Earlier this year I wrote about my one word focus for 2022. Rest. As in, rest in the Lord. It seemed to go hand in hand with the word I still struggle with from last year: Trust. Plus with my husband undergoing cancer treatments, I need God’s all-encompassing peace more than ever before.
I bought a Faithful Life Planner. I haven’t historically used a planner, but I love it (not an affiliate, btw). And I have filled it with scriptures and prayers about resting and trusting. I’m also planning my days during my time with Him and find it helps me keep Him at the forefront as I check off my to-do’s.
That’s what I had in mind when I chose the word Rest. Definitely not what I have now – 2 bulging discs at L4 and L5 that sit on top of my sciatic nerve! So guess what? I can’t do anything. Heavy pain meds flow through my blood stream. I have been sitting or sleeping on a recliner for days, and I had a sedated injection.
So Not What I Had in Mind!
Before getting my prescription pain meds I had bouts of sobbing and wailing and begging my husband to take me to the ER. I wish I was exaggerating. It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life. And I have endured many surgeries. You can’t touch nerve pain. No rubbing or changing of position helped. So I am afraid to get off of the pain meds just yet. I can’t go back to that. Therefore, I have slept a lot. Rested, if you will.
Not what I had in mind, God. Especially right now. It is killing me that my husband is having to wait on me and our special needs daughter between his radiation and chemo appointments. How is this fair at all? I need to be taking care of Chuck. Not the other way around.
Trusting that the kids and the house will be taken care of. That Chuck’s treatments are killing the cancer cells in his body. Trusting the doctors making the decisions for Chuck and me. And trusting that God can heal us both – medically or supernaturally.
So if you need me, I’ll be in my recliner. Reading, watching TV, praying, resting.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB
And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!
After this whiny post, you will not be surprised that Theresa Boedeker’s How to Stop Focusing on What’s Wrong With You struck me right between the eyes. She says…
“Because when we are complaining, we are not praising.
When we are whining, we can’t be grateful.
When we are wanting, we are not satisfied.
And when we are criticizing, we can’t be thankful.”
I can’t stop thinking about the entire article and the adjustments I need to make personally to my attitude. Please read it. It may be just the gentle encouragement you need too!
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Nerve pain is the worst! I’m so sorry you are going through this. I pray healing for you and your husband, and that you will have the rest that you are focused on this year.
Amen. Thank you, Shannon.
Praying now for the Lord to undertake in all of this. May He give each of you all that you need, moment by moment. May He bring relief from pain and healing to you and to Chuck.
Amen, Joanne. Thank you.
Oh Lauren–I’m so sorry. I haven’t had bulging discs. but I’ve had sciatic nerve pain after a procedure a few years ago. It’s definitively no fun at all. I hope it lets up soon. If I were nearby I’d offer to come do your laundry or bring a meal.
What a sweet thing to say, Barbara! I would just appreciate your prayers.
Two years ago, I had spinal fusion surgery. I had been emotionally exhausted from 2019 and I need a rest that made me stop – that surgery made me stop – and rest. Yeah, I was in pain, sleeping in the recliner – and for six weeks, I couldn’t do a thing – not even lift a gallon of milk. Then from six weeks on, I moved very slowly – and Covid hit – the slow down giving me more time for the recovery and gradual strength rebuilding. I had a stack of books, balls of yarn – and I savored that stopping and recovery. I am so sorry you are going through this with all those needing your help and attention. Praying that your pain abate, recede and disappear. Praying that you get the rest – physically, spiritually and emotionally that you need! There is, indeed, a lot of trust that goes with rest!
So sorry that you went through all that. But so grateful God gave you the rest and recovery you needed. Thank you for the prayers.
Lauren – so sorry you are going through this but you gave me such encouragement when you brought it all back to trusting God! That is the Way.
I’m so glad. Thank you, Deborah.
Oh my dear Lauren, I’m so sorry you and your husband are journeying through this wilderness right now. Continued prayers for you both. I too wrote about a planner I got to help me through my year with my word. Blessings.
Visiting today from Remember Me Monday #4&5
Thank you so much for your prayers, sweet Paula. I appreciate you so much.
Ugh! This isn’t the kind of rest you were asking for. I’m so sorry, Lauren! I hope that you have others in your community who can rally around meeting the needs of each of your family members. It’s so hard when we want to be the caregivers but we need taking care of ourselves. Life can be challenging. Praying for your pain to reduce.
It is so hard, Lisa. Thank you so much for the prayers.
Thank you for sharing your heart. Brokenness. That’s what comes to my mind. It’s certainly not a quality that the world would want to achieve, in fact, it would be considered failure, but it’s the painful path to God’s kind of success. It’s also where God meets us with His steadfast faithfulness. I will keep your family in prayer.
Thank you for that wise perspective and for the prayers, Christina. They mean so much.
Lauren, I’m so sorry for all you are going through. I had a serious back injury that led to surgery 20 plus years ago. And I remember the pain. And it is so hard when God puts us in those forced seasons of rest. Having others serve us can be almost as challenging as the physical issues. I’m praying for you and your family along with several others from this online family of ours. May God give you all that you need in this difficult season.
Thank you so much for those prayers, Donna. I will take all I can get!
Praying for grace as you walk through this season of trial in your health as a couple. Praying for wisdom and insight regarding treatment and moving forward for both of you. Praying you know His comforting Presence and Love as you go deeper in trust and abiding rest.
Amen. Thank you for that prayer, Lisa.
I’m so sorry you’re having pain from the bulging discs. I hope you find relief and healing soon. You’re wise to trust in God to teach you the meaning of rest.
Thank you for participating in Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 12.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
Thank you for the well wishes. My trust in God is sustaining me.
Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this… it’s so hard to rest especially as a mom and wife when our families need us. I am praying for you all.
Thank you so much for the prayers, Joanne.
I understand!
My last 3 WOTY have been:
2020 – attitude-of-gratitude
2021 – Abide
2022 – Encouragement
Each word has had it’s share of trials & triumphs as God lovingly shapes be into who He wants me to be.
Such a great thing to focus on with my one word exercises. Thanks, Barb.
Oh Lauren I understand that pain, many years ago I had the same with discs in my neck.
Praying for you both now.
Heavenly Father,
We pray healing & blessings in abundance for Lauren, Chuck & their family.
We pray this in Jesus name, Amen
Jennifer
Amen, Jennifer. Thank you so much.
I am so sorry for all the challenges you are going through and yet you continue to share and encourage, Thank you, I am grateful your word is leading and helping you through this year!
Thank you for the encouragement, Jean.
I’m so sorry for this extra ordeal. You already had more than enough on your plate. I’m hoping that your entire family gets some much needed relief.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you so much, Michelle.