The past few weeks have been especially difficult. Maybe I’ve written those same words several times since January, but this set of symptoms that I have make me long for “normal” days instead of varying degrees of my “new normal.” It gets hard to distinguish between bad days and not-so-bad days. I don’t say this to complain or to ask for pity or sympathy, but just to update you. If my words don’t make sense at times, it’s all part of it.
The diagnosis that I’m looking at is dysautonomia. Have I already told you this? My simplified explanation is that it affects all of the systems of the body that are supposed to work without us thinking about them, such as the heartbeat, digestion, and the nervous system. My brain will just randomly decide, “Today, you’re going to be in a lot of pain, all over your body. Tomorrow, your heart will race unexpectedly while you’re resting. Then, the following day, I think you’ll have severe fatigue and brain fog.” It feels just that random.
A couple of weeks ago, I saw my primary care physician and he put on my chart “dysautonomia” and gave me a referral to a specialist. Before that, it was just this mystery illness that made no sense and he wasn’t ready to give it a name. That period of being in limbo was really hard because it was easy to think this is all in my head since the doctor can’t/won’t diagnose me. Now I feel validated. I feel like my illness has been given legitimacy. With this information, I can now try to figure out how to adapt and live with it. With a diagnosis, I can move forward. Now I know the truth, and it’s set me free.
Truth equals freedom
Knowing truth does give us freedom. It gives us freedom from the deception and lies that Satan (and the world) tells us. Uncertainty brings with it anxiety and fear. Our imaginations can take us on a wild ride that doesn’t even resemble truth. But when we know something, and I mean really know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, then we’re free from all insecurity.
Seek truth. Question and research. Know truth. The only way to do this is to be rooted in Scripture. We all know the verse, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 NKJV) But do we know the rest of the passage? It’s important to understand how the truth sets us free:
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 8:31-36 NKJV
We are free! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your amazing love, for Your word, and for Your grace. You’ve given us everything we need to live this life according to Your will and to defeat the enemy. Father, may we rest in the freedoms You’ve given us so that we can focus on sharing the gospel with unbelievers. May we share the good news of this freedom with everyone we meet. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Recap
For the past 6 days (approximately) we’ve been talking about and praying about Freedom. In case you missed any of the posts, I’m listing them here:
- Memorial Day 2022 (even though I didn’t get it posted until July 18th)
- Christ Has Set Us Free
- The Lord Is The Spirit
- Free From Indwelling Sin
- Why Then The Law?
