This is another excerpt from the soon-coming book, “Letters to Sarah: Thriving in Chronic Illness”. Even if you don’t struggle with living with chronic illness, I bet you know someone who does. Hopefully this will encourage you and them today in the hope that our Jesus is always with us, for today and all the tomorrows yet to come!
John 20:29b NIV blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Dearest Sarah,
Jesus said those words to (doubting) Thomas when he saw Jesus and his scars after the resurrection. What a convicting and compelling statement to him then and to us now! As you know, we’ve been given opportunity to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as our one way to be reconciled to God (see John 14:6).
If that gift of eternal life through salvation wasn’t far more than enough for this day and this life, there’s more! As Christians living with chronic illness, we’ve been given opportunity to believe God that He will do what He’s promised, even if we might not see His power at work in our lives with our health. We can believe that He will use all of this for good for us and others (see Romans 8:28). That He will stay with us in all of this (see Hebrews 13:6). That He knows us and us in all of this (see Psalm chapter 139). That He gives peace to us in all of this (see Psalm 85:8). And so many more promises to which He is always faithful and true, no matter what happens with us or all of this (see Psalm 145:13).
For the Jesus Who spoke to Thomas then is the One Who has made all these promises as Yes and as Amen for us in all of this now (see 2 Corinthians 1:20). Thomas believed then. Will you do the same now? I know I’ve talked a lot about God as Good and as Faithful but I need to keep hearing that truth myself so that I can keep believing, especially on days like today when all I (easily) see is pain.
We might not see days without pain but we can believe God as Good.
We might not see healing before heaven but we can believe God as Faithful.
We might not see effective treatments but we can believe God as Provider.
And in our believing God, we are blessed. For we are blessed beyond measure in that He calls us to Himself as His very own. And a blessed life is one rich in joy and peace, no matter what life circumstances I might want to change.
No matter what anyone might tell us (and anyone includes our own emotions or thoughts), God has given us the faith to see Him as Good and to believe that He will do as He’s promised (see Romans 12:3).
Doubt is the easy option. Dedication is the eternal opportunity.
I’ve heard that the pain is trying its best to bring you down into doubt. Unfortunately, I know that place of doubt, fear, and loneliness all too well. But, trust me, nothing can break the bars of that place other than calling/crying out for Jesus and asking Him to help you in your unbelief. And He will do exactly that! He’s done it for others. He’s done it for me. He’ll do it for you, too, if you will ask…
Please keep seeing past all of this and believing that God is always good and always faithful to His promises and His people. Remember that your name is engraved on His Hands in a love that is lavished upon you in ways far more than you’ll ever be able to know or understand (see Isaiah 49:16 and 1 John 3:1).
I continue to pray for you, day and night, knowing that He hears your prayers and mine too.
With much love from your friend,
Beth
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written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2023.
Soul Scientist 
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