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One of my older clients shared with me recently that in all of her life her only physical pain has been a couple of headaches. Those few episodes she said, were relieved with a mere aspirin. Truly I am glad for her, but in all my imagination, I cannot fathom this.

I have lived with migraines for over two decades now. No, migraines are not headaches per se; they are their own unique animal. Skull-crushing, debilitating pain leaves me ultra-sensitive to light, movement, and noise. 

Sadly, my children remember well the many times when their mommy was curled in a ball, forehead and eyes covered by a cold washcloth. Curtains drawn, lights out, my sweet kiddos knew that kindness meant whispering in hushed tones. Trips to urgent care and shots of powerful drugs to my hip were thankfully replaced by medicine that I now use PRN, as needed, to deal with these horrible heavy hitters. Nine out of ten times, about an hour after taking this wonder drug, my migraine is usually mostly gone. My jaw hurts, I can’t eat for another few hours, and water running over my body feels like the little electric shocks of a tens unit, but it sure beats the alternative. 

Far beyond what I can endure, physical body pain -including head pain- has simply been part of my portion and my lot. Your pain or hardship may look completely different from my journey’s history. But this I know: Chronic pain, whether physical, relational, emotional, mental, or spiritual, is simply wearing. Ongoing pain is isolating and it’s hard.

I’m so glad that the apostle Paul flat out tells us that God sometimes gives us pressures or trials that are beyond, far beyond, our ability to endure and what to do about it. From 2 Corinthians 1:8-9:

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the
province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.”

Paul says, yes, God sometimes gives challenges that are much too much for us, beyond our ability to endure. Paul goes on to tell us,

“But this happened (experiencing pressure beyond our ability to endure) that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

Faithful, loving God doesn’t want us to try to rally more of our own strength in times like these when our tank of endurance is empty. Instead, God wants us to rely on His strength and provision. I’ve learned how essential it is to depend not on my strength but upon God’s strength which comes through His Word, other people (oh, how we need mercy-giving friendships), being immersed in His creation, the encouragement of author friends, skilled professionals, and medical help. Each of these in my own life has been a protective grace of God.

Laminated and taped above my desk at eye level are perhaps some of the most encouraging words I’ve ever heard addressing chronic pain. These words were written by a personal hero of perseverance whom many of you know, Joni Eareckson. She has lived most of her life from a wheelchair and dealt with trial upon trial even of late.
Here is a portion of her encouragement: God’s grace, to the worn and weary.

“I don’t know when this season of pain will be over. Maybe, in God’s grace and wisdom, He’ll say, “Enough!” and banish the pain within the hour. Or maybe He’ll say, “Enough!” allowing me to step out of this long-disabled, deteriorating temporary housing into my “building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
In the meantime, these afflictions of mine- this very season of multiplied pain – is the background against which God has commanded me to show forth His praise…Yes, I pray that my pain might be removed, that it might cease; but more so, I pray for the strength to bear it, the grace to benefit from it, and the devotion to offer it up to God as a sacrifice of praise.”
A Place of Healing 
Joni Eareckson

Signs of coming summer abound: the rich earthy smell of freshly mown grass, the white brilliance of daisies bursting forth, the twittering of birds, amazingly all just outside my open window today. 
But if you are living in a “winter of soul” or winter of body on the eve of summer, I hope you’ll rest in the encouragement and truth that some days, some situations are simply too much for us. 
In isolation and devastation, God’s desire is for us to place our firm reliance upon Him and His gracious means of providing strength. We need to depend upon Him for this strength and grace every day, especially on the “wintry” days.