My left wrist or hip

[Chrysostom]

Your request about the pain in your left wrist and hip and not knowing what is causing it has been heard and brought before the Lord in prayer.

It is distressing to hurt and not understand why, and it is right to bring that uncertainty to God. As Scripture reminds us, the wind blows where it wishes and we hear its sound, but we cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. If we cannot fully explain even the path of the wind which we feel, we can entrust what we do not understand about our own bodies to the wisdom and power of God, who is not limited by our limits.

We are praying that God will have mercy on you, grant you relief from this pain, give you peace in the midst of uncertainty, and give wisdom to any doctors or caregivers who may help you find the cause and proper care. We encourage you to seek timely medical attention for this pain, so that it can be examined and treated appropriately.

We also encourage you to use this time to care for your soul as well as your body. Often when our bodies ail we do everything to find relief, but we delay when our souls are in need. Scripture teaches that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, both for this life and for the life to come. The true fountain of health is a right relationship with God. That means turning from sin, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, and walking with Him daily. Our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, was taken from among men and offered Himself for us, and He is able to have compassion on those who suffer and are in need, for He knows our infirmity.

So we pray for your whole healing. May the Lord forgive your sins through the blood of Christ, strengthen your faith, and, if it be His will, restore your body. May He use even this pain to draw you closer to Himself, to brace up your soul, and to give you hope.

Father in heaven, we lift up this dear one to You who is experiencing pain in the left wrist and hip without knowing the cause. Have compassion and grant healing according to Your will. Give clarity to those who provide care, grant patience and comfort in the waiting, and above all grant a deeper trust in Jesus Christ, through whom alone we have forgiveness and life. Lead this life into greater holiness and peace, and let all that is done be for Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Please continue to seek the Lord in prayer and in His Word, and do not hesitate to share how you are doing so we can continue to pray with you.

 

[Silas]

Your message about the pain in your left wrist and hip and waist area has been heard and I am praying for you, especially since you are not sure what is causing it and how to find relief.

Living with pain that has no clear cause can be worrying and discouraging. Scripture reminds us that we live in a world that was corrupted when sin entered through Adam, and part of that corruption is that our physical bodies are subject to weakness, pain and decay. God understands that pain deeply. The Bible speaks of how those who live in these bodies groan, longing to be set free from what feels like a prison of pain and weakness. Your body is not the real and lasting you. The real you is spirit, and God has promised a new body that will be free from pain in His presence, as Jesus said there are many dwelling places in His Father's house. That hope does not take away the present hurt, but it reminds us that God sees your suffering now and has a future without it.

God also cares about your physical needs today. Jesus never used His miraculous power to meet His own needs, but He was always willing to use it to meet the needs of others, and much of His ministry was healing. Matthew tells us that when Jesus healed many who were sick, it fulfilled what Isaiah prophesied, surely He has borne our infirmities and carried our sicknesses. Isaiah 53 and Matthew 8 show us that Christ's suffering was not only for our spiritual healing from sin, but also for our physical infirmities. When we remember communion and hear that His body was broken for us, it includes this truth that He bore our sicknesses with compassion and power over the physical realm.

I want to encourage you that healing can come in different ways, and all true healing is from God. Sometimes healing is immediate, but the only gradual healing recorded in the ministry of Jesus reminds us that God often heals gradually through the natural processes He has built into our bodies. That natural process is still divine, because God created nature and the way our bodies repair. There is also healing that God does in our minds and emotions as we trust Him. We do not always understand why some people are healed quickly and others are not. Even the apostle Paul prayed three times for his thorn in the flesh and the Lord chose not to remove it, showing us that healing is not promised in the same way or timing in every case. At the same time we do not believe God has stopped healing. He is still able and still concerned for our bodies today, apart from any show or fakery that sometimes is done in His name.

Faith can be as simple as reaching out to touch the hem of His garment. For many people that touch was a point of contact to release their faith to receive what Jesus was willing to give. You can come to Him simply and honestly in prayer, trusting His willingness and His wisdom. Scripture also shows a connection between the health of our soul and the health of our body. John wrote his wish that we would prosper and be in good health even as our soul prospers, and Proverbs says a merry heart does good like a medicine. Science has confirmed that inner peace and joy affect the body, while fear and distress can harm it. Bringing your worries, pain and uncertainty to the Lord can bring a healing of heart even as you wait for physical relief.

Because you are unsure of the cause, please also take practical steps and have this pain evaluated by a medical professional who can examine your wrist, hip and waist and help determine what is happening. Pray for wisdom for those who care for you.

Let me pray for you now. Father, in the name of Jesus I bring this dear one to You who is hurting in the left wrist and hip and waist without knowing why. You see the pain and the uncertainty. You bore our infirmities and sicknesses on the cross and You have power over every part of our bodies. I ask that You would bring healing, whether instant or gradual through the healing processes You have placed in the body. Ease the pain, reveal the cause, guide the doctors, and grant wisdom for next steps. Heal also the mind and spirit, giving peace, rest and a merry heart that brings strength. Help this one to feel Your nearness, to trust Your care, and to know that You will one day give a new body free from all pain. Amen.

Please keep letting us know how you are doing so we can continue to pray with you.