WHAT WAY DO SCRIPTURES HELP YOU W/ SUFFERING? OR WHAT HELP FROM WITHOUT?

[pottersclay]

Amen, Pottersclay,

So true! What a mighty God we serve!!!

My heart breaks for my friend who's 96. She's lived a very good life, but her knees are in such bad shape that she's in so much pain. They've both been replaced in the past. She can't take too many meds because she's allergic to most drugs. She can take tylenol, but that's not very strong for the kind of pain she lives with.

In fact, her Dr. almost killed her from medicating her to the point where she was throwing up for weeks before they even thought of the meds she was taking. She was so frail, this emaciated. I thought we were going to lose her.

I know that God is always there, but because we're human, we have moments where the pain or agony of life seem so unbearable.

I've decided to not even think that way and I'm taking one day at a time. But even that one day can at times be overwhelming.

But God is ever faithful and He is our comforter and I have experienced what I believe to be supernatural strength and endurance.

He has decided not to heal me so far, and He may never heal my body, but He does bring to my mind and body the ability to keep on keeping on. In our flesh we want to worry about the next day or even later in the same day instead of resting in Jesus in that moment.

I'm going to begin doing a scripture a day that will meet the needs of that day.......it might last a week or even a month. I'm just going to see how the Lord leads me.

For now it's this scripture. Maybe.....hopefully it will help someone else too.

Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.


Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Funny you should start with the scripture per day task. That's what he had me to do.
I wrote down scripture as I saw him or as I wanted to see him in my life.
Remember we are in this world but not of it we do and say things differently.

 

[BeyondET]

I've seen, heard many testimonies like the ones here in this thread, it's quite amazing to as well how God incourages folks to be doctors and scientists, engineers, plumbers, electricians etc. these things God uses to help people in their time of need and teaches other as well for the good of humanity.

 

[PrynceNY]

Well the scriptures help me realise that Gods people were like me & you. Sometimes we tend to make them out to be superhuman & they weren't. They faced trials, tribulations & temptations in their time like we do now. As long as we endure to the end & fight the good fight of faith as Paul said we will please God.

 

[blue_ladybug]

My favorite verses that have gotten me through hard times:

Psalm 23

Philippians 4:13

Luke 1:37

 

[Depleted]

Thanks so much, Lynn!

I tried the TENS unit. It didn't work for me. The friend who loaned it to me has a bad back too and she has a few TENS units. That was so sweet of her to let me try it first before purchasing it.

My back keeps getting worse and worse. The Dr. said I have arthritis all down my spine. I have pain in the lower back and the middle part of the back and the neck is really bad. The Dr. says its time to see the surgeon, but I'm trying to put it off as long as possible. I have a friend who had to have her neck fused and wished she hadn't and recommended that I not do it. At the moment Boswellia extract capsules are giving me some relief for the neck. I mostly have to suffer through without meds.

I walk to try to help strengthen the muscles. I need to include some exercises at home as well. A friend last week mentioned some stretching exercises she does online.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I think I may have read that years ago. I don't remember there being an answer to, why me. Was there?

I think she focused on glorifying God with your body no matter what you're going through. Was that the book that talked about a man who was a friend that was bedridden for a long time. Like I said, it was such a long time ago I read the book. She is such an inspiration!

Maybe I need to read it again. I think I can fit it in with 2 bible studies going on at the same time. Each one takes 5 hrs per week of homework. They really help a lot to help me get through the difficult times.

Thanks so much for replying, Lynn. It helps to know others are out there in similar situations and their finding ways to cope with their pain and suffering. Hugs!!!

The answer is God holds us close to him. When I wasn't disabled, I kept getting this stupid idea that I was doing good. My disability brings me back to God is the one doing me good and doing good through me, and it is a constant reminder. I can no longer store up my bread, so it brings me back to needing his "daily bread." Sometimes to giving me bread for just now. He depletes us so we can truly become complete in him.

I'm with you. I see a day when I will need back surgery, but not today.

My brother is so fused he walks like an old man. (He's only 63.) BUT, if he didn't do that, he wouldn't be walking at all. Surgery gives us a few more years. And then a few more. And then we're back to where we are. Considering it keeps getting worse, setting back the wheelchair for a few more years doesn't stink. Better to walk like an old man, than have more pain in a wheelchair. God's been gracious to me. My brother's back surgeries started in his early 50s.

