After another hospitalization last week, I had to set my thoughts on things above and not allow the sickness in my body dictate my level of faith. I thought I would share some of the verses that are keeping me afloat.
2 Corinthians 10: 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Having been hospitalized so much lately has caused me to have detrimental strongholds in my life that need to be demolished. These include anxiety, depression, shipwrecked faith, and self-pity. I often ask God, “Why is this happening again?” “Why do you answer the prayers of others and not mine?” I have found the only way for me to combat these lies from our enemy is to replace them with Scripture that are in direct contrast with the negative messages. That is how you “take captive” every thought.
Job 36: 15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. 16 “He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
God will always deliver me in my suffering, even if it does not turn out the way I think it should. Although I may not get healed the way I want to be healed, these verses teach me that God is leading me to a place of comfort with choice food.
I remember the days when I was still drinking alcoholically and had turned my back on prayer, Bible study, essentially anything of God. As a result, I just COULD NOT get sober. I was the person in our support group that kept picking up a beginner’s white chip, over and over. I wanted so badly for my life to be full of contentment and purpose, but I was unwilling to rely on God to get there. I had no hope of finding a place of comfort with choice food.
James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Going through trials with the right attitude is always a way to grow in my faith. When I am suffering, I often ask God to help me to learn quickly and gracefully whatever it is he is trying to teach me. The testing of my faith in one situation will certainly strengthen my spiritual muscles in future situations.
Isaiah 48: 10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Silver is refined and made pure by burning off all the impurities in a red-hot furnace. When this is done, the silver is 99.9% pure. There are a lot of impurities in my heart when I am not allowing God to regularly refine me. Thankfully, affliction makes me think more deeply about God, keeps me relatable, burns away the selfishness, and helps me to be everything God wants me to be.
When I was first injured, I distinctly remember lying in the ICU and asking God,“Where are you? Don’t you care about me? Are you angry with me? Am I being punished?” It was such a spiritually painful time for me. I felt so much despair. I would not find the answers to these questions until later in my walk with God, but I always had strong believers around me who encouraged me to hold onto my faith and prayed with me.
It is not always so easy to see the upside when we are suffering. What I have found to be most useful is to speak to a counselor, a confidant, or a close friend with whom we can talk to openly, having no fear of being judged. Prayer is vital. We must take the time to tell God how we feel and what we need from Him. If you are unsure what to pray, tell him. Ask him to increase your faith.
I pray for all of us in our walk with Christ. If there is anything I can do to help anyone, please click the “contact” button above.
Be blessed.
Diary of a Quadriplegic 
As always, your honesty and dependence on Scripture leads me to deeper contemplation of spiritual thoughts. You inspire me to daily rely more on God and His Word than on my feelings, not waiting for desperate times to be reminded of how much I need God! Thank you!
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Good day, sister Nida! I have been sick for about 2 weeks. It is so easy to let go of our faith when the body is weak. We just have this idea that pains are useless. That there is nothing good to be found in the trash bag of trouble. But if we can relax, and patiently desire to hear the voice of our Savior and Healer, with faith 100%, search into the middle of the pain, we find His voice, His Word, that never fails to comfort and guide. You have blessed me with the scriptures from Job 36. It is exactly what I needed today. Thank you for giving out to people like me. May God answer your prayers and make you whole! Love from me, Lia!
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Thanks for sharing, Terri. You and I both know our tests become our testimonies. God does not always answer the way we want but He never leaves or forsakes us. Keeping you in prayer!
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Thank you so much for your openness & “realness”. Your reminders of where to go biblically are so encouraging. I often find myself fearing the suffering that may come instead of having a God-focus. Thank you my friend for letting God continue to use you to help inspire so many.
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Its always good to hear from you Teri, thank you for your continual honesty and encouraging posts.
Pastor Dave Wilkerson preached about the “baptism of fire” (Matt 3:11) as a time of intense suffering that not only tests our faith but can bring forth greater revelation of God. Since the word ‘baptism’ means immersion, being immersed in fire sounds excruciating!
But He never wastes our afflictions, they have eternal purpose.
Thank you again Teri, your ministry to me and many others has great value and eternal weight.
“But He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
❤
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I love and miss you, Terri. Thank you for writing and posting this. You amaze and inspire me. Your labor of love strengthens my walk with the Lord.
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I love you.
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This post is filled with wisdom and discernment, 2 things the Lord has given you in your affliction, sister. Thank you, Terri.
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Thank you for the encouragement.
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What a beautiful testimony of how scripture and prayer can overcome the lies that discourage us. I am saying prayers for healing and comfort for you, Terri. 🙏🌺
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Thank you for your prayers!
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Sorry to hear you have been in the hospital again. Praying for you, let me know if you need anything or want a visit.
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Terri, your selections of Scriptures are firm truths to stand on and remind ourselves of when walking through trials. Thanks for sharing, God bless you.
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The word of God is transforming. God bless you.
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Deep truths come from deep sufferings… God’s grace is always more than our situations. His light is easily seen in your sharing…
Blessings
BT
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Thank you for the encouragement.
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I never look forward to the hospital but when I am there Jesus gives me opportunities to share Jesus with people.
Prayed for you
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Agreed! Thank you for your prayers.
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Dear Terri, I praise the Lord for your witness of His grace in you. You are truly living in the secret place of the Lord Most High — under the shadow of our Father’s wings. Love and blessings.
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Terri, may God strengthen you as you go through what seems like one dark valley after another. You are so wise to cling to Him and His promises. ❤
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