I have wonderful news to share! More than a year and a half ago, I took my future into my own hands when I stopped seeking professional medical help for my arthritis. I’m awfully young to have such bad hands, or so my rheumatologist told me three years ago. But there was nothing he could do to help me. I went in several times to have painful Cortisone injections and other treatments, but nothing helped

My Leap of Faith

When the time came to choose between doing a prohibitively expensive treatment or walking away and accepting my fate, I picked the latter. But I didn’t feel hopeless or act out of futility. I wasn’t throwing in the towel; I was throwing myself on the mercy of a loving God. He inspired me to take a path that didn’t seem to make sense at the time. I tried taking two supplements: cherry concentrate and fish oil. Those naturally reduce swelling. The pain lessened for a time, but it was a constant effort to keep it at bay.

A Remarkable Change

For the last two months, my hands have been in quite a lot of pain. Despite that, I decided to try not taking any ibuprofen. I kept taking the supplements, though. This past week, however, something remarkable has happened.

Last Wednesday I didn’t experience any pain. The funny thing is that I didn’t realize it until that night when I was flossing. For the past few years, it’s always hurt like crazy to floss my teeth. But this night I had no pain at all. I thought back to that morning and realized that I hadn’t taken the supplements that day! So it wasn’t some medication taking away my pain. Quite the contrary. My best efforts to deal with the problem have been mostly failures.

Next Steps

Like Peter testing the water, I deliberately avoided taking the supplements on Thursday. With the same results. I’m writing this on Sunday night, and I still have yet to experience the same pain I’ve become so acquainted with. Sure, I still feel some occasional discomfort, and the swelling hasn’t gone down. But I wonder if I’m turning a corner. It feels like my leap of faith is beginning to pay off.

I have no idea if it will lead to a full healing, or if I’ll have to bear this cross until I die. Though I don’t see everything, I have enough faith to keep pressing forward on this path. And I trust that everything will turn out well.

Thankfully, this experience hasn’t caused me to become bitter or fearful. Instead, it has humbled me quite a bit. I’ll keep trying to be patient like Job and glory in tribulations like Paul. Because my trials bring me closer to Jesus Christ, the One who suffered all things. If I can learn to be more like Him, then my suffering will be worth it. As I’ve said before, I’m in His hands.

This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.

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