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    Out of the Depths: Your Companion Through Chronic Illness
    Out of the Depths: Your Companion Through Chronic Illness
    Out of the Depths: Your Companion Through Chronic Illness
    Ebook92 pages56 minutes

    Out of the Depths: Your Companion Through Chronic Illness

    By Elizabeth Shadbolt and Nancy L. Long

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    About this ebook

    The Out of the Depths series addresses common pastoral crises in a faithful, encouraging, and factual manner that provides support to parishioners in crisis beyond the initial pastoral conversation. These inexpensive 64-page booklets can be given out to parishioners when they bring their recent diagnosis, crisis, or trauma to the pastor as a way to continue to provide care throughout the difficult season. Each booklet begins with a thoughtful consideration of the topic at hand, which is followed up by 30 brief devotions. These devotions are designed to be manageable in an overwhelming time, encouraging, and honest. The Out of the Depths booklets are essential care resources to be given out by pastors, Stephen Ministers, and congregational care teams.

    This Chronic Illness edition is authored by Nancy L. Long and Elizabeth Shadbolt.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAbingdon Press
    Release dateJan 24, 2019
    ISBN9781501871375
    Out of the Depths: Your Companion Through Chronic Illness
    Author

    Elizabeth Shadbolt

    Elizabeth Shadbolt is a United Methodist deaconess, dedicated to creating community and connecting faith with service, even while living with chronic illness.

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      Book preview

      Out of the Depths - Elizabeth Shadbolt

      INTRODUCTION

      This little book is intended to be a companion through the ups and downs, twists and turns of chronic illness. It is organized into two parts. The first is educational. In it, we will consider the many ways chronic illness can affect our physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. It is our sincere hope that this knowledge will provide a useful framework within which to navigate your personal experience of living with chronic illness.

      The second part of the book is devotional and consists of thirty daily scripture readings, devotions, and prayers. It is our sincere prayer that these readings will bring hope and comfort, provide a daily grounding faith ritual, and lend a sense of connectedness, both to God and to a community of individuals walking a similar path, as you move through the days and weeks to come. You do not have to read the first part of this book before beginning the devotions. Feel free to start them at any time.

      Before we dive in, we want to let you know what you can and can’t expect from this book.

      This book cannot replace a medical or mental health practitioner. (Please follow the recommendations of your treatment team.)

      This book cannot give you a diagnosis. (Only medical professionals give diagnoses.)

      This book cannot fix you. (You’re not broken.)

      This book can empower you by educating you about living with chronic illness.

      This book can provide hope when hope seems absent or distant.

      This book can journey with you through the shadows and valleys, highs and lows of life with chronic illness.

      If this little book has found its way into your hands, please know that we are deeply sorry. Chronic illness is, by definition, life-altering. However, even though our deepest struggles cannot be repaired, they can be redeemed; even if you cannot be healed, you can be made whole. It is our greatest hope and the crux of the Christian story that when all feels lost, God’s redemptive power is already at work. Others have traveled this road before you, and one day you will become a companion who guides and blesses others as they travel through this all-too familiar valley themselves.

      Grace and peace,

      Nancy Long & Elizabeth Shadbolt

      Chapter One

      WHAT IS CHRONIC ILLNESS?

      While expert definitions of chronic illness vary widely, chronic illness is generally understood to be a disease or condition lasting longer than three months.¹ Many chronic illnesses are life-long and incurable. Some chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis, are ongoing, and some, such as migraine headaches or recurrent hip pain, are episodic and persistent. Simply put, a chronic illness or condition is one that is not going to go away, at least not any time soon.

      Chronic illness is defined in contrast to acute illnesses, such as the flu or a stomach virus. Acute illnesses generally have a beginning and an end and often can be treated with medicine, surgery, or other treatment protocol. For example, when you get a sinus infection, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics that kill the troublesome bacteria. Your symptoms subside, and the illness concludes. This, unfortunately, is not typically the case with chronic illnesses. As such, learning that you have (and will continue to have) a chronic illness can be a devastating experience.

      Perhaps your diagnosis experience sounds like what I have heard from many of my chronically ill patients. Usually it goes something like this:

      It was a beautiful, sunny day. The sky was indescribably blue and the temperature a balmy 74 degrees with a slight wind that brushed across the face. The grass was beginning to turn a luscious green. (The before picture is always beautiful in hindsight.)

      That morning, I received a phone call from my doctor’s office. They were ready to share the results of the most recent series of tests. I hurried to get the doctor’s office to get the results, waiting anxiously when I arrived. The doctor stepped into the exam room and quickly got to the point. The results confirmed that I have a chronic disease. Suddenly, that seemingly perfect day turned into my worst nightmare.

      I tried to regain my composure and remember the verses I learned in Vacation Bible School, but the news was so heavy I couldn’t contain my emotions. What was I going to do now? Would life ever be the same? Was I going to be able to take care of myself? And what about my family? I was launched into a swirling pot of anxiety and fear and had to remind myself to breathe.

      Does this sound like your experience? Or perhaps the lead up to your diagnosis was more dramatic; instead of a long series of

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