Life with Chronic Pain and Illness
Life with chronic pain and illness is a challenge—physically and emotionally. It causes a number of painful emotions, in addition to the physical pain that it always present. One common emotion is guilt. It’s all too easy to see what we believe we should be doing based on society’s perception. It leads us to feel guilty for resting as needed, for not doing what everyone else may be doing, etc.
In reality, none of those items are reasons to feel guilty for doing what we know is best for us and our health. While it’s certainly not easy to silence those voices (of others and sometimes ourselves), here’s an important reminder: The only voice we need to listen to is the Lord's. Click To Tweet And He tells us many times in Scripture that it’s okay to rest. After all, God, Himself, rested. And in Him is how we can find true rest, and that can silence any unwarranted guilt we may be taking on. Our human bodies are limited in just how much they can do, but God is not.
So the next time you are tempted to feel guilty about taking a much-needed break or nap, remember Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I hope you have a blessed, low-pain day.
If you’d like to read more Life with Chronic Pain and Illness posts, click here.