Grace in the Grind

As followers of Christ, we are not exempt from suffering. God’s desire for the holistic well-being of His children is reflected in Scripture, where He promises only “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). Yet even the faithful may face prolonged illness, chronic pain, or lingering depression. The tension between believing in God’s goodness and enduring affliction—what the Apostle Paul described as a “thorn in the flesh”—can leave us doubtful and alone.

It’s sobering to learn that, according to a Christian Research survey, “over 35% [of Christians] had experienced some form of mental health issue, and more than 80% knew a close friend or relative who had” (christian.com). This struggle is real, and it is not new.

Ellen White herself wrote candidly about her battle with deep depression during a time of serious physical illness. She admitted, “For years, I have been afflicted with dropsy [edema] and disease of the heart, which has tended to depress my spirits and destroy my faith and courage.” She described feeling so low that she had “no desire to live” and could not even “pray for [her] recovery.” In her diary, she cried out, “Oh, why is it that such gloom rests upon everything? Why can I not rise above this depression of spirit? ... I have no health, and my mind is completely depressed” (Tim Poirier, AR: Ellen White and Depression, Jan. 3, 2017).

Many in our own Filamily face challenging health issues or debilitating conditions that may seem impossible to overcome. If that’s you, know this: you are not alone. Maybe “we are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair... we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Cor 4:8–18 NLT).

May the grace of Christ and the blessed hope of His soon return sustain you until His glorious appearance. Amen. 

Blessings,

Pastor Liwanag