A Sick You Can't See

Life with PCOS, chronic fatigue, and insomnia is a life full of struggles few can really see and even fewer understand.

After one excruciating day where I had received some strong chastisement for recent sickness, I consulted with a dear friend who is a nurse: “What is wrong with me?! Yes, I know: I don’t look sick.” (My voice cracks. It is all I can do not to sob.)

My friend, quick to comfort me, says “Just because you don’t look sick doesn’t mean you aren’t! That’s stupid to say.”

With her words the tears that had been locked in place that I'd bottled up just poured down my face. 'Thank you, Lord. I needed to hear that grace.'

While this conversation continued, and I shared the challenge of being considered ‘young’ to others, so a lack of energy and frequent sicknesses were not well understood. I shared the challenge of having health issues that cause other issues. Then a deep, overwhelming cycle develops where each issue feeds in to and increases the negative symptoms of another issue until life is... will living is just hard.

“Yes, I am ‘young’ and that makes it hard for others to understand…Still, my ‘age’ doesn’t help me in my battle to rest well at night or in the fight it is to crawl out of bed in the morning…” I shared.

Then, my friends said, “Not all struggles can be seen. I know…”

As the days, weeks, and months roll by and I’ve learned do’s and don’ts to succeed against the challenges I face… these two statements stand out to me:

“Just because you don’t look sick, doesn’t mean you aren’t.”

“Not all struggles can be seen.”

I remember Jesus says,“Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

Praise the Lord! We have a Savior who can carry our burdens! Actually, I believe he wants us even more than our burdens. He calls us to come. Come all who are weary, weepy, sleepy, heavy-hearted. He wants us to come to Him even more than carrying our burdens to Him; yet, if there are burdens we carry, take them go to him. Christ wants to carry us, but not just carry us: give us rest!

Until you struggle with lack of rest… it can be truly hard to completely understand and recognize the gift rest really is. 
May I go to the Lord weary and burdened. May I rest in Him.

May we allow Christ to give us rest.