I wrote this years ago and have posted it before but I wanted to post it again and dedicate it to my daughter Stacie who suffers with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  She is a living, breathing example of the Grace of God.  I pray this devotional will bless and comfort her and anyone else who lives with chronic pain.

A MATTER OF GRACE

I stood barefoot on the fiery bed of coals.  I peered downward, waving the smoke away from my sizzling feet and saw huge, red, oozing blisters.  I trudged on.  Just as I was about to step into a meadow of cool, dewy, green grass I woke up.

With clenched, aching jaws, drenched in sweat and tears, I sat up in the bed.  How I wished I could have stayed in the dream long enough to feel the cooling moisture of the meadow.  There would be no more sleep that night and I wondered if I would live with the agony for the rest of my life.

Coping with Diabetes had always been a challenge, but this was far beyond anything I could have ever prepared for.  I was on a low sugar, low fat diet and exercised every day.  I had succeeded in controlling the blood sugar levels without medication but nothing relieved the fierce, burning pain caused by the dying nerves in my feet.  That damage had already been done.

There is a drug that has been found to have therapeutic value in the treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.  It is primarily for seizures and can have severe side effects.  I did not want to shackle myself to a drug that could deaden my emotions, cause fatigue and apathy.  The mere thought of it broke my heart.

I called on my Pastor who also lives with chronic pain and dislikes taking medication.  We discussed the pros and cons of my taking the pills.  Together, we called upon God for His guidance in making the decision.  As Pastor Mason prayed for me, I was overcome with the presence and power of God.  His Holy Spirit filled me and I knew I was to continue to put my trust in Him.  He would give me grace for each day if I would walk in faith.

Later that morning I sat down to read my Bible.   I was led to Luke 22: 44. “And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.” (BBE)   I was reminded of the anguish my Lord experienced at Calvary.  It was confirmation for me.  I am a Child of God and He is able.  When I reach Heaven, there will be no more pain.  Until then, I will rest in the palm of His hand.

Note:  I believe, and I praise God that He sometimes uses modern medicine to heal us and to ease our pain.  He has led me to a medication for neuropathy and am not experiencing any severe side effects.