In the incredibly famous and popular book, The Purpose Driven Life: What Am I Here For? by Rick Warren, Chapter 25’s title is Transformed by Trouble. I encourage you to read the beginning words of the chapter and think past the author’s obvious and simple observance:
God has a purpose for every problem.
He uses circumstances to develop our character.
Why does the author say this? How do circumstances transform our lives? How does trouble develop our character? If you suffer with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME or some other similar condition, you may want to think of the problem this way…
Hold on. Let’s change this up entirely. Instead of me giving you my personal view… how about I only pose a series of questions that will prompt you to discover the best and most meaningful answers for YOU! That way you can take what you come up with and apply it more readily and maybe more enthusiastically to your life.
Now granted, these ‘life answers’ may not pop into your head overnight. They may remain confusing… in the background… just out of reach. If so, don’t worry. Answers eventually come, if we’re seeking them. This is simply part of the process of introspection that we human beings go through when we’re growing and changing. Patience is more than a virtue; it’s a skill. YOU are the sole person living with and attempting to balance both sides of a tough equation: Your Chronic Illness vs. Getting On With Your Life.
(BASED ON RICK WARREN’S THOUGHTS OF BEING
“TRANSFORMED BY TROUBLE”)
Plus, there’s a video below
A) Does your problem (in this case, your illness), in fact, have a purpose in your life?
Did God place it in your path? Or is this something that simply happened? As a result of living with it, are you acquring new and important knowledge about yourself that you did not have access to before? Do you somehow need the validation of this in your life for it to have more meaning? If so, do you believe the health problem will cause some really important change within you that needs to happen?
B) What kind of positive, has-to-happen purpose can be so darned important and yet feel so disturbing, upsetting and downright dangerous at times?
How do two seemingly opposite situations co-exist together for one common good? (Hint: Illness vs. Wellness = Produces Change.)
C) Is your “health situation” helping you develop (with God’s blessing) your character?
*Is your being sick a lesson that only you must learn?)
D) Are you the same person you were before you got ill?
How are you changing (good and bad)? (You probably have an immediate answer, but don’t offer one yet. Stop to think deeply for the hidden answers.)
E) Have your inner, spiritual dynamics changed as a result of your illness?
Are you more spiritual and closer to God or are you more shut down? Maybe even more shut down to anything in life approaching a) feelings or b) growth? If so, why? (Hint: If you are not shut down, that means you are learning something about yourself. You’re growing. You’re changing. THAT CAN BE VERY GOOD!)
And finally…
F) Does your life direction look better or worse since the beginning of your health ordeal?
How can you see it progressing towards a good end?
I hope you enjoyed this rendition of Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen by Paul Robeson. Every life that I know of- at times- experiences trouble. Because it feels so personal, we think it’s a solitary experience, but it’s not. I hope you plan to come back to the blog tomorrow because I have a followup to this post with at least one answer that might help you see how this process unfolds. I suspect that like me, you need time to think and reflect on these questions and maybe even the song.
Have a wonderful, thoughtful Sunday. I invite you to leave a comment below.
“If you must experience being transformed by trouble, make sure your transformation moves you in a positive direction.”
Sending many Sunday blessings your way,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
*If you haven’t picked up a copy of Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, find it at a good price here.
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