Good thing I dabble in sports euphemisms because this one is perfect for the topic, which is about those times when life throws a practically impossible pitch that you weren’t expecting. Such as a sudden death in the family or a diagnosis of cancer. God has allowed me (though hasn’t caused me) to develop a debilitating condition in my fingers. It’s most likely osteoarthritis, and I’ll find out officially from a doctor soon. My digits have knots on the joints, and my right middle finger has already become slightly deformed. My fingers gradually got worse and now my job of writing is sometimes excruciating.
Unless God decides to do a miracle, which I believe he might, I’m looking at a whole new level of chronic pain that will worsen until I finally go to sleep and wake up in the presence of Jesus. This disease is so serious, I will qualify for disability; but I will continue to work and write no matter what.
God has blessed me with a lifetime of good health, though I did experience enormous pain for many years due to endometriosis. When I finally had everything related to the pain removed, I felt like a little girl. It was so freeing to be released from the prison of pain I’d been locked in for so long.
I believe that when God allows a hardship it’s because He has a blessing bigger than I would have been capable of receiving without having gone to that particular school of suffering. Even though the pain is so bad that when I wrote my first article this morning, I experienced the strangest thing—tears just streamed constantly down my face because of the pain–I am as confident now that I’m in the palm of God’s hand as I was before my health took this devastating turn.
There’s a whole lot that I’m ignorant about, but two things I do know:
- Dipping your hands in hot paraffin wax greatly relieves joint pain, and I’m going to invest in a small paraffin bath tomorrow; and
- No matter what life throws at me, I’ll never catch God looking the other way when I need Him (which is every millisecond of every day).
Job 1:21
New King James Version (NKJV)
21 And he said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Daily Pep Talk 
I have the same condition as you in my hands.. have watched them deteriorate over the past couple of years.. and like you, will continue do as much with my them as possible until I can’t do it any longer.. mine are not sore so much as stiffening up. If you have a lot of pain, maybe it is rheumatoid arthritis?
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I figure all the doctor will do is verify whether it’s rheumatoid- or osteo-arthritis. Hoping for the best possible diagnosis. I’ve been reading about the different ways to manage the pain, and massaging my hands and stretching/exercising them really helps. The paraffin wax bath is plugged in, and that will be an amazing relief, from what I hear. I’m so sorry that you also suffer from arthritis in your hands. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
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Stevie, I’m so sorry to hear of the trial you’re going through right now. I pray for God’s mercy and healing to be upon you. Blessings…
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Thank you so much. Having more prayers directed my way is a huge blessing. The Lord bless you, as well.
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Godly perspective Stevie… saying a prayer for you on my end.
Many blessings, Vince
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Thanks so much, Vince! Your prayers are a welcome blessing.
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Reblogged this on Jesus Deserves Better Press and commented:
After I wrote this blog for my site Daily Pep Talk, I read a devotional that affirmed my being on the right track with the post.
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I am sorry you’re facing this. I have chronic pain from my motorcycle accident, but you deal with what you have to… It has to be terrifying in some ways to lose function in some very important body parts you use actively and constantly every day. I’d be freaked out… But, you’ll probably learn valuable lessons, and in turn, you will teach others those same lessons, and God will accomplish Himself through you…Highest compliment from God ever….
— Bird
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Amen, amen…all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord… I’m sorry you face chronic pain, too, but I guess we’re in a very large club.
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Yes. Truthfully, mine no longer hurts me like it had in the past…maybe I’m either getting better, or I simply don’t notice it like I once did. But days like today, during Oklahoma’s version of Hurricane Katrina, I’m hurting pretty bad…And I’m babysitting two very energetic little boys that can’t be trusted in a room alone..:-) Longest Day Ever! Have a good day!
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Thanks for the article. Just stopped by to see your blog.
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