Days with chronic pain do not always equate to good days. Often times we do not feel like living our best life or even enjoying the moment. The moment or the season in our life is just plain miserable and all we can even think about is the overwhelming fatigue and pain the encompasses our life. How do we even take a step forward when all we want to do is crawl back into bed to hibernate? The absolute perfect way you can find joy in your journey can be found.
I was recently studying the book of 1 Peter. In the first chapter Peter, an apostle to Jesus, is writing to Gentile and Jewish believers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, western Asia Minor, and Bithynia. These verses spoke so very clearly to me in my present circumstances as someone living with chronic pain of fibromyalgia.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9
Absolute Perfect Joy for the Journey
You see a few minutes prior to my daily Bible reading I had poured out my heart to the Lord in prayer. I had shared raw honesty about my physical pain with fibro and some personal heart ache that had come to our family. I closed my journal and opened His Word when God clearly spoke 1 Peter 1:6-9 over my journey. He gave me the absolute perfect joy that I needed that day for the journey ahead. I realized at that moment for a little while I may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, but to know Him more it was worth more than gold. Jesus suffered far greater on the cross for my sins so that I could spend eternity with Him. I became so humbled and awed by the power of His Word.
The absolute perfect joy for this journey we face of chronic pain or grief is that God has given us His Son. His Word is the Promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. So while we may not like the cards that our bodies have been dealt or the painful day we are experiencing, we can take that journey and let it draw us to Him and to His Word. It can draw us nearer to God so that we can find His joy is this journey we call life.
The Cross is the Absolute Perfect Joy
Earlier in the blog, we discussed The Best Advice for A Joy Filled Life where I shared with you the life of my Honey. He was a Godly man who would 100% agree with everything I relearned in the story above. He would tell you that it was a story he had tried teaching me often times before, but it is a lesson that we each must learn on our own time frame throughout our own journey.
When you can no longer face another painful moment or day of grief, you can cry out to Him. He hung on the cross in agony crying out to God the Father for you. He wanted to be in realtionship with you forever. Every moment of your story, of your pain, of your grief is meant to draw you closer to God the Father. Have you spent more time in your pain and misery than in prayer and praise? Has your pain taken its toll on your relationship with God? Are you ready to find the absolute perfect joy for the journey? Are you tired of living life in misery?
How Can You Surrender Your Journey?
Simply pray this prayer with me
Father God,
I am miserable trying to live this life without you in control. You know every ache and every pain that my body feels. I know that you can heal me on this Earth. I also know that you can use my physical aliment to draw me towards you and draw others towards you. God, I want to know you more. Use my pain to let me cry out to you for joy. Help me find absolute perfect joy in this journey that you have given me. Let me follow hard after You. Amen.