Your flesh and your heart may fail, but God is the strength of your heart and portion forever.   

- Psalm 73:26

I love this verse because it reminds me that my pain is only temporary.

Unfortunately, I struggle with aggressive arthritis that disintegrates my joints. There really isn’t treatment for it or a preventative to slow it.

Instead, there is surgery to repair the joints when they fail and pain management to deal with the day-to-day hurdles and difficulties.

Over the last years, I have had three neck surgeries (two fusions), one knee surgery, another coming up, three finger surgeries, two wrist surgeries, and one harsh back surgery to insert rods, screws, and cages to stabilize three collapsing levels. I don’t tell you this to gain sympathy but rather to encourage you.

I know pain. I live with it every second of every day.

Some days are better than others. Some are harder.

But through it all, God has been so gracious to me.

• He has always provided exactly what I need when I need it. Be it financial support or emotional support.
• He has allowed me to use my pain to relate to others who are going through difficulties.
• It has caused me to be more understanding of others and more in tune with those hurting.
• God has used the pain in my life to remove some of my harsh or rough edges.

And yet, if I’m honest, there are days I wish He would take my pain away. Like you, I struggle with the whys sometimes. On my not-so-proud days, I even get frustrated and angry.

But I always return to how much Christ suffered for me when He gave up His life so that I could have eternal life. And I am constantly reminded that this earth is not my home, and one day those who believe in Jesus will be reunited with Him in eternity—where there is no pain or suffering.

Most importantly, my pain allows others to see Jesus.

Your weaknesses will also because it is only through Christ that we are able to handle them.

So, whatever you face today, can you trust God to be your portion and strength? Can you have hope because of what is waiting for you in eternity?

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for understanding every struggle and bit of pain I have. Please help me to remember that you are my strength and portion, both now and for eternity. Use my weakness to draw others to you. Amen.

With Love,
Sherry Shepherd