I must always start by learning everything I can about the disease.
- I must learn about what causes it and about the symptoms it produces.
- I must learn about any substances created by God (foods, herbs, spices, vitamins, etc.) that might assist my body in overcoming that disease.
- I must enlist help from others whom God has gifted with knowledge in that area.
- I must research knowledge on my own and prayerfully start applying some of those remedies to my situation. I must realize that with knowledge comes the responsibility to apply what I have learned (James 1:2-8).
I must learn to handle my emotions properly.
- Getting rid of stress is always helpful in getting my body’s systems to work at top efficiency. Stress depletes my body of enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins A, C, E, B6, and others that boost the immune system. So, being calm and relaxed is very important.
- Stress caused by circumstances that were ordained by God and brought into my life without my choice must be accepted as simply that – ordained by God. Circumstances are opportunities given to me by God so that I can learn to trust in His sovereignty. I do not need to know the reason “why” (Job 38-42:6; Isaiah 40).
- Stress can also be caused by wrong choices that I have made. In this case, I must identify my sinful behavior, confess it, and change it (1 John 1:9; James 5:13-20).
- In either case, stress does not cause my disease; however, my failure to cast my burdens upon God can cause further sickness or prevent my body from recovering.
Emotionally, I must not hate the symptoms I am having.
- Even though they may be uncomfortable and I want to get rid of them, I must not complain about them. My symptoms are keeping me alive when my body is in crisis.
- These symptoms are for my benefit and should not be suppressed with substances designed to stop them, for I am suppressing my body’s attempts to heal itself. I need to recognize the healing that comes from the symptoms I am experiencing. As much as is possible, I need to think in a thankful way about my symptoms (Phil. 2:14-16; 4:8, 11-13).
Finally, I must accept that this time of illness may be God’s will for me right now.
- He is capable of healing, but He does not always choose to remove me from difficult situations. I need to take the attitude that this circumstance has been orchestrated by God so that I can in some way serve Him better.
- It may be that I will better be able to comfort someone else because of this disease (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
- It may be that God has a specific spiritual lesson He wants me to learn because of my sickness (Job 42:1-6, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
- It may even be that God wishes to call me home to heaven, which would be a joy (2 Corinthians 5:1-10).
I must strive to confront each day with joy, peace, calm submission, and an uncomplaining heart, seeking to benefit others in all I say and do.
Are you struggling with fatigue? I invite you to download our free audio, “Can Fatigue Be Fixed?”, or check out Anne’s book, Too Tired. Thanks for visiting!
