
I woke up in pain again this morning. Yet another day starting out as a battle. Yet another day crying out to God to heal me and take the pain. If you are suffering a long term chronic illness (in my case a genetic autoimmune disorder called Celiac Disease), then you know how it feels physically and emotionally. You know how it wears us down. You know the frustration and anguish from praying for healing only to receive more pain. We have suffered for so long we wonder when it will end. We feel cast aside and forgotten and it can feel like God doesn’t care.
A million questions swirl in our minds as we wonder how much more pain we will live through and what will become of us. Will I make it? Is God angry at me? Is He punishing me? We can become angry and begin to wonder if He sees the pain. We wonder if He sees us at all. I know what these feelings and thoughts are like all too well and I want to encourage all of you who are suffering to never lose hope! God most definitely cares! He loves us and cares about us more than we could ever imagine!
I was up early this morning, so I came downstairs as the sun was coming up. I pushed the blinds away from the french doors off the deck and the image above is what I saw. It was like everything was frozen in time and it was beautiful. I heard the Lord whisper, “I love you,” in my spirit as He comforted me through the pain and reminded me He was with me. He has seen the battle and He knows I’m tired. He feels my anger and disappointment. He hears my questions and cries for help. He knows us, He sees us, and He cares!
If you are suffering today, all is not lost! I know we have had so much taken from us. Time and experiences we will never get back. So many years living in pain. Dreams that were never fulfilled. There is still hope and God has not abandoned us! He most definitely sees us and all we are going through and He still has good plans for us!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
God comforted my heart this morning with a sunrise. A heart that has been beaten and battered by disease and pain and has struggled through bouts of hopelessness and depression. A heart clinging to God crying out for mercy. It is not easy being human, is it? I don’t have all the answers, but I know that Jesus Christ is alive and He lives in me by the power of the Holy Spirit and I am relying on His power to get me through this.
I might not understand God’s process or timing, but I know He cares because He always comforts me. He never leaves me, even when I’m angry. Even when I’ve had enough. He is the God of all comfort!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
I am sharing His comfort with you now. I am in pain as I write this, but He is holding me and nothing can snatch me out of His hands. His comfort fills my heart and overflows to all of you! If you are suffering today, take heart! You are not forgotten! You are not alone! God loves you very much and He cares about you! When you believe in Jesus you belong to Jesus and He will never leave us! Keep going, rest in Him, and don’t give up! Give Him the pain. When it feels like God doesn’t care, remember the truth that He always cares for you!
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7
Grace and peace to you all…and Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m praying for ya, Ryan. I’m sure it’s rough going through all that pain.
Very pretty picture!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
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Thanks Lydia, God bless!
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You’re welcome!
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I hope you get to feeling better. I’m always reminded of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” that he prayed God would take away (it was not taken away). His ways are above ours and Paul recognized God had a purpose for it. Even when we don’t understand it, like you said, God does.
I pray He grant you comfort and peace of mind.
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Amen, may His will be done. Thank you, God bless!
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What a beautiful sunrise the Lord created specially for you Ryan. Thank you for sharing your faith in this our God who does no wrong and loves us with an indescribable love.
Praying for you brother 🙏
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Thank you sister, amen! God bless you!
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I’m praying for you, Ryan. We’ll see you healed!
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Amen brother, thank you! God bless!
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Great post brother we all have trials and things but He is sovereign over it all.
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Amen to that! God bless!
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And amen God bless you too. All I could do last year when I had that first major trial was cry out for help and cry out I am repentant on you to the Lord. After decades of cerebral palsy I long to hear from Jesus run to me but the cerebral palsy is being used by Him for His glory and purpose.
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Amen! Praying for you! So thankful He will never leave us!
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And amen honestly I used to ask why I have cerebral palsy before salvation but now I know He is using it for His purpose and I finally be free of it in heaven.
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What a beautiful hope we have in Jesus!
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Yes I agree.
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With Him we have hope.
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When we get to heaven can we run together?
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Amen, looking forward to that day very much!
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The picture from today’s sunrise is stunning as is the one from yesterday! I had read you guys got “dumped” on, but isn’t it beautiful!! Your message comes from your heart with your faith….truer words can not be spoken….I got the goose bumps reading your post. I can’t imagine the physical pain you endure and can only respond with the same faith you have for the pains we all deal with. Thank you for sharing and I just want you to know that your words are touching so many….He is so working through you!! Happy Thanksgiving and blessing to you and your family!
