Why Affliction?

Diane Bucknell shares some great thoughts on how Our Suffering of Illness is Meant to Go Far Beyond Just Us over at Rest Ministries. In part she writes,

The doctor said I would be better in 18 months. Having a young family to care for, that pronouncement was devastating. Little did I know it would be 10 years before I would feel reasonably well again and by that time the children were grown. I was bedridden most of the time for the first several years and depended on my family to help me with the normal daily activities like shopping and housework. My only outings for the first 2 years were to the doctor for weekly treatments. There were many times that I didn’t know how I could survive one more day of being so sick....

Psalm 27:13-14 was my lifeline of hope which I clung to daily:

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see
the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.”
When God does one thing, He’s doing many things at the same time.

* Affliction drives us to dependence: “My eye has wasted away because of affliction; I have called upon You every day, O LORD” Psalm 88: 9.
* Affliction drives us to obedience: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.” Psalm 119:67.
* Affliction purifies us: “For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.” Psalm 66:10
* Affliction is humbling: ” for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me–to keep me from exalting myself!” 2 Corinthians 12:7

Above quotes, © 2009-2010 Rest Ministries Chronic Illness Pain Support, All Rights Reserved. Read More at Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support.

Diane Bucknell came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 20. She resides in Carson City, Nevada with her husband Robert. They been married for 36 years and have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. They own Bucknell Arts, a fine art and mural painting business.

His Strength

This Isn't Light!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV)

I so appreciated Rachel's thoughts on this verse today at (in)Courage. In part she shares:

Light and momentary troubles? There are days when my troubles feel anything but light and momentary! They feel awful and overwhelming. But when I shift my focus from my immediate circumstances to an eternal perspective, I see my troubles for what they truly are: brief. Compared to eternity, this is just a moment. Suffering is only for a time; it will one day end. Heaven will last forever.

Okay, so the troubles of today are brief compared to eternity. I get that. But light? How are these afflictions light? They feel so heavy. My body grows weaker, and apart from a miracle, it will never function normally again. I can’t be the wife and mother for my family that I want to be. This isn’t light; this is huge...

To read more, including her resolution to these questions, please visit Rachel's website, One Day at a Time (living in weakness, resting in grace, waiting in hope), or (in)Courage. :)

Writing with CFS

I am an author. I am living with "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". When questioned by a doctor last year on my cognitive function, I explained, "I have written one book, but where others could have written it in several months, maybe a year or two, it took me ten." I continually turn down speaking engagements and travel requests because I do not have the stamina for public speaking, nor the strength for travel. Writing is my passion, my therapy, my outlet. But "being a writer" while fighting through this illness isn't an easy road.

In an article called CFS: To Suffering Add Anger, author Llewellyn King writes, "CFS-afflicted authors describe taking years to finish projects that should have taken months. These include Hillary Johnson, whose book “Osler’s Web” is about CFS; Laura Hillenbrand, who wrote the bestseller “Sea Biscuit” while struggling with the disease; and Deborah Waroff, who is writing a book about the Jewish hero Sholom Schwartzbard, but who has found the task dragging on for years, working as she can between severe periods of disability, confined to bed."

Since the above referenced article is one of the only places I've ever seen authors with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome specifically addressed, I just felt it "fit" here on this blog. Thank you for your patience as my own writing efforts slowly grind forward at whatever speed and ability God enables. I would love to see this new book in print by 2015.

Be Still

"What God said to Jesus and to Paul, and what he says to us is, 'My power always comes to perfection through weakness. My power can only explode into your life through your weakness.' Paul says that if Jesus can uncomplainingly submit to his infinite suffering and thereby have God's life explode into our lives and into the world, then you and I can submit to our finite suffering uncomplainingly and know the same thing will happen. That death in us will work life in us and in other around us. That's our hope." (emphasis added)

- from Be Still, My Soul: Embracing God's Purpose and Provision in Suffering, book compiled by Nancy Guthrie, above quote by Tim Keller