Have you ever experienced weeks of physical illness, intimidation, financial distress, or relational challenges with only a vague idea of why your troubles were happening or what to do about them?
The first four weeks of 2024 brought me a low-grade fever, muscle pain, and weakness, with few answers. Never having experienced long-term dependence on others, my confidence in the future became clouded. I might not see springtime and another garden filled with life.
Answers came with the functional medicine doctor’s assessment. A simple thyroid supplement strengthened my immune system, eliminating the virus causing the fever.
A month of slow healing brought plenty of time to reflect on lessons I might learn from this experience. Isn’t that what most challenges are for? Past troubles taught me there’s only one dependable source of wisdom: God’s presence and His words.
His words – Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil. Then, you will gain renewed health and vitality. (NLT: Proverbs 3: 6 – 9)
Seeking Him during recovery brought revelation. I didn’t need to be so independent. Allowing others to help with farm and garden chores would bless us both. People started showing up as I relinquished duties in my thinking and let go of harmful independence in my actions.
The other sweet confirmation was that I could go home to Jesus without fear or regret. No shame, guilt, or blame undermined my identity as God’s precious daughter. My wrongs were confessed and forgiven. The thyroid supplement brought a better balance to my body. God’s presence brought peace to my mind and spirit.
My strength and resilience are almost 100%, but even better is my peace-filled confidence that all will be accomplished moving at a slower pace. I’m looking forward to enjoying new relationships as help arrives. Hopefully, I’ll be ready to learn more when the next challenge comes.
And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world, you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world! (John 16:33 TPT)