Most days it is a challenge to just put one foot in front of the other. Most days I wake up well before I want to. Most days I grow fatigued as the day goes on. I have Psoriatic Arthritis, I am not alone The National Psoriatic Foundation reports that 1 million people in the United States or 30% have this type of arthritis. I would like to give some tips and pointers how to navigate day to day dealing with constant pain.
As pain interrupts my sleep and some days it is a battle to get out of bed, the real battle is in my head. This is an understanding I have come to both learn and embrace. I have to mentally be ready to endure a moment or two of sever pain to sit up in order to stand up.
I know that God has a plan for me and I have really come to the full awareness that each day truly is a gift and should never be taken lightly or for granted. That helps me and gives me good reason to get up and get moving.
Psoriatic Arthritis attacks the joints in the body. I have it in both shoulders, both wrists, all of my knuckles, both hips, both ankles and I am now starting to feel the same tightness and fatigue in both of my knees, which is what I felt in the other areas as the arthritis began to move in.
This is not a pity party, please do not read it as such!! I want to be transparent in this journey that I have been chosen to partake in. I have never been closer to Jesus that I am right now. I have come to a better awareness of His grace for me. Perhaps, that is what I am to take away from this season.
Back to the battle in my head. Psoriatic Arthritis destroys joints, there is no way around that. But if my focus was there, I would be melancholy and that is not where God wants me to be.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10
If you are reading this and are going through something, perhaps worse than I am, God bless you. I will not let my joy be stolen neither should you. Keep pushing, while leaning into God.
