“How to see the positives of chronic illness?” may seem like a highly unlikely question, even for the Christian. But, isn’t their pros and cons to everything? Essentially, yes. When it comes to chronic illness, seeing the positives will require you to change how you view chronic illness itself. It won’t be easy; I can say that with confidence. But, it’s possible.
Perspective is EVERYTHING
It might seem odd that I have a running list of “positives of chronic illness”. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to think long and hard about it. Although, I didn’t realize I had this running list of sorts in my head until rather recently. Living with chronic pain as many years as I have has taught me many lessons. One of those lessons is: perspective is everything. How I view my challenges directly impacts how I handle them. I’ve also learned to see situations from multiple perspectives, too. This is one reason why I have my list of “positives of chronic illness”.
To be able to see the positives of chronic illness, you’ll have to look at it from a different perspective than your own. Try viewing it through the Lord’s eyes. Put on His lens instead of yours and then think about how you and even those closest to you benefit from your chronic illness. (I promise I’m typing it right.) Once you try viewing your circumstance with the Lord’s lens, it will amaze you at the benefits you’ll see. I didn’t say those benefits would always be easy to appreciate; but, nevertheless, they’re present.
PRO #1: Relate to/Connect Across Generational Gaps
If you’re living with chronic pain like the estimated fifty million other adults in America; then, you have a unique opportunity in front of you. One you may not have realized. That opportunity is you can relate to/connect with people who are (sometimes much)older than you. You’ll see how quickly you can have good conversation with those in their sixties and up. Not only will you be able to have solid conversation; but, you’ll be able to relate to them in a way than many of your peers can’t. Simply because it’s a proven fact that more and more older Americans live with diseases that cause chronic pain such as arthritis.
Don’t misunderstand me. I realize there’s a BIG difference between living with the type of pain that affects how you do life in your sixties or seventies as opposed to your twenties/thirties/forties. Even still, you have a rarely afforded opportunity to connect over the topic.
There’s something special about being able to connect with the older generation. There’s so much wisdom to glean from their life experiences. You can truly learn a few things if you’ll pay attention and take notes.
PRO #2: Gratitude for My Glorified Body
I’ve been a Christian since I was a young teenager. And I’ve been “sold out”, so to speak, for Jesus since I was in my early twenties. I’ve had full understanding for more than two decades that one day I will lay down this body of flesh in which my soul now resides and exchange it for a brand new glorified body when I get to Heaven. But, my intense appreciation of this fact didn’t come along until after experiencing some of what I’ve gone through the last eight years.
Somewhere along my journey, I realized how much it means to me to know I won’t have to live in constant pain for eternity. Revelation 21:4 says “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” There’s no pain in Heaven and what’s more, I’ll get a brand new, glorified body!
I’ve developed a deep gratitude of what awaits me when I get to Heaven. When I leave my flesh behind here, I will also leave behind my titanium hip and the spinal cord stimulator. I’ll leave behind my cane, the specialized cushions I have to carry everywhere to sit, the pills, ice packs and all the other things I use to help with managing my pain and illnesses. Praise the Lord! I’ll leave all that behind because I won’t need it in my new glorified body!
I rarely encounter other forty-one year olds who have the same appreciation as I do for what awaits us when the Lord either calls me home by death or in the rapture. It took going through a complicated hip replacement surgery at age thirty-three and having several surgeries that were supposed to help the hip pain to fail before I gained this appreciation. (You can read my story here, if you haven’t already.)
PRO #3: Gain Wisdom Greater Than Your Age
Living with chronic illness will force you to make hard decisions and will likely force you into situations that most don’t deal with in their lifetime. Or if they do, they don’t until they’re closer to retirement age. Having to make those decisions and living through those situations will make you gain wisdom because the best way to gain wisdom is through experience. Experience is the greatest teacher.
I’ve been told often I was wise or wiser than my years. It’s because I’ve been through a lifetime’s worth of medical experiences. That may not seem likely to you; but, I’ve lived it. I know. At this point in my life, I’ve already gone through more than many will have by the time they leave this earth. I’m also not naive. I know what I’ve gone through doesn’t hold a candle to what some endure.
The definition of “wisdom” as defined by the 1828 Webster’s dictionary, paraphrased, is “gained by experience, is of inestimable value, quickness of intellect; readiness of apprehension and profitable words or doctrine”.
I’ve been through a lot medically. I’ve had to learn to live with the limitations my body has placed on me. Not only have I experienced much of this physically; but, it’s affected me mentally, emotionally and at times even spiritually. Because of the seasons I’ve survived in my life, I’m wiser for it and I’ll gladly share any wisdom I have with anyone who can benefit from it.
PRO #4: Opportunities to Encourage Others
Living with chronic illness gives you the opportunity to encourage others who are going through something health wise. The situations don’t have to be the same to have enough similarities for you to be able to encourage the other person. If you’re like me, you’ve been through specific types of surgeries and can encourage those who are preparing for those surgeries or calm someone who’s just scared to have surgery at all. Because I’ve been through seasons I struggled spiritually, I’m able to encourage others who are in that dry spiritual season.
Living with chronic pain has impacted my mental health significantly at different times in my journey, especially when I had to leave the classroom. When I sense someone is struggling through a season of depression, anxiety or discouragement, I try to lift them up and encourage them. There’s many ways to be an encourager. You can encourage in-person or on social media, by mailing cards to someone who’s been sick/recovering from surgery or by sending a text to check on a friend. Neither of those things require a great deal of time or energy.
You see, the experiences you’ve had through chronic illness opens up doors for you to encourage others in ways that many can’t.
In Conclusion
To be able to see the positives of chronic illness, remember, perspective is everything. You must view it through the Lord’s lens and not your own. Having a chronic illness gives you the opportunity to relate to/connect across the generational gaps; you’ll be able to relate to individuals who are older than you in meaningful ways. Living with chronic illness gives you a deep appreciation for the glorified body you’ll obtain in Heaven. You’ll gain wisdom greater than your age from your experiences because experience is the greatest teacher. Chronic illness also gives you the opportunity to encourage others and lift them up.
These are just a few of the “positives” of chronic illness. In essence, living with chronic illness opens up doors of opportunity to be able to minister to others. When you really think about it; it’s a ministry in a lot of ways. Do you see any other positives to chronic illness?
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