A few days ago I got new running shoes. I have had my old ones for three years, but never felt the need to replace them, but recently i changed my mind and for good reason . . .over thanksgiving i spent a lot of time at doctor's offices because my lupus has been pretty bad for the last 8 months or so. Pretty bad meaning, I had been in pain just about every day, mostly in my arms and shoulders, but also in my knees, hands, toes and wrists.
"being bad in my shoulders" meant that i had a lot of trouble lifting my arms above my head and lifting just about anything without getting shooting pains in my arms. the real bummer was that if i moved at all when i slept, i would get real bad pain that would wake me up so i hadnt been sleeping well for a long time. and when i dont get enough sleep, the inflammation and pain gets worse.
SOOO, when i went to see my amazing doctor and told him all of this, he did some great things for me. 1. gave me new medicine, and it works great. 2. gave me 4 cortisone shots, my arms felt better within two hours and literally haven't hurt since.
all this to say, i sleep great every night, have tooooons of energy now, and have had zero pain anywhere for the last three weeks. which has made me real excited to actually run and excercise again!!!!! so, i got new running shoes!! (at the Rack by the way, for only $30)
I must say, the Lord's providence in all of this has been astounding. A few nights before I received the new medicine and the cortisone, the Lord was reminding me of how much joy and hope he has bestowed upon me over the last few months. I was thinking a lot about Paul and the thorn in his side (2 Corinthians) and how he asked for it to be removed but it was not. And how Paul continued on in ministry anyway. I won't lie, I have asked for at least the pain to be removed but it never was. And I am so grateful for that. Because I know, without question, that it was only by the Lord's strength that I have been able to be on campus and doing ministry every day. Because most days, as i was wincing in pain while getting dressed, you would think I would question my ability to get through that day, but i never did. The Lord never allowed me to. He would just remind me that I was going to do nothing that day, and He would do everything I needed and more. He would give me the strength and the joy.
I pray that when and if the pain comes back again, I will count myself blessed to suffer, if it means the Lord's glory will be on display through the way he strengthens me in my weakness
