Chronic Illness

Many times in my life I’ve felt like I was on the sidelines watching my family go out without me because I was too sick or in two much pain to leave the house. Then stupidly checking into social media, I’d see more families having outings that were completely off limits to me. That of course made me feel even worse! I’m slowly earning that the best thing to do when I’m struggling to cope with chronic illness is to spend some time with some Bible verses before I look at social media.

I never cried out to God about it when I was feeling like this. I would just sink into myself and become depressed about it. It’s probably the worst thing I could have done! One of the hardest things that anyone can go through is a debilitating chronic illness. Many times, these illnesses are mysterious, come on suddenly and have no end in sight. While I was lucky enough to get diagnosed right away, others go from doctor to doctor for years without ever finding out what’s wrong.

It’s easier to go through a trial when you think that it will have an ending date. For example, if you’ve ever had a bad flu you know that sooner or later it’s going to pass. That hope keeps you going in spite of your current misery.

But when you live with chronic illness, you don’t have the comfort and assurance that it’s going to end, at least not on this side of heaven. Instead, you’re faced with the overwhelming prospect that you might be facing physical suffering for years, or even for the rest of your life.

And that’s just the physical and emotional side! If you’re a spiritual person, you might be wondering where God is in all of this, and if He’s abandoned you. You might think you’re being punished for something you did. You might wonder if you have enough faith to deal with all of this.

All of these reactions are completely normal. What you’re experiencing is grief. Grief is simply the pain that we encounter when we lose something. For many of us, it’s not just our lost health. It’s also feeling like you’re missing out on life. One of the challenges of living with chronic illness is staying spiritually and emotionally strong when you feel awful all of the time. You might feel like you start with an empty gas tank every day.

Some Christians believe they should put on their bootstraps and tough it out when they’re dealing with a chronic illness. This is never productive! Instead of trying to bury these feelings, take some daily time to go into God’s presence and share your emotions with Him.

One of the ways that I personally stay encouraged and keep myself from slipping into depression is by spending some intentional time reading the Bible every day. I’m currently following the She Reads Truth and Bible in One Year plans. 

Is it a lot of reading? Yes, but it’s a much better use of my time than scrolling social media! Using the audio on YouVersion, with Max McLean reading the NIV version has really helped me to stay focused.

I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite Bible verses that help me cope with chronic illness as well as the depression and anxiety that go along with it.

Bible Verses for Coping With Chronic Illness

Abandonment

Hebrews 13:5b “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Depression

Psalms 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalms 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

Psalms 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Anxiety

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalms 94:19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Hope

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 50:10-11 “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Calm

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

Psalm 107:29-30 “He made the storm be still and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.”

Comfort

John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also…”

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The Power of Prayer

James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us.

1 Chronicles 16:11 Look to the Lord and His strength, seek His face always.

Using a personal health care binder can be a huge mental health boost. First, it can help you to stay organized in your personal and professional life. Having a place to write down to do lists and other things that you’re tracking is a big stress reducer.

Health care binders can also be very useful for women with chronic illness who have even more things to keep track of like lab work and other test results, tracking symptoms, food intake, bowel movements, specialists, bills and prescriptions.

Even with all I have going on with my own diagnoses which include IBD, cervical dystonia and chronic fatigue, I’ve never gotten myself organized like I should. And not only that, I’m a special needs mom. My youngest son has Down Syndrome and is a heart patient. There is LOTS to keep track of and we all know how important it is to document everything. And as I get older, I know I can’t rely on memory for everything!

I’m really looking forward to FINALLY getting my health care organizational act together once and for all. Having everything organized and in one place is an enormous time and stress saver.  Health isn’t just about your physical health, but mental and emotional health as well. Planners offer many mental health benefits, from reducing stress to diminishing anxiety. As you get organized with important information organized and planned out, you’ll feel so much better and have more time for your own self care.

If you’re reading this, you probably know the drill every time you have an appointment with a provider. Endless forms and wracking your brain trying to remember your health history, surgeries, medications, provider names, insurance information, etc.

I’ve created a starter set of medical binder printables that you can use to create your own medical binder that you can refer to with confidence. Even on your worst days, what a relief to have this important information at your finger tips!

Included in the medical binder starter printable set are forms for:

*Medical Contacts
*Medical History
*Family Medical Overview
*Family Doctors
*Medical Checkup History
*Blood Pressure Tracker
*Blood Sugar Tracker
*Medication Tracker
*Surgery History
*Immunizations
*Doctor Visit Logs
*Exam Tracker
*Illness Tracker
*Symptoms Tracker
*Dental Visits
*Medical Expenses
*Yearly Health Tracker

There are several variations to some of the forms, just pick out what works best for you and print out as many as you need.

Recommended Supplies for Your Medical Binder

Here’s some supplies available on Amazon so that you can get started right away!

