This summer has proven to be a time when worry was close on my heals, more times than I wanted to admit. I began this spring hoping to be in such a place of surrender, laying down my fears and asking God to carry me through the many treatments meted out for my Chronic Illnesses. I longed to rest and rejoice in the beauty of the lilies that bloomed in my garden, even though I could give them no care.
But when those treatments brought on more allergic reactions and side effects, and most of them came to a screeching halt once again, I saw that ugly worry-monster roaring in the corners of my sleepy mind. For it was usually the night-time hours when I would wonder how I was going to get through this season. And then my friend Pamela, at Chronic Joy Ministry, wrote to let me know they were going to re-post my allegory about Worry and Concern in their July Oasis of Hope mailing. Since they were in the process of making their posts accessible to everyone, she asked if I could also record an audio reading of the post.
“Sure, no problem,” I answered. But I didn’t know the plans that God had in mind for my heart as I read again the story He had given me over 2 years ago. Those words had become more personal than ever, as my own worries were exposed during the practice readings. It took me 3 tries before I could get through the post without breaking down.
For you see, the timing of this re-post is coming out just when I have needed to share with you, my dear friends, an update on my latest procedure, the Radio Frequency Ablation for my Occipital Neuralgia head-pain. While I would like to say that I came through with flying colors, and entered into it all with a joyful bubbly spirit, the weakness and pain brought me into places of new worries.
OH, but our LORD is so full of mercy. HE knows how to cover us with His peace, when our own worries have fluttered over and lodged into the recesses of our hearts. As I lay waiting for my procedure to begin, my body shaking with chills, and my Blood Pressure roaring to crazy high levels, the technician in the pre-op room asked me what kind of music I preferred. She tuned the channel to Christian music when she heard my response, and I listened with awe when I heard the words of the song that played over the room’s speakers: “Remember, God has always been faithful to me.”
And He was so faithful, to carry me through the procedure and recovery, without any allergic reaction this time! I am still waiting for pain relief, as the Doctor told me it could take 2 to 3 weeks for the results of the procedure to be felt. But whether there is complete relief of my head pains, or just minimal help, I know that my Lord is WITH me, bringing home HIS presence and peace to me.
Perhaps that worry-monster has tried to make a visit at your home also? Jesus knows the way to bring HIS own peace into our lives.
Will you join me over at the Chronic Joy website to read the story about 2 ladies, Worry and Concern, and the allegory of their lives that so beautifully intersected with my own this summer?
Click here to read along with me.
And I pray that you will be blessed as you listen to the same song that played over the airwaves before my procedure last week:
I am linking with: #TellHisStory #LegacyLinkup #GraceAndTruth
BettieGsRAseasons 
Continuing to pray for you dear friend.
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Oh Dear Melissa, I appreciate your prayers so much. What a blessing that God brings as we share prayers across the miles.
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Great story! Praying for you.
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Thank you so much Dear Ruth! It really is a blessing to know that we can pray for each other over the miles. It blessed me so much when you called and we could share those prayers. May the Lord bless you and your family this week!
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This is so beautiful, sweet friend. SO very grateful to God for seeing you through such awful ordeals. Oh, the pain you must be in! When I started having that awful pain in January, that is one of the things we thought may be going on. I read and learned a lot about it during that time, and oh, how my heart goes out to you! I am continuing to pray for you and trust the Lord to heal all that is wrong in your body, in Jesus’ name. Sending much love and many hugs your way today.
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Dear Cheryl,
Oh, your understanding and care mean so much to me. Thank you for all of your precious encouragement and prayers! I am so thankful for being able to read your new book, and to share about that next week (as God allows) also! God really does know how to weave and join together on His pathways for us. Sending so much love and hugs and prayers for you too!
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Dear Bettie, oh how good it is to re-read this timely post about the twin plagues of worry and concern! Worry seems to be my constant companion sometimes, alongside that old nemesis Anxiety, of course. It doesn’t take long before they weigh my soul down. But Concern is a different kind of friend, because if I listen to her and turn her thoughts to prayer, then Worry and Anxiety seem to flee and I receive a new, welcome soul companion called Peace. May Peace come quickly to you, dear friend, and wrap you in her calming embrace as you wait for the pain to ease. Sending much love, gentle hugs and prayers to you across the pond. xoxo
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Dear Joy,
Thank you so much for being my dear heart-sister on this journey, even as we share together about worry and anxiety also. Yes, may we allow the Lord to transform that worry into concern as He calls us to pray right in the middle of that need to flee that rises up. When I would flee to the corner, HE calls me to come to Him to find His dear peace and that “calming embrace.” I pray that same gift for you during this long, hot summer. Blessings love, and hugs for you also, dear across-the-pond-friend! xoxo
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Dear Bettie, oh how strong that urge to flee can be! Even as fear, worry and anxiety paralyse us and stop us in our tracks. I gratefully receive the gift you have prayed over me. Inner calm can often be so hard to achieve but it returns when we turn to God, lay our concerns at His feet, and become filled anew with His glorious Peace. xoxo ❤️
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Oh yes, it is such a paradox isn’t it? That urge to flee seems so overwhelming, and yet we feel paralyzed at the same time! I am so grateful along with you that our Father is waiting right there to fill us with His glorious peace. Love & hugs xoxo
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OH God is so faithful. This was no coincidence. I’m going to listen to the allegroy later this evening, but I’m remind of Hannah Hurnard’s Hind’s Feet on High Places. It’s an allegory of the journey to heaven. Very Good
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Amen! Yes, our God really is so faithful! And I am so glad that you thought of that beautiful book, “Hind’s Feet on High Places,” as it is a favorite of mine also! There may be a giveaway coming in the near future for that. 🙂 I’m so thankful we can pray for each other, Dear Mandy, RA-Sister. Blessings and love and soft hugs for you!