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Thanks Kirt, I really appreciate the encouragement! All glory to God, may His will be done! Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!
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Happy Thanksgiving! God is our reward everyday in this world of struggles. 🙂
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Amen, thank you! God bless!
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God bless you and your family, Ryan.
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Thank you Carole! God bless!
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Thank you so much for such an encouraging post!!! Blessings to you and your family!
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Thanks Valerie, God is good! Blessings to you and yours as well!
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Ryan, I am sorry you started your day in pain again, I hate that your are dealing with this! I do hope that your pain has gone away at this moment. The love and faith you have in God and the strength you draw from Jesus is so inspiring to me. I am so thankful and grateful your beautiful spirit is so filled with His love, and your devotion to our Lord is so deep. Thank you, Ryan, for sharing his ever lasting love with us, and reminding us He never leaves us! You’re in my prayers, Ryan, my hopeful, faithful prayers! All my love. Mom
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Thanks Mom! It is a bit better, but still hurts. It’s okay, He is always faithful to lift me up! Love you!
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I love you, Ryan! Glad the pain is better at least. I forgot to mention how pretty your sunrise was, you took another great picture!
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Thanks Mom! Love ya!
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Shared on FaceBook. Two of family are suffering and need to see this. Thank you, Mr. Ryan.
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Thank you for sharing it Bonnie! Praying they are healed and comforted. God bless you!
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You also. I stay in prayer for you and family.
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Thank you!😊🙏
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🙂
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Thank you for writing this with true emotions………..sending healing prayers up for all.
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Thank you Wendi! God bless!
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Happy Thanksgiving to you too, May God Place his healing hands on you..
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Amen, thank you! God bless you!
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Lord uphold you, Ryan!
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Thanks Tom, blessings!
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Through pain and suffering come strength. Feel better soon.
Hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving.
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Thanks Jeanne! Happy Thanksgiving!
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You as well. Hang in there. Things will get better. 🙂
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happy, happy thanksgiving Ryan. Thank for the encouragement and the beautiful photo. Although I do love to see the snow, I do not like what always comes with it 🙂 🙂 but as you said, we have a God who whispers even in the pain of His wonderful love for us
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Amen Brenda, thank you! God is so faithful to us! Happy Thanksgiving!🦃
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A wonderful share, Ryan! I somewhat know what you’re going through, I have someone at home that’s also facing chronic illness for over ten years. We may understand the timing, but His love and His Grace is still perfect! Prayed for you this morning, God bless!
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Thank you sir, amen! I will pray for you and your family as well. God bless!
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Blessings!
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Have a happy Thanksgiving
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Thanks, you too! Happy Thanksgiving!
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🦃
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Thinking of you this morning, Ryan. I lifted up a prayer for you. Praying that your physical suffering will decrease. I well know what it is to hurt. I feel for you. It’s a bear. Hang in there, my brother. We’ll make it. You’re gonna’ be alright.
We are church. Jesus said “wherever two or more are gathered there will I be amongst them.” Each of we blogosphere *believers* are a nexus. Each nexus interlinks with different circles of followers. There is interlinking, cross-pollination taking place as believers fly around amongst the vines and blogs of our little church. We are establishing a small believer’s community here. I experience that already. As we always have: we will try to bless. We will try to edify. We will try to comfort one another. Sometimes we’ll entertain one another. We will help each other grow. We will honor each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord and together we will worship The Most High => Jesus Christ.
If you see anyone state: “WE ARE CHURCH” in the WordPress blogosphere, that person considers themselves to be part of our little community, Ryan.
WE ARE CHURCH
Lifting your name up before the throne, JCT
We are church.
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Amen, thanks for your prayers! God bless!
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Amen JCT we are the church, encouraged to see you pray for Ryan in light of his health
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Thank you, brother. I know I appreciate all the prayer that I can get. It don’t matter from where. God listens to some real cases I’m sure… from quarters one might not anticipate, you know? (possibly moi?). 🤪
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=)
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God is so good. What a great post, Ryan. I pray God continues to bless you, brother. Dee
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Thanks Dee, amen! He is so good to us! God bless!
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God cares us always but we think in short period for short time but they think about long period for long time.
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Amen, God cares for us forever. God bless!
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Same to you dear friend
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