Chronic pain is no joke. The day-to-day nuisance of dealing with a body that doesn’t work quite right can really get you down. Emotions become flared when it seems overwhelming and never-ending. 

Image by Amanness Photography via Flickr

There are more people going through constant daily pain than you may realize. Someone may look fine on the outside, but in reality, they’re not. Millions suffer with relentless back pain that effects every aspect of life. So many of us deal with chronic fatigue or the chronic side effects of a viral disease. Others may be physically and mentally fighting the beginnings of a debilitating disease like MS, while others may be dealing with a cancer diagnosis, feeling completely lost, hopeless and terrified for the future.

All these ailments plague millions of us, yet we attempt to show the world that nothing is wrong. 

It’s this facade that ultimately becomes too much, when combined with the physical and mental struggles of pain.

In today’s world, it’s just not okay to be ill… for long. People sympathize for a time, but then, it just gets old. So we feel as if we need to hide what we’re dealing with and move on – for other’s sake. 

You may even feel like this in your own home. I know I do. I certainly can’t go around verbalizing the same worries, fears and pain I feel each day. (If you’re curious, I’ve been dealing with joint and ligament stiffness and pain that has never gone away since after my second pregnancy – read more here.) Especially in front of the kids, I lock it up. They don’t like to see me sad at all, over anything, for long. I also lock it up for my husband. He has been my rock through this whole thing, but I know there is no way he (nor I) want to talk about my ailments on a daily basis. 

So, then what are we left with? Ourselves. Bottom line: if you deal with chronic pain, you likely deal with it mostly alone.

It’s often a sad reality. If you’re familiar with some of my views, you’ve definitely heard me say that we have all been blessed with our own struggles to help us grow. So this is likely one of them. Remember, God’s plan for your life is different than what you may have in mind. Once your head is in the right place to accept this fact, it helps immensely in dealing with daily pain. As with anything, knowing there’s a benefit behind something rough tends to help deal with adversity and to alleviate some of the pain.

But, the beautiful fact is, we’re not alone. Our maker is always with us. He knows our inner workings – after all he made them. Only God has the wisdom: He knows why, He knows what is wrong. And don’t forget that Jesus is a miracle worker. How incredible and supporting that we have access to speak with our ultimate resource to ask for wisdom, healing, peace and a miracle.

Be sure to check out 8 Surprisingly Simple and Unique Ways to Help Heal and How to Deal with Pain and Stay Positive.

Image by Long Thien via Flickr

Prayer

Prayer is the first line of defense when anything is plaguing you, physically or mentally. Cry out to God through Jesus, for he is listening and loves you. You may not be answered in the way you wish, right away, but if you continually ask, there’s a chance you may get what you’re asking for. Just be certain your heart is in the right place and you are right with God. (Meaning that you have outwardly confessed He is Lord and have asked Him for forgiveness.) 

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:19-20 NLT

My hope is that you are able to use this prayer to communicate with God in a more effective way. Use this as a base to get comfortable with detailed prayer, then add in what you feel needs to be added.

Healing Prayer

Jesus,

You are my healer. I reach my broken hands to You in hopes that You will restore my health. There is no one who has the power to fix what is broken in me, except for You. I trust that You can take away all my pain. I believe You can heal me. So Lord, I ask that You grant me your grace once again.

Only You know what I am made of; Your perfect hands stitched me together in my mother’s womb. You have the divine knowledge to see inside where my human body is failing. I plead with You, Creator, to grant me a miracle and fix in my DNA what is errored. I beg for a miracle that You will rid my body of the microscopic invaders that are making it malfunction. Please cleanse my organs from the toxicities of this world.

Jesus, You know what ultimate suffering feels like. My pain, in no way, compares to what You endured. You accepted the worst physical beating and bled out innocence for me. You suffered incredible mental battles, learning those you loved the most, rejected You. 

What I am dealing with pales in comparison to Your enormous sacrifice. I do gladly accept the pain and suffering that I have to bear because I know You have endured much worse on my behalf. But I also am clinging to Your incredible love and grace when I beg for Your healing in my life. I surrender my life to You. Take my tired body and exhausted mind, and relax them with peace that can only come from You, Jesus.

I sing Your praises and cry out to You for healing. Please, God, let Your incredible power find a way to my suffering. I ask for a miraculous healing. I ask You to give swift wisdom to researchers looking for a cure. I ask for Your guidance in my own search towards healing; lead me to an answer. But more importantly, keep my mind fixed on You.

Spirit, I need Your help in staying positive. Let me see the reasons for my suffering. Help me to take this awful challenge in my life and transform it into something good. There have been many who are and have been worse off than myself, so I will try to keep perspective and realize that. Take my anguish and transform it into a reason for living. Open my eyes and teach me a better way to live.

I ask all this in the name of Your Precious Son, Jesus,

Amen

Dealing with chronic pain often results in battling negative emotions and attitudes. The ultimate answer is found in meeting with Jesus and addressing this fact head on. The Attitude Antidote: A Whole Life Overhaul 21-Day Devotional will guide you through a healing journey with Christ and leave you forever changed.

Be sure to bookmark How to Keep a Happy Family with Prayer.