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I hope this procedure relieves your pain. My friend’s husband will be trying it soon. Bless you in how you minister to others in chronic illness.
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Thank you so much for your prayers and kind words! I will keep your friend’s husband in my prayers as he approaches this treatment also!
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Oh, my heart hurts for all that you have to go through, Bettie. I pray that relief will come soon. I’m glad God was able to minister to you through Christian music. I find he often uses that with me as well. Songs can sink those truths deep into my soul in ways that simple words don’t always do.
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Dear Lisa,
Thank you for your precious encouragement and prayers over these many weeks. I so appreciate them! And you are so right: “Songs can sink those truths deep into my soul in ways that simple words don’t always do.” Amen. May I allow those truths to continue to dwell so deeply. Blessings and love to you!
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What an amazing story of God’s faithfulness! Continuing to pray for you!
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Dear Michelle,
Yes, isn’t our God so very faithful? It is so amazing how He sees and meets us in the smallest detail. I appreciate your prayers so much! Blessings, love, and prayers for you too!
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Thank God for His mercies.
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Amen! He is so very full of new mercies every morning! Love you dear friend!
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Beautiful! I am praying that relief for your head comes soon. I have been following your Facebook posts and I know of your struggles. Your faith and message of hope is one that keeps me going. Thank you, sweet friend!
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Dear Mary,
Thank you so much for your sweet encouragement and prayers. It is such a blessing to know that we can share in our struggles and in our support of each other on this journey. God amazes me the way that He weaves our lives together. Blessings, love, and hugs to you dear friend!
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Bettie, saddened to hear you’re still experiencing chronic pain & reactions. But as the song reminds us He is there in our darkest hours.
This is timely for me today too.
Bless you sweet friend ♥
Jennifer
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Dear Jennifer,
Thank you for your sweet prayers and kind words. Our Savior is here for us in every dark place where we journey. I am so grateful that He knows the timing of just what we need. You are such an encouragement to so many, I am so glad that He would bring you encouragement here. Blessings to you also, sweet friend.
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Thank you Bettie for your lovely kind words of encouragement today, gracefully needed & accepted ♥
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This summer is nuts for those with chronic illness. My mom, who has fibromyalgia, has been doing fairly well but ended up in the ER with chest pain. She was fine as it turned out she had silent reflux. Then I have had a bladder issue and I have been up and down many nights using the bathroom with no answer as to what is going on. So frustrating and I am exhausted! Almost my entire summer has been consumed by this now. In other words, this post came at a very good time for me. Thank you! And I’ll be praying that procedure works.
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Dear Lisa,
Yes, I agree that this season has been especially hard for those of us with chronic illness. It seems that everything has been ramped up somehow! I am so sorry for what you and your mom have had to deal with also. You are in my prayers, asking the Lord to bring relief to you! And I thank you so much for your prayers for me also!
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I pray for speedy relief. You’re such a help to many who struggle, Bettie!
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Dear Amy,
Thank you so much for your prayers and for your kind encouragement! I am so grateful for the ways that the Lord weaves all of our lives together. He really is so faithful.
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Dear Bettie, the way God gives you fiction here and what I read in the dramas … it is powerful. Sometimes we need to hear His truth a different way to awaken us. Thank you so much for sharing. I am thanking Jesus for drawing you as this post came back around at a time when you also needed the words. Love, Julie
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Dear Julie,
Oh, I am so grateful that Jesus met you here, even as He met me again as I read aloud the words. I think you are right that we need to hear His truth spoken to our hearts in so many ways. He is such a creative God! What a blessing when He stirs our hearts to listen. So grateful that we can pray for each other in this season. Love and hugs dear sister.
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Love and hugs right back sister. Lifting my voice to praise His name as I type🙌🔥🙏
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