Encouragement from a Friend

 

Today being February 7, 2023 I had a really good call with a really dear friend that I’ve known since I was a very little girl.  It had been sometime since we last talked on the phone, but that great thing is that even with time going by, I always find I get encouraged by her.

When we talked I found out that she had Covid, which had really hit her bad.  It ended up affecting her physically a bunch, and it lasted longer than she expected it to.

But she was still so encouraging, that though it took a lot out of her, she still mentioned that there are so many others that are worse off than her, who are on a regular basis really struggling and are in a lot of pain health wise, which she included me in.

I thought that was kind of her to include me in that group, as to be honest I forget “so to speak” that I am “One” of those people.  I never imagined I would become someone who has chronic pain, but then again, no one just wakes up and thinks “hey I want to start having chronic physical and mental pain everyday”. 

It’s just something that happens.  It’s not something you really get used to, but I think it’s something that you have to accept that you have, so that you can move on from it, and that it will last as long as it’s supposed to be.

My friend also mentioned about how we so often pray to God for things to go away quickly, or want things to happen right away.  And often when they don’t happen, we get angry and frustrated as to why it didn’t go our way.

But my friend reminded me, to remember, that it’s often about God's timing.  She mentioned her recovery might be a little longer than she expected, but she knew that it wouldn’t be forever. 

This helped encourage me about my own health battle.

Back in Mar. 2022 I was in the hospital for feeling suicidal and trapped within myself, while also dealing with my gut physical issues.  I felt like Elohim (God) said to me one very unsuspecting night of peace, that things would get better and change during this year.

And I knew then, that that very unsuspecting peace was from Elohim, showing me that this wasn’t going to last forever, and I would get better someday.

As back then I had lost so much hope, and I had been feeling so badly that I’d always be in this much physical and mental pain.

As at that point, I had been dealing with this intense gut and mental stuff for 2 1/2 years.  But when I heard that, I said to myself, “hey I can do this”, what's another year, and something I can look forward to one day, as I worked through things.

Of course as time went on, I didn't feel that as much, but it did help me keeping going, thinking of the idea that healing could be happening some day.

So I continued to keep struggling with my gut and mental stuff, and sometimes it would get a little better, and other times it would get a lot worse, but I did start to see a change in me ever so little, over this almost year later, like accepting and acknowledging that I actually need help, as before I just wanted to do everything on my own.

I also realized that maybe this extra year was about not only me fighting for myself, but for me to start writing again for my blog, and to write honestly about what I have gone through, so that it could possible help others some day that are going through similar things to what I have gone through.

Back in Mar. 2022 when my hubby asked me, would it be worth it, to go through all this huge mental and physical struggle so that your testimony could help or possibly save and even bring someone closer to Elohim some day?

I would have to say that I was on the fence about that, not because I wouldn't want to help someone in that way, but for the amount of pain I’ve gone through with it being chronic currently, I wasn't sure I could totally say yes.  I felt at best I could say “I guess.”

But now even before I am healed, I can say definitely say “Yes it would be worth it.”  I was realizing when I said that, that I wanted to get better not just for me, but for my Elohim (God), my hubby, loved ones and so many people out there in pain.

So at this point it's Feb. 2023, and I don't know for sure if I'll be on the road to full healing recovery by Mar. 2023 in a month, and that’s okay because, even if it didn’t happen for some reason that month, as I know that there have been changes that have occurred during this time. 

But I also know that If I’m not making the best choices that can affect when healing can come, but I also know that it is still connected to His timing, as our interpretation of things can be different then what His plan was and is.

It was still a wonderful reminder from a dear friend and from Him, that things happen at the right time.  So that I can remember that even when I am struggling, and seem to be losing hope, that Elohim is still looking out for me. 

Like when He helped me to make a phone call, and it turning out to be what I needed, which was a really good call with a really encouraging friend.

And the truth is, things have gotten better for me to some degree, and I have changed this past year more than I realized, so though I’m not exactly where I thought I would be when it comes to my healing, there have been some positives within these struggling times.

So I just need to remember as I keep saying, that His timing and me helping with that, doesn't need an Exact Date or Expiry date “so to speak”, it will be when things are supposed to be, and in the meantime to try to enjoy the time I am here.

So don’t loose hope if things aren’t going exactly your way, even if things can seem pretty bleak, as I know how very hard that can be.  That whatever happens that Elohim is looking out for your best interest at heart, and often through those struggles, that journey we are on, can help make us stronger.

Patricia  <3  :)

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11    Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 

 

Here’s a good song about even in those tough times, that we still praise Him in this storm and every tear you cry Elohim (God) holds in your hand and you never leave our side – and even when our strength is almost gone and you feel like you can barley make it – He says I am here with you even in this storm – and so you remember then to praise Him in this Storm <3.

“I Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUGwUgBvTU&list=PL3whQX319DaB37iB8NZpJe206iSdpe3kc&index=37