1 in 3 people in the U.S. have a chronic condition. If it’s not you, it’s someone near you.
Too often, a chronic illness, such as fibromyalgia, or a chronic condition like back pain from a car accident, is invisible. Those who live with chronic illnesses do everything they can to look presentable, get to church, and sit through the service. But as someone with rheumatoid arthritis, I recently grasped onto the pew in front of me to balance my knees that need joint replacements, and nearly laughed as the worship song said, “I will stand in spite of pain.” Surrounded by a church I loved, I still felt lonely and misunderstood.
Churches have an overwhelming amount of needs that must be fulfilled. So of people aren’t saying anything about their pain, doesn’t that mean they are coping with it fine? Their faith and the ability to pray for strength should be plenty, right?
Let’s look at some staggering statistics: