I have said before that chronic pain is just one form of suffering. In ancient times, when the Hebrews were brought out of slavery, they were unsure of what the future would bring. We read that this uncertainty caused them to rebel and cry out; repeated too many times. Over years we see His people suffer. Early on, when Moses spoke with the Lord, the prophet asked the Lord to teach His ways to Moses so the Lord’s people could find favor with him. “The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest’.” Generations later, we can still hold onto His promise. Even in your worst pain, God is with you and you will have rest. I know that God’s time isn’t our time, and sometimes it feels like He has left the building; but nothing could be farther from the truth.
The questions then becomes; why me, why now, or when will this end? Those questions can’t be answered now. When you’re not finding rest, you just need to learn to be okay with it and allow God to come to you in His time. One of the blessings I have received in my time with my pain is the peace beyond understanding. I have learned to wait on the Lord, as He has always come to my aid; although I may have preferred a quicker response. Insomnia, as we have discussed this week, has a devastating effect on the mind, body, and the spirit. This last post of the week is to put forth the real question: Will you allow this lack of sleep block you from finding true rest in the Lord? How about you? Can you wait on the Lord? Are you so sleepy, you’re forgetting what is the real rest? As we close the week, let me know how insomnia has effected you. Until we meet again, God bless, Tom.
Hi Tom -
ReplyDeleteI'm feel really awful about those who suffer, and then to see insult added to injury...insomnia?
My wife, unfortunately knows all about this. Even before she had been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, she had been conditioned early in her youth to stay awake at night because her dad had cancer and needed care and her mom worked at night. This conditioning has remained and she is now 37.
Even now, she's with her mom in Tennessee and has inevitably come down with a very bad cold. The conditions at her mom's is not the best, so she is now 4 days into this sickness with very little rest (insomnia in addition to being unable to breathe adequately through her nose.)
I know this isn't chronic pain like you experience, but the trigeminal neuralgia is very painful. Fortunately, this isn't the issue at the moment.
The only thing I know that gets her through this is her relationship with God. He is the One who gives her strength.
I hope for you, her, and others, that true rest in the Lord is what we all find.
God bless!
Dean
Dean, Please forgive my delay in getting back to you. I pray that, by now, your wife is feeling better. It's God's way that you are here, my wife's dad died of Lou Gehrig's Disease and we spent many nights up with him. In fact, Stefanie used to walk and talk (sometimes yell!) in her sleep for years; then her dad went home wit the Lord and she finally slept.
ReplyDeleteAs for your wife, remember pain is pain, and no one can tell someone else which is worse. I mean, I look at burn victims and our injured troops and I'm ashamed that I even bring my pain up. But, at the same time, we're all in this, whatever the level. Thank you so much for your empathy and compassion. The love you have for your wife, and your recognition that God is Lord is the best thing she can have. You must certainly be her earthly rock, and her Father in heaven her Spiritual one. Sounds like she couldn't be in better hands.
Thanks again for commenting, take care, and God bless. You have no idea how much I appreciate your note.
Tom