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Finding Purpose in Your Illness

© Paul B. Murray

Although many hope for healing either through medication or by miracle, those living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) realize they might have this illness with them the rest of their lives. Though CFS causes those living with this illness to go through physical changes, it also requires them to experience a spiritual journey. A journey in which a sufferer searchers for answers to their spiritual questions as well as trying to locate meaning in their existence and illness.

As a Christian and a person living from CFS, my wife sort after a purpose of her illness. She often told me she believes everything has a purpose in life. But what good could come from her daily suffering from CFS? Throughout the first year of her illness, we both prayed daily for her healing. After seeing numerous specialist, it was obvious to us that her illness might be lifelong. It was then that she stopped and reflected on her own spirituality. During the first year of her illness, she never cursed God for her becoming sick but grew stronger in her faith. God did not cause my wife to become ill, but would use this illness for his purpose. Also, together as a married couple we become closer and never let Satan use the opportunity of this illness for his evil.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also reveals who you are. When you are sick with CFS you may feel helpless, anger, and impatient as well as how frail you are. It also reveals how much we need to depend on God. During times of grieve the phrase "God does not gives us what we can not handle" is often thrown around. I reflected upon that phrase with a close friend who's wife passed away recently. During this time of sorrow, he pointed out that Biblically that statement could not be proven. Instead, he explain that in times like this, "when we can't understand the reasons of life's grief, we must turn and depend on God to help us through them. "

Compassion can also be learned through having CFS. A common activity for those living with CFS is to join in on CFS newsgroups on the internet. It is in these newsgroups where you are looking for comfort and support from other sufferers who understand what you are going through. It is through this compassion that God uses our weakness to strengthen others.

Endurance is yet another lesson that is learned through living with CFS. When your family is hit with an illness like CFS, you have no option but to carry on. My wife now has been ill with CFS for over three years. As I reflect back and look at what we have gone through during those years living with this illness, I am amazed at how we made it through. Before this illness, both my wife and I worked. We were financially secure, but now we are forced to live on one income. There were moments when we just didn't know how we would get through it, but kept on going together. We were forced to adjusting our life to reflect our new reality of living with a person with a chronic illness. It is through this endurance of difficult trials that we have grown stronger in character and in hope.