Hello, loyal readers! I hope you are all having wonderful days. But if not, I pray you may be comforted and find relief. Either way, here is a guest post by the lovely Angela Watts to encourage you. She and her family have walked through some intense trials of their own, and she knows what it’s like to face illness. Lyme disease in particular. She has been a great blessing and encouragement to me throughout my own health and writing journeys.

Chronic illnesses are serious matters. Often, they are invisible, too, so people don’t pay much attention to those suffering because they cannot see the damage. Lyme disease is one terrible thing that many people refuse to acknowledge. Just because people don’t acknowledge Lyme, doesn’t make the illness less real. Those who have a chronic illness are warriors fighting for their lives.

My Mother has had Chronic Lyme disease for three years now. At first, she was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick fever, and given about seven doses of doxycycline over the months that followed. When the medicine wasn’t working, we didn’t know what to do. The doctor was very honest—they didn’t know how to help Mom.

It was scary. If you have Lyme or have a loved one with Lyme, you’ve probably had that critical point when you finally get a diagnosis. It is overwhelming. Especially when you don’t know anything about the disease(s).

My family quickly researched all we could find on Lyme disease. Mom wasn’t able to do much research herself because at that time, she struggled with many severe pains, extreme brain fog, couldn’t eat much because she was constantly feeling sick to her stomach, and couldn’t walk. She used a wheelchair to grocery shop with us, but even going to the store overstimulated her and she could not handle it.

Over the past few years, we’ve tried different doctors, different Lyme protocols, and different natural medicines. Mom is an incredible warrior: she follows protocols, listens to God and her body even when it is hard, and doesn’t give up. Through unimaginable pain, she keeps going. She prays for her family, helps us, listens to us, guides us, even on her bad days.

Three years is a long time. Some people I know have been fighting for their lives even longer, like over a decade, etc. As scary and painful it has been to see my Mom in frequent pain, when I can do nothing for her except give her the bare necessities, medicines, and pray for her, I know God is in control.

It hurts not being able to fix them. Maybe you have a chronic illness and you just want rest. You don’t want to fight anymore. Or maybe, your loved one has and illness you would do anything to take away from them. Both positions are painful.

One night, we were in an AIRBNB house: just my Mom, my older sister, her three little girls, my little brother, and I. Dad had a job he couldn’t leave because he had to get the money so we could take Mom to her doctor appointments (again, you probably understand how difficult it is to find finances to supply medical needs). That trip for Mom’s appointments was hard without Dad being there. Not just because he couldn’t drive us and such, but because he is our rock. He’s often the only one able to comfort Mom when she’s hurting, and after appointments, she suffers a great deal before she can start feeling better.

Anyway, one night, I was overwhelmed with stress and couldn’t block it out. So I got on my knees in the dark and prayed. I was tired. Scared. In my mind, for the past three years, the way to show God I trusted Him and had total faith was to keep fighting nonstop. But that night, I realized the truth. Yes, fighting is what God wills of us. But He wants to give us rest, too. For a while, I didn’t want to be weak, and I didn’t want to give myself a moment of thinking ‘Wow, God, I’m really hurting. I’m scared, too. Please, help me’ because I didn’t think that was fair. Why should I ask that when Mom was in so much pain and had more reasons to be afraid than I did?

Last year in that bedroom, I truly realized that the Lord loves my Mom more than I do. More than my Dad loves her. More than anyone on this earth loves her. I found peace in that! I cannot take Mom’s pain away, and the time since that doctor trip have been rough and heartbreaking, but God remains steadfast. I can pray and have faith that through the pain, God loves her. He loves all of us. Life with chronic illness is incredibly hard, but my family and I have found so much joy in Jesus Christ alone.

I pray this post touches your heart. Please remember… “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17

God bless,

Angela R. Watts

Amen! Perhaps you remember my interview with Angela a while back when she published her first novella. Well, today I am pleased to tell you that Angela has published her first full novel this week! How amazing is that? You can find all the info below! (Though when your done, head over here to enter a book and coffee mug giveaway 😀 )

Angel Cutler’s routine life is overturned when local ganglord Viktor Marino tries to kidnap her. When she finds out her adopted sister is back in town and working with Viktor, Angel has to run away with the protection of two total strangers. Can Angel have faith in God to protect her family when she can’t?

Elijah Davis has seen Viktor bleed once, and to save his family, he’ll make it happen again. But who is the One Eli can turn to when he realizes he can’t protect his loved ones alone?

Hiding from gangsters and gunfire, the trio struggle to seek God above all else and trust that His plan is greater than their own. Or Viktor Marino’s.

Angela R. Watts is a Christian fiction author who strives to glorify the Lord in all she does. She’s a homeschooled highschooler living at Step By Step Sanctuary, Tennessee, though with Gypsy and Norwegian in her blood, she tends to travel. She’s been writing stories since she was little, but also enjoys chores, painting, and watching sunsets.