I wake up with pain in my hips and back. I have tried not to complain but have failed miserably. I have iced, rubbed stinky heating gel on, and taken over the counter meds. I cannot walk because of the issue with my knee. There is so much more that I could write, but I have already lost half of you, so…
What do you do when you are in pain? Physically, mentally, or spiritually? Me? I pray. I have prayed selfish prayers. Today I decided to look at scripture. Meditate on these verses as a way to relieve my discomfort.
Job 30:17 “The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest.” I feel the same way, Job. Rest some nights escapes me. I feel as if a truck ran over and backed up to repeat the process all night long. Job complained at times, but he never lost faith in God. He, like us, may not have understood why this was happening; however, he continued to talk to God. God finally silenced him and that is when Job finally submitted completely.
Psalm 41:3 “The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.” I can definitely give some thought and praise for this verse. Instead of focusing on my discomfort, I am slowly shifting my focus to God’s abilities for my health.
My favorite verses, the ones I try to live by, failed to come to mind until just now. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Just in the writing of this blog, I have shifted my focus away from the pain of my body. In doing that, I do not feel as much of what is going on in my joints. No, instead I am feeling what is going on in my heart.
I can rejoice because I am called to do so. In all circumstances, I need to rejoice. I am rejoicing that I have doctors available to diagnose what is going on in my body. I am rejoicing because the sun came up and the birds are singing. I am rejoicing for the scripture God provided to help take my mind off the pain.
Rejoicing and giving thanks seem to go hand-in-hand. But if I tell you that I can give thanks for the pain I am feeling, would you believe me? Probably not. Without the pain, I would not have gone to the doctor. Coping with the pain has been difficult for there is no comfortable position to sit or stand. I can use the pain to be thankful. Every time I hurt; I can pray. It is shifting that prayer that is now my focus.
The verses I have used here in the blog, will be my meditation today. But my prayer today when I feel the pain will now be different. I am not the only one in pain. There are hospitals around the world that are full of people in pain. Now my prayer will focus on them. This is a new prayer for me. I have focused on me and my pain that I failed to think of others that are far worse off. So, I am thankful for the opportunity to shift my prayers.
Lord, I come before you rejoicing for the opportunity to pray for others. I pray for the nurses and the doctors who are tired. I know they have dealt with so many people complaining. Lord, I ask you to sustain them, restore them and give them strength. I pray for the people who are doing all the complaining. I understand where they are, and I pray for the ailments they are feeling. I pray for the emotional hurts; they are not as obvious. You see our hearts and hear our thoughts, Lord, heal us. Give us hope when we do not feel hopeful. We cast our worries, cares and anxiety on you. You are the great healer, Lord. Heal our land. I pray in your name. AMEN.
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