Courage in Chronic Illness

What comes to mind when you hear the word courage?
Great accomplishments?
Daring feats?
Stepping out of your comfort zone?

While the dictionary does define courage as "the ability to do something that frightens one", there is a second definition that I believe is even more impactful:

Strength in the face of pain or grief.

Are you facing ongoing pain, fatigue, or ever-changing symptoms that haven't yet been diagnosed? Navigating the challenges of life with diabetes or fibromyalgia? Chronic illness hits in so many forms and is a difficult journey. It requires extensive courage. Courage you may not believe you have.

But, dear reader, if you have made it another day when you thought it wasn't possible, you have courage.

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 

'I will try again tomorrow.'" Mary Anne Radmacher

This quote struck me when a friend shared it with me recently. You see, courage is a hard thing for me. At the end of a physically exhausting or emotionally draining day, the last thing I want to say is, "I'll try again tomorrow." I wish I could give up. I want it all to end.

Courage is not a word I would use to describe myself. I'm not daring or adventurous. I don't even like change much at all.

But life-risking adventure is not the kind of courage God seeks. It's not about being the first person to try something risky or accomplishing some grand feat. Rather, as you face your deepest fears in chronic illness, your most intense pain, your severe limitations, your "new normal", the heart issues unveiled–you are exhibiting courage. As you persevere day-by-day and moment-by-moment, you are demonstrating courage.

Don't give up, no matter how hard your days get. Keep turning to the Lord in the grief and pain. God is developing powerful fortitude and courage in you. One day, you will look back and realize in all those pain-filled days you didn't want to continue, there was grace.

You will look back and see that you have more courage than you ever expected. Not the adrenaline-rush, risk-taking courage, but the long-lasting courage that helps you persevere through a difficult life in a broken world. Courage to follow Jesus no matter the cost. Courage that has strengthened your faith and hope.

This is true courage.