Living with Chronic Pain or Illness

Jim Wilson: He wants to do so much more, but his body

won't let him. Andrew Wilson lives with a chronic health

condition that limits his energy and capacity in ways most people

never see. Some days, getting through a single conversation

drains every ounce of energy he has. Some weeks, the recovery

takes longer than others. He's prayed about it, and he's

wrestled with it, but the condition hasn't gone away. Why

would God allow the very body meant to serve him to become the

thing that holds him back?

Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I'm Bart Leger.

Every day is a struggle. For some, it's worse than others.

What am I talking about? Chronic pain or illness that doesn't go

away. I should know. My wife lives with an ultimately

debilitating diagnosis in daily chronic pain and fatigue. We've

learned that not every prayer for healing ends with a miracle.

Just like her, some believers wake up every single day

managing pain or a diagnosis that isn't going away. That

doesn't mean God has failed or that faith isn't strong enough.

The Apostle Paul lived with a nagging illness or pain and

discovered that God's grace was the sustaining power he needed

instead of the removal of the problem. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

says, Each time he said, "My grace is all you need, my power

works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my

weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me.

That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults,

hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for

Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Paul asked God

three times to take his thorn away. Three times! But we're not

told what it was, but obviously it altered his life in some way.

He wasn't casual about it either. He was desperate. He wanted

relief. And each time, God said the same thing, "My grace is all

you need. My power works best in weakness." But that's not the

answer most of us want. We want the miracle, and we want the

healing. We want to wake up one morning and have the pain gone.

The diagnosis reversed. We long for complete healing, and

sometimes God does that, but sometimes he doesn't. And when

he doesn't, we're left with a question that cuts deep. Does

God still care about me? The answer is yes. Absolutely yes.

Just because God doesn't always heal, it doesn't mean God's

unaware of your suffering. He may not remove the pain, but he

promises to be present in it. He may not take away the diagnosis,

but he gives you grace. Real, tangible grace, daily grace so

that you can endure it. And that word "grace" in Paul's passage

isn't just a theological concept, it's sustaining power. It's the

strength to get out of bed on a bad day, and it's the peace that

shows up when your body is screaming in pain. It's the

quiet confidence that God is still good, and he's still

sovereign. The confidence that God is still working, even when

your circumstances say otherwise. Living with chronic pain or

illness can also bring a unique kind of spiritual loneliness.

People around you may not understand why you're not better

yet, or can't understand the depth of your pain. Some may

offer well-meaning but hurtful comments, like, "If you just had

more faith," or, "Have you tried this supplement?" My wife gets

that all the time. They're well-meaning, but it doesn't

help. Others simply stop asking how you're doing because your

condition has become normal to them. But it's not normal for

You live with it every single day. If that's where you are, I

want you to know God sees you. He hasn't forgotten you, and

your faithfulness in the middle of suffering isn't wasted. In

fact, Paul says something difficult for most of us to

understand. "When I'm weak, then I'm strong." Your weakness isn't

a liability in God's kingdom. It's the very place where His

power can shine the most brightly. Some of the most

powerful testimonies of faith come from people whose bodies

are broken, but whose spirits are unshakable. They're not

strong because of what their bodies can do. They're strong

because of what God does through their weaknesses.

to serving others as God has called him, Andrew began to see

them as a place where God's power actually rests. In his

writings, he argues that accepting a thorn rather than

constantly fighting it, can become its own form of worship.

He's learned to serve God faithfully within his

limitations rather than resenting them. Not every prayer

for healing ends with a miracle. Some of us wake up every day

managing pain or a diagnosis that isn't going away. That

doesn't mean God's failed or that your faith isn't strong

enough. As the apostle Paul learned, God's grace can become

your daily sustaining power. Maybe you've prayed for healing

and it hasn't come. Maybe you've wondered if God hears you. Or

maybe you've questioned whether your faith is the problem.

Here's what I want you to hold on to. Your unanswered prayer

for healing does not mean your faith is deficient. It means God

is writing a different story than the one you asked for. And

in that story, His grace is sufficient. His power is made

perfect in your weakness. Here's today's challenge. If you're

living with chronic pain or illness, take a moment today and

pray 2 Corinthians 12: 9 over yourself. You could pray

something like, "Lord, I still wish you would take this away.

But today I choose to trust that your grace is enough. Your power

works best in my weakness." Help me to serve you faithfully

within my limitations and let your strength shine through my

broken body. And if you know someone who's living with

chronic pain or illness, reach out to them this week. Don't try

to fix them. Just let them know that you are there for them.

Lord, some of us are tired. Our bodies hurt. Our diagnoses

haven't changed. And we've wondered if you hear our prayers.

Thank you that your grace is sufficient. Help us to trust you

when healing doesn't come. Let your power rest on our

weaknesses. And give us the courage to keep showing up

faithfully one day at a time. In Jesus' name, amen. If this

episode encouraged you, would you consider sharing it with

someone who is living with chronic pain or illness? Just

send them the link from the show notes below. They may need this

reminder that God's grace is sufficient and His power shines

brightest in weakness. Thanks for joining me on Daily

Devotions for Busy Lives. Remember, not every prayer for

healing ends with a miracle. But God's grace is always enough to

sustain you. Come back next time for more encouragement to help

you live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless and have a

great day. Thank you.