We all face trials, heartaches, and disappointments, but with Christ, we can rise above. Today, Susan Sleeman shares her struggles with chronic 
illness and how God helped her move forward. Please note: Susan is giving away a copy of her novel Double Exposure to one randomly selected reader who leaves a comment or question for her on today’s post.
Do you have a situation in your life that you’re struggling with? Maybe a job loss, financial difficulties, a home loss, loss of a family member or friend, your own illness or the illness of someone you love? If you do, then you’re like most of us on any given day. We all face struggles and need to overcome them to move on.
I live with a chronic illness. Each day can be a challenge from the time I get up to the time I fall asleep at night. I could (and have) wallowed in the pain and suffering. I’ve clung to it like an old friend and felt sorry for myself.
But why? What good did it do me?
None. Absolutely none.
Focusing on my situation only made it worse. Made it grow. Bigger and bigger until it was insurmountable and the only reaction is self-pity. That’s what I used to do, but what do I do now?
I can best tell you by sharing the words of the popular song Trading My Sorrows by Darrell Evans?
I’m trading my sickness
I’m trading my pain
I’m laying it down for the joy of the Lord
When I first heard these words, I wondered how I could trade my sickness and pain. Trust me if I could trade it for health I would in a heartbeat. But the song is really saying lay down how you feel about the illness and pain. Lay down the self-pity. Praise the Lord for all He has done for you. All He is for you and be joyful. Even praise Him for the suffering, because it’s in the fires of suffering and pain that we draw closer to God and we find out who we are.
So whatever you’re facing, lay it down for the joy of the Lord. Trust Him to be faithful and bring you through your problem. Trust that He knows and hears your pain and is walking each step with you. Trust that He loves you and whatever situation you are going through will ultimately work for good. Trust Him!
A KILLER’S CLOSING IN…
When her client and old college friend is murdered, P.I. Kat Justice knows the killer will come for her next. Her survival depends on finding her unknown enemy first…and working with homicide detective Mitch Elliot, her onetime crush.
It’ll take all her professional skills to ignore the sparks between them, but Kat can’t allow the handsome cop to get close. She’s seen too many people she loves die, so she vows just to do her job without getting emotionally involved. Yet keeping her distance may not be the best way to protect her heart—or their lives.
For more info about and to read and except for Dead Wrong visit Susan’s website at about http://www.susansleeman.com/books/dead-wrong/
SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense and mystery novels. Her first romantic suspense title, High-Stakes Inheritance earned a spot on the ECPA bestseller list and her Garden Gate Mystery series, which features Nipped in the Bud, and Read Between the Tines has enjoyed time on Amazon bestseller lists as well. And The Christmas Witness was named a finalist in the 2011 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. In addition to writing, Susan hosts the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.
She currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson. To learn more about Susan stop by any of these locations on the web.
To learn more about Susan stop by any of these locations on the web.
Website www.SusanSleeman.com
Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/SusanSleeemanBooks
Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/SusanSleeman
Review Site http://www.TheSuspenseZone.com
Let’s talk about this. I loved Susan’s reminder to trust in God–to trust He’s walking with us, that He hears us, that He sees our pain, and that He cares. Join us at Living by Grace today as we talk about drawing near to God during trials and times of weakness.
And make sure to come back to Living By Grace Friday and Saturday for a continuation of our in-depth look at the book of James.
Thanks for hosting me today, Jennifer! I love taking about trusting God. Such a hard thing to do, but so necessary for a peaceful life!
Susan, I loved the truth in your post–and the reminder that we need to *grab hold* of joy. I think I’ll be singing that chorus. 🙂
Susan, I also suffer from a chronic disease so I know just what you are talking about. The song that gets me through the dark days is by Laura Storey and is called “What if my blessing” this song says it all for me. Just started redaing the The Justice Agency books, of course started with number 3 first, but I can’t wait to the first two.
I’m sorry to hear about your chronic illness, Pamela! I hear you about the What if my blessing’s song. The words are running through my mind right now and I rarely make it through that song dry-eyed!
I got interested in the love inspired thanks to my 81-year-old mom, I’m in the middle of one right now by Roxanne Rustand, but I had to put it aside for now until I get a couple of library books read & sent back then I’m going right back to finish reading roxanne’s book which IS a love inspired suspence book called “Duty to Protect” then I’m not really sure which I’ll go with after that.
Ruth, You chose one of the very best Love Inspired Suspense authors when you picked up Roxanne’s book. So glad your mother loves the Love Inspired line. I very appreciative of our older readers!!
Ruth, don’t you love chatting about favorite novels with family? When my daughter was younger, she, my mom, and I would gather for “story time,” Gramma reading, my daughter sometimes snuggled on her lap, other evenings on mine. Such precious memories!
I’m convicted by the “lay it down” theme…lay it down for the joy of the Lord!
Connie the lay it down theme really convicts me too!
God always hears our prayers and answers with a No, Yes, or Wait. No matter what He wants us to do, we still have to trust in Him that He will provide us the best, for His thoughts are always higher than ours.
So true, Dicky! God always hear our prayers and it’s easier to trust Him when we agree with His answer. It’s the other times, the nos and not yets, that we find harder. But if we remember as you say, His ways are higher than ours, it should be easier!!
I agree, Dicky and Susan, and that’s why I loved this post. There are times, I believe, when trusting is very much an act of the will. Perhaps that’s what it means to love God with all our strength minds (Luke 10:27).
Thanks, Susan, for the gentle reminder. Life has been feeling like Murphy’s Law to the extreme. I’m always amazed by how simple it is to thank God for every good thing, and yet I sometimes struggle with it. Turning my day around starting right now.