Gentle Reader,
I really look forward to Thursday evenings. Face-to-face connection is vital, of course, but God does something cool on the internet. He draws all kinds of people together on the Twitters for some real sharing and lots of laughter. On days like today, when I’ve been confined to my house because my body hates me and is falling apart, I am so grateful for the #FMFParty. If I sit just so, the dizziness settles a little and I can enjoy the chat.
Kate. My people.
We contemplate: tomorrow.
Go.
My mom has suffered with chronic migraines for as long as I’ve known her (almost 31 years). My brother has had 4 foot surgeries, back surgery and a hernia repair. My dad has pain in his hands. My hubby’s got high blood pressure. I have Chronic Fatigue…scratch that, Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (whatever that grand re-name means). And the possibility of growing another tumor.
A coworker suffers with Fibromyalgia. I’m part of a Facebook group just for women with chronic illness. A friend at church has an eye problem. Another friend lives with MS. Another with constant stomach trouble.
That’s just the physical stuff.
Suffering is everywhere. Personally, I think that illness will only become more widespread as the clock winds down and we move toward the end. (No, I don’t know when that will be. Nobody does. But I do know that we are one day closer today than we were yesterday). The earth and all its inhabitants groan under the curse. Our bodies cannot hold up under the weight of it.
So I look forward to tomorrow. I look forward to this, a passage I turn to time and time again:
I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. – Revelation 21:3-7 (NKJV)
No more pounding heads, aching feet, swollen hands. No more strain on the heart. No more loss of sight, nerves on fire. No more crushing fatigue. No more tumors, no more fevers, no more stomach trouble. No more stress, no more worry, no more bottles of pills, no more chemotherapy, no more surgeries.
No more sickness.
Tomorrow.
Stop.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve told Jesus I’m ready. I’m sorry you are suffering so. Heaven is worth the wait. Gentle hugs my friend.
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In a very, very strange way, I am thankful for the suffering. I’d chuck it in a second if I could, believe me, but I don’t want to chuck the lessons I’ve learned through it.
This won’t last forever. I remind myself of that on a constant basis. 🙂
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It’s amazing to think of that day. As someone with a form of Muscular Dystrophy that cause a fair amount of neurological pain, some days I just look ahead to the future and shudder, knowing it won’t get better. That the pain won’t magically disappear. That this is my reality, for now and into the future. And it’s daunting. And yet, I choose hope. I choose to cling to His hope that His plan is for my good and His glory, and that He will help me face what comes.
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I so wish you didn’t have that pain, Jen. How…well, how sucky. I am so glad that you look to Jesus to carry you through. Your pain WILL end one day. This is definitely, most assuredly, not all there is!
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I just breathed in a deep breath and let it out slow because your words were comforting for me. yes there is suffering but God… I love the verses you chose from Revelation because there is something so absolutely endearing about God wiping away our tears. I cannot wait for that tomorrow.
I somehow missed chatting with you tonight at #fmfparty!
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“But God.” That’s the key, isn’t it? He somehow redeems the pain and uses it to strengthen us. I don’t understand it. I just know He does.
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Won’t that day be grand? I’m looking forward to that tomorrow along with you, Marie. And to top it all off, we’ll get to be there together!! That’s the best part.
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Yes! One grand, forever party with Jesus!
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What a hope-filled post. Today holds suffering, discouragement, pain. Tomorrow? God holds tomorrow, and us in the here and in the future.
Beautiful post, Marie.
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Oh, I love your words. “God holds us in the here and in the future.” He is in tomorrow, whatever comes!
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What a day that will be! I look forward to that day more and more, while I look to him and await his return I am thankful for His Holy Spirit who is here with me now wiping away my tears, and believe I cry a lot. 😂 what a great post!
Love from
#fmfparty
Laura
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How comforting to remember that the Spirit is with us, soothing our troubled hearts!
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I left a comment from my phone but i think it linked it to my wordpress blog which I haven’t started or switched to at this time. Sorry for any confusion.
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No worries!
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Reading your words I hear that old hymn, “What a day, glorious day, that will be.”
You are so full of hope, even in the suffering, and that is being faith-filled and incredibly brave.
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Honestly? Hope is hard. I threw a fit about it over the weekend. But God is so faithful. He has never failed me.
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Thank you for the message of hope amidst suffering. I needed to be reminded tonight that this life is not all there is to look forward to in the future.
I have lived with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue for about 12 years now, and have had a lifelong battle with Major Depressive Disorder, but in the last two months it has been the onset of a strong allergic reaction that has brought me near to my breaking point. My ears fill up constantly with mucus which causes crackling, crunching and clicking noises , and the drainage down my throat often chokes me. I have only been able to sleep a few hours a night, and that in and of itself has been tortuous. I won’t go into detail about all the things I have done to try to relieve this condition. Let’s just say that this has consumed all my (many) waking moments over the last 8 plus weeks.
Anyway, my point is that God used you to bless me early this morning, and I wanted to let you know. May He bless you richly in return!
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Oh, my friend. I am so truly sorry that you have to deal with all that. I pray that God will pour special encouragement and love into your soul today. May your faith be strengthened!
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Thank you so much Marie!
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Marie-
I’m so sorry you deal with chronic pain. Dizziness too! Dizziness I know. It is unpredictable for me. I have low blood pressure so when I’ve been pregnant or if I haven’t eaten enough iron or if I bend down too long…whap…world spinning…blacks out…comes back. It is an uneasy feeling.
The dark is not fun. The light…the life…the good days…those are really good. I have struggled with anxiety and depression in the past, but presently I’m settled and thankful. I recognize the pain and suffering that surrounds though…friends with terminal illnesses or fighting chronic conditions. It is a wonder why!? Revelation does reveal Truth. He knows all from beginning to end of us and of this Earth. What reassurance that His power is so much greater than ours. Thanks for this post! Your FMF and Twitter friend from last night! #HighFive! Jenn
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Blessed assurance, Jesus is ours! 🙂
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Marie, I can’t wait for that day either. I think of all the tears that have been shed for so many reasons. I have shed tears as I have watched my mom live with a mental illness. “I will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Oh yes. Such promise…such hope!
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Mental illness is a hard road to travel for the afflicted and those who love them. I am sorry that you have experienced that pain. But amen and amen for the promise and the hope!
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I sit many times just longing for that tomorrow to could. The pain and suffering of today is almost to much to bear but I know He has purpose in it all. So today we hurt but look for purpose and look forward to tomorrow.
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I wish I could hug you. My heart is with you, dear one.
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