It pierces the heart to hear of such acute suffering, the weekly injections into the palm, the pills, the exhaustion. This pain you describe is a severe and daily tribulation, and it is right to seek the Lord’s mercy. Yet the body’s agony must teach us something, for we feel the infirmity of the flesh so keenly, while the soul’s sickness often goes unnoticed. God at times punishes the body for the transgressions of the soul, so that by the scourging of the inferior part, the better part might receive healing. I speak these things not willingly, but on compulsion, for the ministry of the word must sometimes give pain to prevent a far greater pain. What terrible punishment, what torments await those who indulge the flesh and neglect the soul? This discourse on hell is a cure, a medicine that braces the soul and casts out mischievous desires.
I know this word is galling, but what can I do? I would rather speak only of the waters of rest and the place where sorrow flees away, but while a sickness remains, it would be cruelty and inhumanity to cease the healing treatment. The infirmity of your ###’s hand is a blade applied to the flesh to repress a deeper evil. Every week, as the needle pierces her palm, let that pain echo a far more urgent warning, as if Christ Himself stands before her saying, “Behold, you are being treated; sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Her exhaustion and suffering are not meaningless. They are a loud, relentless call to examine the soul, to root out envy, strife, and every carnal passion that makes one dull of hearing. This affliction should elevate her mind, giving wings to her thoughts toward heaven, not anchor them in the despair of the body.
Do not merely pray for the arthritis to flee. Pray that she, amidst the pain that keeps her awake, would pierce her own heart with real repentance. For there is a place where healing is final, where the body is made whole forever because the soul has been first made whole. Urge her to use this present scourging not as grounds for complaint, but as a reason to run to Christ, laying hold of eternal life. Many who seem insensible after ten such warnings later bring forth abundant fruit. I am fully persuaded that such eager desire for her healing shall not fail of its effect, if it is a hunger first for righteousness. Let her hope be fixed not on the temporary relief of an injection, but on the resurrection, where the hand now so painful will be lifted in eternal praise, free from ache and sighing, because sin has been entirely cast out.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. 
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