Serving With Chronic Pain
02/03/2018 .“I was so blessed when Diana shared her story with me after Bible study, that I asked her if she would be willing to share it so other women would get an opportunity to hear what the Lord is doing in and through her.
She recently moved to the area from the Northwest and plugged in with the Thursday morning Bible study. What grabbed me about her story is that I heard Diana say how she struggles with chronic pain and that while the pain is so bad that it would be a lot easier to stay at home, she doesn't miss Thursday mornings because it has been a place of fellowship, community, and growth for her. She said every week she is so blessed by the teaching, the leadership of our study, and through the women of her group- she said every Thursday, "it feels like I've been hugged and kissed by the Lord."
And being part of Thursday Women in the Word has inspired her to step out and start a group of her own in her community. She started leading a 40 days of prayer home group. And now this spring is leading a table during our “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” study.” – Thursday Morning Women in the Word leader, Jen Goulard
--
Here's more of Dianna’s story:
Dianna was living in another state and enjoyed coming to visit her son in California. While she was here she would attend Saddleback Church. Then two years ago, she started suffering chronic pain and couldn’t find any answers for what was causing it. This illness forced her to leave her job with an early retirement.
She moved to California to be near her son’s family and started coming to Saddleback regularly. The Church was going through a teaching series called “34 Days of Seeking God for A Breakthrough”. She was denied long-term disability and was so disappointed she went on a cruise to try and forget about all she was going through, all the while praying for a breakthrough.
When she came home from her cruise, God opened the windows of heaven and she was approved for long-term disability. She got everything she asked for. God took care of her finances. Dianna knew just what to do next, volunteer. Even though she was suffering chronic pain she started learning about how she could serve the church.
She took class 101, 201, 301 and 401. This helped her to feel connected to the church. God put it on her heart to serve. God took away her job that consumed all her time traveling and gave her the time she needed to serve at church. Although she is still suffering with chronic pain she attends a women’s bible study at Saddleback Church, and she also hosts a small group in her home. She is looking for other ways to serve. God has been gracious to her. God has given her time to serve since she is not working anymore. She still needs to rest in between serving to help manage the chronic pain.
Even through her pain she feels blessed to have the opportunity and time to serve in spite of her illness, but it will not keep her from God’s work. She has stepped up in Bible Study leadership and is volunteering to lead an “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” table in the spring study. God is working through her to help others.