I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease over 17 years ago and had symptoms for at least 5 years prior to that. It is definitely trying--the pain can be almost unbearable and, for those of you who know about the disease, having the constant worry about whether I am going to have a flare up can be.....well, I won't go into detail but, it is far from fun.
Is this a punishment from God? When I first started having symptoms I was in the best shape of my life. I had graduated from high school a couple of years earlier where I was an athlete and I still played softball at least 3 nights a week. I ate well and got plenty of exercise.
Whether this is a punishment or a trial, I don't know. I try not to dwell on it too much. Yes, there are times when I get really down about it and feel like I cannot handle it any longer. But, God gives me the strength to get through the rough times and those rough times make me appreciate the good times even more.
So, I guess am I going to have to agree that diseases are not a punishment from God. This disease has only made me a stronger and more compassionate person. Knowing that a lot of people don't understand my illness has made me think twice about how I treat others. Many people look at me and see a healthy person--they don't understand when I don't feel well. I try to be more understanding of others and the problems they may be having that I cannot see.