I Didn't See This Coming

Have you ever been blind-sided by something? Maybe it was an unexpected blessing, or even an unexpected problem. I think at some point in our lives, we've all had to face situations that we didn't see coming. One that I have had to face is an unexpected health issue. I've always been the person who rarely got sick. You know those people who would be walking around completely healthy, while everyone else is sneezing and coughing? I was the healthy person in those scenarios. Never once did I ever think that I would be confronted with a health issue and have to walk through my own journey to healing in my body.

About a year ago, I began to experience symptoms that weren't overly concerning, but I was still instructed to see a doctor. When I did, I found out that the symptoms were a result of acid reflux. Prior to this, I never experienced acid reflux pain, so it was all fairly new to me. After multiple consultations, I was confronted with a diagnosis of GERD, a chronic digestive disorder. For this, I was prescribed several medications that weren't helping relieve my symptoms. So, for about six months, I have had to cope with adjusting my eating habits, taking different supplements and pushing through chronic chest pain and frequent abdominal pain.

Truthfully, I questioned whether or not to share this, but my desire is to encourage anyone else walking through their own trials. Since all of this began, I've been standing on the Word of God, and deep down, I know that healing is my portion. I don't, for a second, believe that God has called me to live a life where I am in constant discomfort and pain. That is not the Father that I know Him to be, but I'd be lying if I said that there hasn't been days where I laid in bed crying out to God. There has been many, many days like that--days when I told God that I didn't see any of this coming and the reality of having to walk through it is very hard.

Can I tell you something though? While much of this has been hard, I've never experienced Jesus in a more beautiful way. Whenever I find myself overwhelmed by my situation, I feel Him comforting me. Whenever I'm tempted to doubt that He will heal me, He reminds me of His precious promises of healing, and there are plenty of them. Through all of this, He has encouraged my heart and brought me peace. To tell you the truth, at this point in my journey, I find myself repeating often, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26).

I certainly did not see any of this coming. A few years ago, I never would have imagined that this would be a part of my story, but God saw it coming. God knew. He knows my end from my beginning. This may have taken me by surprise, but not Him. Today, I'm still on my path to healing, and honestly, some days are tougher than others, but I find peace and surprisingly, so much joy in knowing that Jesus is with me. I am not alone in this. I can hold on Isaiah 41:10 with confidence, knowing that the God who has been walking with me up until now, will continue to remain faithful to me. In the meantime, I will rejoice. I will trust. I will pray. I will hope. I will believe. I will wait on the Lord.