One morning in the summer of 2016, I woke up feeling better than I had felt in years. The debilitating nerve pain of RSD that had come to rule my life since my breast cancer surgeries five years before had diminished. I knew it the second I woke up that morning. The flow of painful lava that had poured through my head, neck and shoulders daily for several years had become a trickle. While I still felt pain after that day, it was much more manageable. I even went some days without thinking about my pain at all.

I had prayed. Others had prayed for me. God had answered our prayers. Praise the Lord! I was better.

This reprive lasted a year.

Two months ago, my doctor gave me a few shots in my neck to help fight dystonia. It reignited the volcano of painful lava, and sent it coursing once again through my head, neck and shoulders. As quickly as the chronic nerve pain had left a year ago, it had returned with a vengeance, and has been with me constantly ever since.

Words cannot express how crushed I felt. By the afternoon after the shots, my progress had regressed over a year. I had thought I was going to beat RSD. Now it was worse.

Many are disabled with RSD. Many suffer for the rest of their lives with RSD. The devil told me that was going to happen to me. It was like being set free from prison, and then getting locked up again.

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? Psalm 13:1-2

I know my Big, Big God is able to heal me. Many times I have put my pain on the altar. Many times I have asked Him to take it away. Many times I have believed Him for healing. As of this moment, He has chosen not to take my pain away.

Do I believe it is because I do not have faith enough? No.

Do I believe He is punishing me for something? No.

Do I believe He plans to use my pain for His purposes? Absolutely.

Do I believe He is teaching me something through my trials? Yes.

He has grown my faith. While I still have the pain, He gets me through it one day at a time. He gives me opportunities to share with others who are in pain too. When I find He is all I have, I find He is all I need.

The lesson I feel in the depths of my soul that He is trying to teach me is the hardest lesson to learn. It is the one that Paul spoke about.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

If you too are waiting for God, we are in good company. Noah waited 120 years for the predicted rain to fall. Joseph waited 14 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Abraham waited 25 years for the son that God promised him.  Moses waited 40 years with the complaining children of Israel for God to bring them out of the wilderness.

The formula that worked for them back then still works for us today.

Wait. Pray. Hope. Believe. And repeat (as many times as it takes).

God is faithful. He will answer in His time.

Dear Lord: You never waste a single trial. You capture every tear that we cry. You know best. Your ways are higher than our ways. Help us to stand strong and serve You in obedience while we wait for You to answer our prayers. Thank You for being faithful, and for loving us so much more than we deserve. Amen

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Are you waiting for God to bring you comfort physically, emotionally, financially or spiritually? Don’t give up. He is able, He can, and He does. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. He is faithful. Wait. Pray. Hope. Believe. Repeat.

Please share your experiences, thoughts and comments.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. May God touch and bless you with the answers you have been praying for.