He Strengthens Me

"So do not fear, for I am with you; 

do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you; 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 40:10

I've been in and out of church my whole life. I may have not always lived for the Lord, but I have always loved the Lord. I have always believed in His power and might. I have always believed in His grace and love. 

Early in 2012 I had started back to church. I remember being amazed at how quickly it felt like I had never been out of church. God, through the Holy Spirit, wrapped me in His arms and His love. Nearly every church service He spoke to me, He moved me and in me. Looking back, I realize now He was preparing me for what was to come. He was building me up, strengthening me and restoring my faith so that I would turn to and lean on Him.

It had began with just some narrowed stools. Occasionally, I would have some mild constipation and there had even been a few episodes of blood, bright red blood, with my stool. Not enough to be alarming but enough to make me think I had hemorrhoids. All of this over a period of 4 or 5 months. Then the pain started. I had cramping in my lower abdomen, an ache in my lower back/tail bone and a sharp pain that would sometimes shoot up my back.

Then over the next couple of months, the constipation increased. The bleeding occurred more often and the bowel movements became more and more abnormal. The doctor treated me for hemorrhoids, chronic constipation and it just got worse. The pain started becoming nearly unbearable.

I was working on a postpartum floor and we were busy! We worked three 12 hour shifts a week plus had to sign up for on-call. At that time, I was also volunteering for extra shifts. I was working 4 to 5 days a week, living with pain that I would realistically rate an 8 or 9 out of 10. I was surviving on extra-strength Tylenol, Advil, and the grace of God.

Not sure how my poor family stood me. I was not very pleasant to be around at times. By the time I got home at night, I was just done. I hurt so bad. I would come in, eat, soak in a hot bath, and go to bed. (Many times Jim brought me my dinner while I was in the bath tub.) I'd get up the next morning and repeat the process.

During it all, God was with me, constantly renewing me and lifting me up through the Holy Spirit. He put people in my life that I was able to turn to. My family, even though they got frustrated with me, were supportive and did so much to make life easier for me. My co-workers, or as I like to call them, my work family, were awesome. Always offering to help even before we knew what was wrong. Family and friends praying and interceding for me, encouraging me... I am so very blessed and thankful for the people God put in my life.

~Delta~

I saw this on Joyce Meyer Ministries Facebook page today and thought I'd share it.

 https://www.facebook.com/joycemeyerministries