Does faith play a role in parenting with a chronic illness?
I’d imagine if you ask 100 people this question, you would probably get 100 different answers. Faith is unique to each person, as is each person’s experience of it. However, the real question at hand is, is faith related to how we parent while living with a chronic illness? If so, then I would argue that not only does it play a role, it is the key role in positive parenting. Having strong, well-developed faith is key to being the best parents we can be.
Why is faith so important while trying to parent with a chronic illness?
The days are long and energy is short. The list of things that need to be done each day feels like it gets longer every minute. If I don’t find something to cling to, I would lose my mind. My family is my everything and I owe them the best I can be. With the never-ending list of things to do, we need time to recoup or gather our spirits for the challenges ahead. We need to start the day with moments of peace and reflection. Having faith allows me to find that foundation in the early morning hours of the day, before little feet are pitter-pattering down the stairs, to start my day feeling positive and ready to be the best wife and mom I can be.
Some days are harder to have faith than others
Let’s face it, some days we just feel like from the moment we wake up, that there will very few spoons for the day. Maybe a little one was up half of the night or perhaps the dog puked (again) on the family room rug overnight. Sometimes, our morning view is all we have to get through the day. If you choose to start your day with a little faith, perhaps you may be able to find a few extra spoons to help you get through the day. #SpottingSpoons
Here are some ideas to help you start your day with a little faith
- Journaling (aff)
- Reading Reflections (aff)
- Chronic Illness Scriptures shared via Hope for the Broken-Hearted
CHRONIC ILLNESS SCRIPTURES
Psalm 46:1-3 — God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Isaiah 57:18 — I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
Jeremiah 30:17 — For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Psalm 9:9 — The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 138: 3 — In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
I Peter 5:7 — Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Psalm 138:7 — Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Psalm 18:2 — The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 145:8 — The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Psalm 32:7 — Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Psalm 30:5 — For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 55:22 — Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 68:19 — Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
Exodus 15 :26 — And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
2 Corinthians 3:5 — Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 — And he said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 1:4-5 — Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
I Corinthians 15:57 — But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 17:28 — For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.
Isaiah 46:4 — Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 43:2 — When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
James 5:13-16 — Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Jeremiah 30:17 — For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Jeremiah 17:14 — Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Jeremiah 33:3 — Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Job 5:18 — For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
Job 23:14 — For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
Jonah 2:7 — When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
1 John 3:22 — And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
John 11:4 — When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
1 John 5:15 — And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
John 14:13 — And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Matthew 6:8 — Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Psalm 23:4 — Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 103 :1-3 — Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases…
Psalm 139:17-18 — How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Psalm 91 :1 — He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Romans 8:37 — Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Romans 8:18 — For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:31 — What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:28 — And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:38 — For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Where do you find faith and inspiration to be the best parent and spouse you can be?
~Leanne
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