My God Can.

What Is Chronic Pain?

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain -- pain that lasts longer than six months. Chronic pain can be mild or excruciating, episodic or continuous, merely inconvenient or totally incapacitating.

With chronic pain, signals of pain remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months, or even years. This can take both a physical and emotional toll on a person.

The most common sources of pain stem from headaches, joint pain, pain from injury, and backaches. Other kinds of chronic pain include tendinitis, sinus pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and pain affecting specific parts of the body, such as the shoulders, pelvis, and neck. Generalized muscle or nerve pain can also develop into a chronic condition.

Chronic pain may originate with an initial trauma/injury or infection, or there may be an ongoing cause of pain. However, some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage.

The emotional toll of chronic pain also can make pain worse. Anxiety, stress, depression, anger, and fatigue interact in complex ways with chronic pain and may decrease the body's production of natural painkillers; moreover, such negative feelings may increase the level of substances that amplify sensations of pain, causing a vicious cycle of pain for the person. Even the body's most basic defenses may be compromised: There is considerable evidence that unrelenting pain can suppress the immune system.

Because of the mind-body links associated with chronic pain, effective treatment requires addressing psychological as well as physical aspects of the condition.

This article is taken from WebMD. I read it last night and it gave me comfort to know that I am not the only one who has been effected emotionally by physical pain. It's hard. Quite frankly, it sucks. I have chosen to fight this battle somewhat publicly. There have been moments when I have thought about closing myself in my room and not interacting with anyone because of fear and discouragement. But God keeps giving me just enough grace and strength to keep going and keep allowing people into my heart. It is a tempting thought to close off my heart, but that would lead to so much more of a loss that being hurt every now and then.  Being open and real with people has given me so much hope to know that I am not alone.

It's my desire to share the good things in our life, and the bad things. God's blessing aren't always in pretty packages, AND we live in a fallen world where bad things happen. Bad things that are really hard to deal with. In my opinion there is no way to measure pain. Death hurts. Broken relationships hurt. Abandonment hurts. Cancer hurts. Loss of a job hurts. Empty Wombs hurt. To pretend that these things didn't hurt would be to pretend that we are self-sufficient and can  handle everything in life.I know know more than ever, that I can't handle some of the things the world throws at me. I can't. I am totally weak.

But there's good news. My God can.

Praise You In This Storm lyrics

By Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth