Have you ever felt like you were being squeezed in a vise, yet at the same time, barely hanging on? That’s what I felt like in December 2020. For the last 30 years, I had been on a medication that was helping my illness. It was keeping me stable. Then I found out, that the medication was actually damaging my kidneys. My kidney function declined. Dialysis and/or a kidney transplant were the only viable options in my near future if I did not change my medication. The major question was, could I actually tolerate a medication change? Could I trust the new medication to work better than the old medication?
I prayed about it and decided to trust Jesus. He helped me as I was tapered off the old meds and slowly added the new treatment. I was challenged to pray and place my confidence in the Lord the whole time. The transition of the medication had difficult side effects: sleeplessness, anger, and sometimes acting completely out of character. It was a difficult time, but with the Lord’s help, I got through it. As of April 2021, I was stabilized on the new medication.
I’m thriving now, because I trusted the Great Physician, Jesus. I turned to Him to help me and He did. Trust is a must! When I was going through the transition, I thought I had to do this on my own, but I was so, so wrong. I received a lot of strength, support and prayers from friends, family, my doctor and therapist. I’ve been very blessed by these connections, but Jesus truly paved the way. “The earnest prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective” (James 5:16). “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
There were additional ways that God helped me walk through this season. I became involved in an exercise program at Universal Gym. This functional strength training has been a great workout and has taught me discipline. Also, I have found that walking my dog twice a day is great therapy. I have discovered positive outcomes in my journey. One of the best is that I have found a deeper intimacy in my relationship with Jesus. I have become more trusting in my bond with this Wondrous God. Jesus is now my Advocate, my Coach, my best Friend and Confidant.
As of January 2022, my kidneys are stable and I met my personal goals of managing my illness and managing my life. By God’s grace, death was arrested and my life began! What about you? Are you ready for a change, whatever that may look like for you? Just one change in your life can make a huge difference towards freedom in Jesus Christ. I truly love the world I discovered, rather than the one I left behind. Are you ready to let Him transform your world?
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