 

[Stephen63]

DR, have you tried Boron/borax? It's supposed to remove joint pain after taking it for a week or two.

 

[Joidevivre]

While I am now dealing with cancer treatments, this is helping me:

1. Letting my faith see Christ sharing the difficult moments with me. He suffers with me and feels what I'm feeling. I'm not alone. I even see Him taking the brunt of the difficulty or pain. Then just how much he loves me is so real and I'm humbled and calmed.

2. Experiencing myself as full of grace to endure. I see myself with His patience and joy. (This lines up with "Let the weak say I am strong" Joel 3:10)

3. Many moments of resting in His presence without a word. Just soaking in His love and listening for His thoughts to be given to my mind.

4. Be totally in the moments of joy that are somewhere in every day. Listen to that bird singing, enjoy that taste of food slowly, visualize and participate in comforting scripture. I use my imagination and let Him lead me to that peaceful pasture, quiet waters. I see Him anointing my head with oil. This works in a powerful way.

5. Surrender to what is, trusting that God will either use it - reveal new things about Himself - that it will bear fruit someday. I love Gen 41:52 "For the Lord has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction". I even drew a picture about this:

 

[zone]

While I am now dealing with cancer treatments, this is helping me:

1. Letting my faith see Christ sharing the difficult moments with me. He suffers with me and feels what I'm feeling. I'm not alone. I even see Him taking the brunt of the difficulty or pain. Then just how much he loves me is so real and I'm humbled and calmed.

2. Experiencing myself as full of grace to endure. I see myself with His patience and joy. (This lines up with "Let the weak say I am strong" Joel 3:10)

3. Many moments of resting in His presence without a word. Just soaking in His love and listening for His thoughts to be given to my mind.

4. Be totally in the moments of joy that are somewhere in every day. Listen to that bird singing, enjoy that taste of food slowly, visualize and participate in comforting scripture. I use my imagination and let Him lead me to that peaceful pasture, quiet waters. I see Him anointing my head with oil. This works in a powerful way.

5. Surrender to what is, trusting that God will either use it - reveal new things about Himself - that it will bear fruit someday. I love Gen 41:52 "For the Lord has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction". I even drew a picture about this:

View attachment 167475

I'm sorry you're not well.
thank you for a lovely and inspiring post.

 

[pottersclay]

Hubby is a trouble-shooter. He can work out how just about anything works. He laughs at me. In my mind there are only two choices -- something works or it's broken and should be thrown out.

This is how it works with us and the Bible. I see what it says, but can't work it all out as one massive word, so I take what I can get, and figure I may get the rest some other time... (or not.)

One thing I marvel at is how people can study all the things the scripture says about pain, illness, and disabilities, and can get everything about it. I'm not one of those people.

Fortunately, and then there is Joni. At 17 years old, Joni dove into the water with her friends and rose face down in the water as a quadriplegic. She had to know the obvious question, "Why me, God?" And for the first six months after that day, she and Steve studied the scripture from beginning to end to figure it out. And they did. Better yet, years later they wrote a book about it. I can't make heads-or-tails out of what scripture says, but I did get the book.

Try When God Weeps. It answers the big question, "Why me, God?"

As for relief? Mine is my back. TENS unit stops the huge ache. Pain pills make the pain in the front lower enough that I can at least think and have a life.

I listen to Joni every morning on radio, she is very inspiring and very nice singing voice.

 

[pottersclay]

I was just thinking out loud, what a job the Lord has. To fix the broken people that call on his name to make them whole in Christ then if illnesses comes and his will is to fix the broken people he has fixed and made whole again then when death occurs he resurrects those that are found in Christ and gives them a new body. So I say we ask dad for the new body now skip the illness part and just go home makes sense to me.

All in favor.....amen.

 

[Desertsrose]

My favorite verses that have gotten me through hard times:

Psalm 23

Philippians 4:13

Luke 1:37

Hi Blue,

Thanks for those scriptures. I'll look them up and add them to my composition book that I'm using for adding scriptures that will help me to endure with a grateful and thankful heart, knowing that God is doing a good work in me.

