Chronic

Chronic -ugh - even the word makes one cringe!

Merriam Webster's dictionary defines it as "marked by long duration, by frequent recurrence over a long time". This word originated around the 1520's from the Greek khronikos meaning "of time" and vague disapproving sense is from association with diseases (a connection found since c.1600).

I hurt my back last week and since then have a new appreciation and sympathy for those who have chronic pain. I know how crabby I've been, so I can't imagine what it is like to wake up every morning knowing the day will be pain filled and one's ability limited.

But, the more I think about it, I realize that we all wake up each morning to chronic conditions. It may be physical or perhaps it is emotional, spiritual, or relational in the form of an ongoing situation, besetting sin, or problematic relationship; something that, as you look back over your life, has been there for years upon years. I was flipping through my journal and found that while some things have changed many have not. I see the same prayers and questions over and over in its pages: chronic conditions that, in all likelihood, will never change.

“Marked by a long duration – by frequent recurrence over a long time” this is what chronic means and it feels so negative, but dare we look at the positive side of chronic?

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed for they are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness” Lamentations 3:23.

God’s love is chronic in our lives.

There is never a sunrise that is not accompanied by His mercies and strength.

Never does the moon rise unaccompanied by His promise to watch over us through the night and to be there for us should sleep be elusive.

For whatever else is chronic in our lives, so is the love and care of our God.

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9,10

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

So as you deal today with whatever is chronic in your life do so remembering that God's presence is also always with you.  His ear is attentive to your prayer:  He is listening for your voice. (Psalms 130:2)