Finding Freedom from Negative Thoughts (Even on Your Hardest Days)
Friends, I’m emerging from a writing hiatus to share a message that I believe will be encouraging to many of you. Andrea Herzer, a survivor of chronic illness, is releasing her first book, Incurable Faith: 120 Devotions of Lasting Hope for Lingering Health Issues, next week. She’s guest blogging here today for all of us but especially for those who are wrestling with chronic pain or illness. Please welcome Andrea!
I’d been mostly homebound and disabled by debilitating pain for years before my cancer diagnosis. Being homebound is isolating, so I was grateful for the sudden outpouring of love during my difficult season of aggressive chemotherapy. One night, while reading encouraging comments on my Facebook page, I felt deeply supported amid my suffering.
But then I read the page of someone else who had cancer. She had hundreds of comments and photos of people wearing T-shirts to support her. Suddenly my twenty-three heartfelt, supportive comments melted into nothing. Envy not only destroyed my sense of gratitude and peace, it robbed me of compassion for someone else who was suffering. It took my eyes off God’s provision and purpose in my life.
When I give in to the temptation to compare, my mind easily spirals into other negative thoughts, like complaining.
