious for nothing but in everything give thanks by prayer.” Laying our burdens on God can relieve a multitude of worries.

Can There Be Another Cause?

If we have addressed everything external that we may directly be causing the root of our illness then we have to look further. Is there sin in my life that is rotting my bones? Proverbs 14:30 says that a “heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

“Are we rotting from the inside out?”

Are we rotting from the inside out due to unforgiveness toward someone else? Do we harbor resentment and anger toward another, perhaps parents or relatives? Are we holding onto bitterness and unresolved anger that could be the root of our sickness? You would be surprised to know that many physical illnesses actually have spiritual roots. Our bodies are not separate from our emotions, and when we hold on to resentment we destroy our physical bodies.

If you feel you are not purposely harming your body with external behaviors, ask God what could be causing the constant pain and illness that needs to be resolved. You might be surprised as to what He brings to light.

Getting Help

We don’t want to miss an important step here. Seeing your doctor can help many issues. God has placed doctors in this life to help with medicine and treatments, and we are not to disregard them. While God is our ultimate physician, doctors and medical professionals can advice healing and medications that may also help.

But we must not forget to turn to the Great Physician; the One that truly knows how our bodies are created and knit together.

“Jesus takes our sickness, pain and weakness…”

If you are not familiar with this Healer, I want to introduce you to Him. He knows all and sent His son, Jesus, to take all our sickness, all our pain and all our weakness and bear it for us on the cross. In that moment, Jesus bore our sickness and by the stripes of blood on His back, we ARE healed. (Isaiah 53:4) It doesn’t say, we might be healed or someday we will be healed. It says we ARE healed. That’s a great promise! We don’t have to be subject to sin and sickness in our lives. Jesus said that He has come to give us life more abundantly (John 10:10). We are free if we claim it, speak it and believe it.

How do you do that? Stop talking about the sickness and start talking about the healing. Speak life into yourself and above all, let Jesus do the perfect work in you. Matthew 15:18 says, “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart and this defiles a person.” Don’t let your words defile or sicken your body any longer. Give you body, your words, your sickness and your life over to Christ – God – the only one that can fully heal your complete soul, mind and body.

Pray this with me:

Jesus, I have not been careful with my body. If I have harmed my body in any way, I ask forgiveness. If I have harbored resentment or unforgiveness in my heart toward someone else, I ask that you reveal it to me and I ask forgiveness. If I have spoken words that condemn my body and soul I ask forgiveness. Come into my life. Heal my body. Give me freedom from chronic illness. Lead me toward health so I can live life abundantly and fully for You. Thank you for that healing. In Jesus Name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, please click the button that says: “I prayed.” We would love to hear your story.