For years now, chronic back and leg pain has been my constant companion. I have prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed, begging for a breakthrough, but no healing has come. Instead, the pain remains, and honestly, it has only gotten worse as time goes on.
If you have ever dealt with long-term pain, you know the routine. I have prayed and prayed and prayed for healing and relief. I’ve gone through physical therapy over and over again. I’ve tried acupuncture. I’ve explored the options available to me, hoping for a breakthrough, but the physical relief simply hasn't come.
When pain is relentless, it can test you in ways few other things can. There have been so many times when I have wanted to complain—and truth be told, I have complained. In those moments of deep discomfort, it’s easy to let frustration take over. But I have had to ask God for forgiveness for those complaints, because in focusing on my pain, I had temporarily forgotten a vital truth, and like the Apostle Paul I had to confess that: God’s grace and mercy are sufficient for me, even in the middle of this back pain.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (emphasis mine)
My faith isn't built only on the prayers that get answered the exact way I want them to. It’s built on the unwavering character of God. Even while living with daily discomfort, I want to—and I will—struggle through the pain to continue the ministry and work that God has set before me. The pain may be present, but it does not get to define my calling or stop God’s purpose for my life.
To Anyone Walking Through Pain, Anxiety, or Stress
I am sharing this today because I know I am not the only one carrying a heavy burden. Whether you are dealing with physical pain, crippling anxiety, financial strain, or emotional stress, I want to encourage you with this truth: God can and will take care of you.
It is easy to sense God’s presence when everything in life is going smoothly, when health is good, and when answers come quickly. But God does not walk away when the road gets rough. He is with you in the good times, and He is deeply present in the bad times.
In fact, the hard times are often when we have the unique opportunity to draw closer to Him than ever before. When everything is going smoothly, it is easy to rely on our own energy, our own routines, and our own physical strength. But when daily pain, anxiety, or ongoing stress strips away our self-reliance, we are left with a clear choice: turn away in frustration, or press deeper into the presence of the Lord. Scripture tells us that God is near to the brokenhearted and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). The persistent trials we face can become the very altar where our faith is refined. In those quiet, desperate moments when the pain feels heaviest and human remedies fall short, we stop seeking just the relief and begin truly seeking the Giver of peace. Drawing near to God in the middle of an unanswered prayer isn't about ignoring the pain; it is about anchoring our soul in His unchanging grace, trusting that even when He does not remove the storm, He is holding us steady inside it.
Romans 5:3-5 NIV Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
When our own strength runs out, we are forced to lean completely into His. When the world offers no quick fixes or simple answers, we learn to rely on His peace that surpasses understanding. The trial doesn't mean God has abandoned you; often, it becomes the very sacred space where you experience His closeness, His comfort, and His sustaining grace in ways you never thought possible.
Walking Forward in Faith
If you are waiting for a burden to be lifted or a prayer to be answered today, do not lose heart.
God has not forgotten you. He sees what you are carrying, He is holding you up through it, and He will draw you closer to His heart as you trust Him day by day.
If you have ever dealt with long-term pain, you know the routine. I have prayed and prayed and prayed for healing and relief. I’ve gone through physical therapy over and over again. I’ve tried acupuncture. I’ve explored the options available to me, hoping for a breakthrough, but the physical relief simply hasn't come.
When pain is relentless, it can test you in ways few other things can. There have been so many times when I have wanted to complain—and truth be told, I have complained. In those moments of deep discomfort, it’s easy to let frustration take over. But I have had to ask God for forgiveness for those complaints, because in focusing on my pain, I had temporarily forgotten a vital truth, and like the Apostle Paul I had to confess that: God’s grace and mercy are sufficient for me, even in the middle of this back pain.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (emphasis mine)
My faith isn't built only on the prayers that get answered the exact way I want them to. It’s built on the unwavering character of God. Even while living with daily discomfort, I want to—and I will—struggle through the pain to continue the ministry and work that God has set before me. The pain may be present, but it does not get to define my calling or stop God’s purpose for my life.
To Anyone Walking Through Pain, Anxiety, or Stress
I am sharing this today because I know I am not the only one carrying a heavy burden. Whether you are dealing with physical pain, crippling anxiety, financial strain, or emotional stress, I want to encourage you with this truth: God can and will take care of you.
It is easy to sense God’s presence when everything in life is going smoothly, when health is good, and when answers come quickly. But God does not walk away when the road gets rough. He is with you in the good times, and He is deeply present in the bad times.
In fact, the hard times are often when we have the unique opportunity to draw closer to Him than ever before. When everything is going smoothly, it is easy to rely on our own energy, our own routines, and our own physical strength. But when daily pain, anxiety, or ongoing stress strips away our self-reliance, we are left with a clear choice: turn away in frustration, or press deeper into the presence of the Lord. Scripture tells us that God is near to the brokenhearted and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). The persistent trials we face can become the very altar where our faith is refined. In those quiet, desperate moments when the pain feels heaviest and human remedies fall short, we stop seeking just the relief and begin truly seeking the Giver of peace. Drawing near to God in the middle of an unanswered prayer isn't about ignoring the pain; it is about anchoring our soul in His unchanging grace, trusting that even when He does not remove the storm, He is holding us steady inside it.
Romans 5:3-5 NIV Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
When our own strength runs out, we are forced to lean completely into His. When the world offers no quick fixes or simple answers, we learn to rely on His peace that surpasses understanding. The trial doesn't mean God has abandoned you; often, it becomes the very sacred space where you experience His closeness, His comfort, and His sustaining grace in ways you never thought possible.
Walking Forward in Faith
If you are waiting for a burden to be lifted or a prayer to be answered today, do not lose heart.
- Keep praying: God hears every tear, every honest prayer, and even our moments of weakness.
- Keep moving forward: You don't have to be pain-free or stress-free to be used by God. He works through our weakness.
- Lean into His grace: His grace is sufficient for today, and His mercy will be renewed tomorrow morning.
God has not forgotten you. He sees what you are carrying, He is holding you up through it, and He will draw you closer to His heart as you trust Him day by day.
RSS Feed