This blog uses Amazon Affiliate links.

Need a Convenient Medical Records Journal?

I’ve created this softcover medical journal that you can take with you to appointments.

Medical Journals for Pediatric Patients

Yoga is the oldest existing physical culture system in the world. Not only is it a systematic and scientifically proven path to attaining physical fitness, it can also delay aging, rejuvenate your mind and spirit, improve your appearance, maintain joint fluidity and can increase overall vitality and creativity.  Not only that, yoga can also help to relieve chronic pain.

When I got diagnosed with cervical dystonia in 2010, I quickly became disabled with horrible chronic pain in my neck and upper back. I spent close to a year on the couch much of the time. Even simple tasks like making breakfast became overwhelming.

After awhile I began practicing chair yoga, moved on to neck and yoga postures, and as I improved, on to whole body yoga. Am I cured of dystonia? No. It’s one day at a time but yoga has greatly reduce the need for pain management medications.

Yoga for Stress Relief

I don’t have to tell you how fast-paced and easily distracted our world is. When not in the car, people are sitting behind their desks all day, whether at home or in the office. They’re hunched over their phones. Many come home and crash in front of the computer. It seems easier to sustain an unhealthy lifestyle with processed food and inadequate movement than to put the effort into healthier lifestyle habits.

When we don’t put healthy habits first, we can become more susceptible to chronic pain and chronic illness. I’m convinced this is part of what happened to me. When the day finally came that I was really struggling, I started looking for answers and became willing to change.

The Benefits of Yoga For Chronic Pain

Like me, many people are looking for natural health alternatives for chronic pain. Traditional pain medications and muscle relaxers, while necessary for some, have side effects and run the risk of addiction. Yoga is an ancient practice combining meditation and exercise which have a deep and long lasting effect on the mind and body. Yoga regulates breathing and increases metabolism, aids in weight loss, relieves stress and reduces depression and can also help in pain relief and management.

The best thing about yoga is that it can be practiced anywhere and anytime. And remember, it doesn’t even have to be a full practice. Think about taking short movement breaks. You can do some of them in bed, your home office or even in your cramped workspace if you know the right exercises.

Christians and Yoga

The Christian viewpoint of yoga I’ve always heard was that if you open your mind to clearer thinking and inner vision, you’re opening the spirit to demonic possession. It’s often taught that yoga practices borders on occultism, and that opening your mind and spirit to the health benefits of yoga is dangerous and against everything Christianity preaches.

My personal conviction is that Romans 14 addresses this argument.

^13-14 Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

For me, yoga is primarily healthy movement. It benefits me spiritually by calming down the noise in my head and reducing anxiety so that I can actually focus on prayer and meditation, which helps me to meet Jesus right on the mat. Think about it…the God who created everything and everyone can be anywhere He wants. The Holy Spirit moves like the wind and He will come when his beloved daughters cry out to him.

For the Spirit-wind blows as it chooses. You can hear its sound, but you don’t know where it came from or where it’s going. So it is within the hearts of those who are Spirit-born!” John 3:3-8, TPT

^FI’m familiar with the argument “just stretch on your own.” This doesn’t really work for me as I’m just not creative enough to come up with my own beneficial stretches to benefit my physical challenges. I need the wisdom of restorative and yin teachers to help me find the movement that’s best for me.

As with anything else, to thine own self be true. If there’s any compelling reason that you need to stay away from yoga, then do so.

How to Get Started With Yoga for Chronic Pain Management

In yoga you can find a huge variety of practices and teaching styles. If you don’t care for mysticism, be assured that most of what is taught in a typical gym setting is going to be more health oriented. Or you can always look around on YouTube to get started with an at home practice. My YouTube recommendations are Yoga With Adriene and Sleepy Santosha for women living with chronic illness and Caroline Williams Yoga for those desiring a Christian yoga practice.

When getting started, just begin with a simple intention, meditation or spiritual prose. Find something to focus on and begin to practice some simple breath work. This will ease your mind and body and prepare it for the exercises ahead. Remember to be slow and steady with your movements.

If you’re checking out a yoga studio, look at their social media accounts to get a feel for where they’re coming from. Power yoga is very popular but can be too rough for people with chronic illness or chronic pain conditions. No matter which you choose, it’s really important to get proper cuing, guidance and adaptive assistance as you move through asanas.

Remember you must know your own body and its limitations. If you have back problems, you will want to check what’s safe for your condition with your doctor or do some online research about your condition.

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This blog post should not be construed as medical advice. I’m not a doctor or a yoga teacher, just a yoga enthusiast and yoga teacher in training who has suffered with the debilitating neurological condition dystonia since 2010 and ulcerative colitis since 2018. Yoga for natural chronic pain management has worked for me not as a cure, but as a tool to help manage the complexities of my condition.

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