We're told to give thanks in all things, so I'm thanking God for how He has used the pain and suffering in my life to mold me and shape me to be more like Him.

We're also told to rejoice for today, the day that God has made and be glad in it. It's easier to take this one day and not worry about tomorrow. So that will be my focus. I only have today. What do I need to do and accomplish today in His strength and guidance and what can I do and do it.

Psalm 23 is a favorite of mine. And many don't realize it, but there's so much there for today and it's not just for those who are dying.

The Philippians passage is such a great promise - God gives us the strength to endure the day. The part, "I can do all things", is quite a statement. And then the Luke passage really goes well with this one because truly nothing is impossible with God.

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I can see why you chose these scriptures!

 

[Desertsrose]

The answer is God holds us close to him. When I wasn't disabled, I kept getting this stupid idea that I was doing good. My disability brings me back to God is the one doing me good and doing good through me, and it is a constant reminder. I can no longer store up my bread, so it brings me back to needing his "daily bread." Sometimes to giving me bread for just now. He depletes us so we can truly become complete in him.

I'm with you. I see a day when I will need back surgery, but not today.

My brother is so fused he walks like an old man. (He's only 63.) BUT, if he didn't do that, he wouldn't be walking at all. Surgery gives us a few more years. And then a few more. And then we're back to where we are. Considering it keeps getting worse, setting back the wheelchair for a few more years doesn't stink. Better to walk like an old man, than have more pain in a wheelchair. God's been gracious to me. My brother's back surgeries started in his early 50s.

Thanks for sharing about your brother. I feel for him. I had a sister who had surgery and she walked bent over after the surgery. And she was still in severe pain.

I guess it helps some, while others it doesn't. I don't know, I'll have to pray and ask God to lead me because so many have said they wouldn't do it again. I guess I need to hear stories that are positive.

I'm not totally disabled, I can still run errands. Not every day, but if I can't one day, the next day might be better. I try not to give in and sometimes go beyond what I should. But other times I give in to the pain and sit too much.

I'm going to have to purchase an electric can opener. I just can't open cans anymore. I never imagined this would happen to me. I can't wear regular slippers anymore either. I have to have a nice cushioned slip on so I found a pair of sketchers that you slip on like a clog and they help a lot with the pain in my feet.

I like that about the daily bread. I'll have to add that to my list of scriptures. I also look back and see how much closer I am to the Lord because of the suffering. And knowing my own personality, maybe this is exactly what the Great Physician has ordered for my life. I'm sure others won't agree, but I've gotten to the point where I see the pain as a gift in my life.

A gift that draws me close to God, and a gift that makes me all the more grateful and thankful for saving my soul and coming to live within me. And as I learn to deal with everything in Him, the pruning is doing its work and I'm bearing more fruit because He's changing my heart.

It's not what I would have chosen for my life, but I can rest in His wisdom and trust that He knows what's going on and embrace that truth.

 

[Desertsrose]

DR, have you tried Boron/borax? It's supposed to remove joint pain after taking it for a week or two.

Hi Stephen,

I've never hear anything about borax removing pain. I'll look it up and see what I find out. Thanks for the suggestion! It's much appreciated!

 

[Desertsrose]

While I am now dealing with cancer treatments, this is helping me:

1. Letting my faith see Christ sharing the difficult moments with me. He suffers with me and feels what I'm feeling. I'm not alone. I even see Him taking the brunt of the difficulty or pain. Then just how much he loves me is so real and I'm humbled and calmed.

2. Experiencing myself as full of grace to endure. I see myself with His patience and joy. (This lines up with "Let the weak say I am strong" Joel 3:10)

3. Many moments of resting in His presence without a word. Just soaking in His love and listening for His thoughts to be given to my mind.

4. Be totally in the moments of joy that are somewhere in every day. Listen to that bird singing, enjoy that taste of food slowly, visualize and participate in comforting scripture. I use my imagination and let Him lead me to that peaceful pasture, quiet waters. I see Him anointing my head with oil. This works in a powerful way.

5. Surrender to what is, trusting that God will either use it - reveal new things about Himself - that it will bear fruit someday. I love Gen 41:52 "For the Lord has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction". I even drew a picture about this:

View attachment 167475

Thanks Joidevivre!

