Hope Without Limits

It’s been one of those days for me where seemingly unrelated events suddenly become pieces of a puzzle I wasn’t even aware my Heavenly Father was putting together.

Piece #1 – I’ve heard many different opinions today about Nik Wallenda’s skywalk across the Grand Canyon.  It seems to have touched a global nerve.

As I watched last night I wasn’t really sure what I was feeling; but it was very potent.  This morning I found these words to express some of those feelings on my Facebook page:

Offering my thoughts on Nik Wallenda’s skywalk across the Grand Canyon.
This man was being what God has created him to be.
His heritage has been handed down to him for 7 generations.
He had the courage to step out into for what he was made
and was relying on His Heavenly Father to help him be that.
Just because it looks different from my life or your life
doesn’t make it wrong or crazy.
Actually I thought it was a great parable for how all of us should live.
Courageously, with thankfulness and constantly seeking
God’s guidance, provision and protection.
I’ve heard some say God already has enough problems to take care of.
Yes, there are many problems in this world but
God is so big He is STILL creating more universes.
Our needs don’t “overwhelm” God
and what He does for one person does not take away from another
because
He has exceedingly, abundantly above
all we can dare to dream (Eph 3:20).
Anyways that is my 2 cents.

Piece #2 – The Fibromyalgia has been rearing it’s ugly head recently with migraines triggered by allergies.  Today, probably because the migraine pain has been wearing me out, some painful trigger points started acting up in my back and just don’t seem to want to release regardless of how I try to find relief.

Piece #3 – In the midst of just being weary of the chronicness (I don’t think that’s a word, but it should be), I was responding to a friend who also faces a chronic situation far more serious than what I face. As I typed an e-mail to her I received this “download” from the Holy Spirit which at first I thought was for her and then realized it was for her, for me, and for anyone dealing with chronic issues:

I was thinking as I typed that “I get it”
how much chronic situations wear you down.
I recently have been having that conversation
on my own behalf with our Heavenly Father.
Just in this moment I see a battlefield from the civil war.
If you just look at all the lives lost and damage done,
you may miss that somewhere in all that chaos is also victory.
And what I hear is “that is what the enemy is trying to do to me/you/
your daughter/your grand daughter and so many others;
to get us to just see the casualties
so that you lose site of the victory that is also there”.
Another way for me to put it, is what am I going to believe?
Am I going to focus on the chronic problem that persists or returns
and come into agreement with defeat and loss OR
focus on who my Heavenly Father revealed Himself to be through Jesus (Col 1:15);
the promises He has made to me in His Word
(John 16:33 and Hebrews 13:5)
and who HE tells me I am (Psalm 8).
I choose the latter.
That truth is my sword to wield whenever I need it!
(Eph 6:17)

Then the light goes on and all 3 pieces suddenly become a bigger picture.  Anyone living with chronic pain – whether it is illness, injury, or heartache must choose every day whether they are going to live courageously.  There may not be “millions” watching but that doesn’t make it any less courageous.

To live courageously, you must know who God has created you to be rather than being defined by your pain.  You must prepare thoroughly for the day, whatever that looks like for you … it might be getting the proper rest and exercise, eating well, extending forgiveness to others or even yourself, or perhaps being as kind to yourself as you would be to someone else experiencing chronic pain to list a few forms preparation might take.   Followed by having the courage to step out and walk the “tight rope of faith” as one of my friends commented today on my Facebook page.  All the while, thankful for what God has already done in your life, and constantly seeking His presence and provision.

Ah yes, His provision, for both the “courageous days” and those times when you are just to weary to pick-up your sword of truth and wield it.  The truth for those days is God’s faithfulness will form a shield around you, a rock-solid wall to protect you (Ps 91:4).  Don’t hesitate to rest behind that shield whenever you need it and allow Him to fortify you to once again, live courageously.