24. Is Chronic Pain or Illness Crippling You?
Nearly half of Americans are suffering with chronic illness or pain. Are you one of them?
Chances are that even if you aren’t someone who suffers with chronic illness or pain, you know someone who does. These ailments can leave us feeling discouraged, depressed, and hopeless especially when we are looking at them through an earthly lens.
But what if we told you that there is good that can come from our suffering?
This week on Abiding Free, we are diving deeper into the struggles that come along with chronic illness and pain. Shannon so graciously dives into her experience with illness, and what the reality of these experiences have forced her to learn.
While these trials can often lead us to moments of despair that leave us on our knees, we hope you will walk away from this episode being reminded that even when we are down, our loving Father is near. As we go through trials and tribulations, God meets us.
Whether you suffer with these things directly or you know someone who does, our prayer today is that you are able to shift your lens, break free from the chains that the enemy wants to bind us with and lean into the freedom that the Father has planned for us — even in our most painful moments.
It was for freedom that Christ has set you free.
Episode Highlights:
Statistics about chronic illness in America.
How chronic illness forces us to depend on God.
What God can teach us through chronic illness and pain.
How our deepest and darkest trials can be used for God’s glory.
Find More on Abiding Free:
Instagram: @abidingfree
Contact: abidingfree@gmail.com
Quotes:
“Nearly half of all Americans suffer from chronic disease.” Source
“The reality of having a chronic disease has forced me to learn to rest and I have grown to be grateful for that.” Shannon
"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you". Isaiah 41:13
“As we go through trials, God meets us.” Shannon
“Suffering equips us to comfort others.” Kristin
“Sufferers want to be ministered to by those who have suffered.” Steven Saint, Sovereignty, Suffering and the work of the mission
James 1:2-4 “Suffering produces growth and maturity.”
“One of the greatest testimonies of the reality of God is a faith that has been refined by fire but has not been destroyed.” Kristin