I appreciate all your suggestions. It's amazing that you're doing so well emotionally as you battle with cancer. I have a friend with breast cancer and she's handling it pretty well too.

I love all you said and especially #5. I'm going to add that to my scripture list and maybe I'll even have a go at a drawing as well. I'm going to add the Joel scripture as well.

You have a sweet spirit and are precious in His sight. I will pray for you and your cancer treatments!

 

[JaumeJ]

The Father brought me to the Son, Jesus Christ. This was by the Holy Spirit.

By the Holy Spirit I was led to read the Word, and as I read it the first few times I found myself
saying things like "Wow, that is right." "So true." and all I could do was alud what I was
reading, but understanding by the Holy Spirit.

The written code by itself kills, while the Holy Spirit gives life to the text of the Word. Many seek
authority or documentation from the written text without relying on
God to reveal what is necessary by His Holy Spirit.

There is no documentation or affirmation from dead words on paper, they may as well be engraved in stone.

The only documentation or affirmation comes from God, Himself for each of us by means of His Holy Spirit.

Do not trust in man, not even in yourself, trust God, always, amen.

 

[Depleted]

I was just thinking out loud, what a job the Lord has. To fix the broken people that call on his name to make them whole in Christ then if illnesses comes and his will is to fix the broken people he has fixed and made whole again then when death occurs he resurrects those that are found in Christ and gives them a new body. So I say we ask dad for the new body now skip the illness part and just go home makes sense to me.

All in favor.....amen.

Nah. I want to stick around to take care of John when he needs me. He hates doing the bills. lol

 

[JaumeJ]

The experience I had going through the Word my first few times was reading and being awestruck as to
just how revealing and true the written Word is, that is, when guided by the
Holy Spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit which gives us the understanding. Before receiving the Holy Spirit within, I would begin
to read in the Word on rare occasions only to find myself not understanding anything except Jesus loves me.

Jesus is the only Man Who knew all of the Word, so I know I will never attain to His knowledge of it but He has given each of us all that is needed for Salvation, His Life, or, His Blood, the same.

So I understood immediately because of the Holy Spirit, and this is why all of you,
my family, understand the same. God bless all in Jesus Christ.

Remember it is the Holy Spirit, not the printed text, that gives understanding, confirmation, and all meaning to the written Word, not experts in the flesh, not the Word without the Holy Spirit, and neer traditions of religions, just our blessed Resident, amen.

 

[followjesus]

The experience I had going through the Word my first few times was reading and being awestruck as to
just how revealing and true the written Word is, that is, when guided by the
Holy Spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit which gives us the understanding. Before receiving the Holy Spirit within, I would begin
to read in the Word on rare occasions only to find myself not understanding anything except Jesus loves me.

Jesus is the only Man Who knew all of the Word, so I know I will never attain to His knowledge of it but He has given each of us all that is needed for Salvation, His Life, or, His Blood, the same.

So I understood immediately because of the Holy Spirit, and this is why all of you,
my family, understand the same. God bless all in Jesus Christ.

Remember it is the Holy Spirit, not the printed text, that gives understanding, confirmation, and all meaning to the written Word, not experts in the flesh, not the Word without the Holy Spirit, and neer traditions of religions, just our blessed Resident, amen.

" not experts in the flesh,"

no such thing when it comes to Gods word. We have the author living in us, without Him it can be interpreted for any purpose.


Luke 11:12 " how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

 

[JaumeJ]

I do not want anyone thinking they need to be special to have received the Holy Spirit.

If a person believes Jesus Christ is Savior, Lord, and god, then that person is guided by the
Holy Spirit.

All authentic understanding of the Word is of the Holy Spirit.......

 

[PeterJens]

I was wondering what to share. Purpose.

Why do we live? At what point do we say " I could not live like that"
I was walking with my brother, to see my mother in hospital.
He said he could not live bed ridden, it would be like a prison.

I felt very angry, because he was defining life by its limitations and not it's
essence, and limiting value by dependency.

I am here to worship and serve and live in total dependence on the King.
It is He who defines value, and we are all precious, no matter where we are.

So all have value and nothing is without meaning or communion. It is finding
it some find hard. When others write off another human, it themselves who are
being devalued.