from one who has been there
God of all comfort, God who heals:
I bring You the grief and relief,
the anxiety, overwhelm, and loneliness
of this new diagnosis.
Thank You that this has not surprised You;
thank You that it can neither separate me from Your love
nor thwart Your purposes for my life,
nor diminish my value in Your sight.
Father of mercies, Great Physician:
Lead me to wise, skilled, compassionate doctors
who will not minimize, psychologize, or dismiss my symptoms,
but faithfully fulfil their sworn duty of care.
Send one or two loyal companions,
undeterred by the chronicity of suffering,
not seeking to fix, but willing to stay,
steady in the unsteadiness of my path.
Hold up those who hold up my arms in this battle.
Take from me this bitter cup of suffering if You will;
if not, sweeten my Marah with Your cross and communion.
Enlighten my eyes to see my scars as
Your faithful love inscribed on my body—
”Hither by Thy help I come”—
As a point of communion with the eternally
nail-scarred risen Christ.
Let me know You in this infirmity
in ways I could not receive without it.
You are good in this;
You are good to me:
You are the best of friends,
my soul’s Physician,
who will never abandon or fail
me, for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
