A Purpose In Suffering

[Pearl]

When you say you have bronchiectasis, is this what you mean?:

When you breathe, air travels within your lungs through airways called bronchi. Bronchiectasis describes the condition when the airway walls (bronchi) become irreversibly thickened and damaged. As more walls become scarred, the bronchi are no longer able to effectively drain normal secretions, so mucus builds up and becomes a breeding ground for germs. This creates a vicious cycle of inflammation and infection that eventually forms irregular airway pockets, leading to loss of lung function over time. The condition may occur throughout the lung or only in certain airways. The more widespread the damage, the more serious the disease.

From: Lung.ORG (American Lung Association) Learn About Bronchiectasis

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition where the airways of the lungs become widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection. The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis include: a persistent cough that usually brings up phlegm (sputum) shortness of breath.

 

[BarneyFife]

Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition where the airways of the lungs become widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection. The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis include: a persistent cough that usually brings up phlegm (sputum) shortness of breath.

But don't the airways in fact become steadily widened by the vicious cycle of inflammation and infection noted in the ALA article? I think it's generally understood that where there is excess mucus, there is inflammation, which causes or results from nearly every chronic ailment. Doctors tend to treat symptoms rather than causes, since treating causes usually requires a change in lifestyle, which people tend to avoid like the plague. I'll leave you alone now.

 

[Pearl]

But don't the airways in fact become steadily widened by the vicious cycle of inflammation and infection noted in the ALA article? I think it's generally understood that where there is excess mucus, there is inflammation, which causes or results from nearly every chronic ailment. Doctors tend to treat symptoms rather than causes, since treating causes usually requires a change in lifestyle, which people tend to avoid like the plague. I'll leave you alone now.

I have a steroid inhaler.

 

[amadeus]

I have a steroid inhaler.

Bronchiectasis is one of three lung conditions my wife has. One of the others is asthma and I forget now the name of the third.

It was taking steroids [Prednizone] daily for her chronic lung conditions [especially the asthma] for more than 20 years daily that permanently damaged her immune system. She got off the daily steroid a few years ago because the asthma was finally under control.

However, now she receives weekly injections of "liquid gold" (nickname of immunoglobulin stuff) for the remainder of her life to help with the compromised immune system. They improve her ability to fight infection, but she is still extremely likely to catch anything contagious to which she is exposed. She leaves our apartment seldom these days leaving necessary errands up to me...

 

[farouk]

farouk said: ↑
Philippians 1.29: "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake" .

4.4 is often quoted: "Rejoice in the Lord..."

I was also thinking of:

1 Peter Five:10 10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

@WalterandDebbie Similar thought, indeed...

 

[Truman]

Bronchiectasis is one of three lung conditions my wife has. One of the others is asthma and I forget now the name of the third.

It was taking steroids [Prednizone] daily for her chronic lung conditions [especially the asthma] for more than 20 years daily that permanently damaged her immune system. She got off the daily steroid a few years ago because the asthma was finally under control.

However, now she receives weekly injections of "liquid gold" (nickname of immunoglobulin stuff) for the remainder of her life to help with the compromised immune system. They improve her ability to fight infection, but she is still extremely likely to catch anything contagious to which she is exposed. She leaves our apartment seldom these days leaving necessary errands up to me...

Prednisone...I have dentures and osteopenia because of it. It did help with the inflammation caused by Lupus. I developed an acute sensitivity to it and now the only thing I can take for Lupus is HCQ...but I can't get it! Argh! So frustrating! And unnecessarily painful.
If I didn't suffer as much as I do, I wouldn't be as close to God. Sometimes I think it's worth it.

 

[amadeus]

Prednisone...I have dentures and osteopenia because of it. It did help with the inflammation caused by Lupus. I developed an acute sensitivity to it and now the only thing I can take for Lupus is HCQ...but I can't get it! Argh! So frustrating! And unnecessarily painful.
If I didn't suffer as much as I do, I wouldn't be as close to God. Sometimes I think it's worth it.

My wife lost all of her teeth because of it. Now she has implants and a set of artificial teeth.

The steroids can in ways seem like a miracle drug but look out for the side affects... But God has blessed through or because of the difficulties.

 

[marks]

Prednisone...I have dentures and osteopenia because of it. It did help with the inflammation caused by Lupus. I developed an acute sensitivity to it and now the only thing I can take for Lupus is HCQ...but I can't get it! Argh! So frustrating! And unnecessarily painful.
If I didn't suffer as much as I do, I wouldn't be as close to God. Sometimes I think it's worth it.

I kind of wish I could have been an easier case for God to deal with, but I've adopted the attitude, whatever it takes, Father Knows Best!

Much love!

 

[MatthewG]

You have all of these problems but one thing that is good to remember that you are a son or daughter of God by and through faith in the Gospel of Christ where our great hope is found. It’s sad to see even ourselves in the pain we are in, however the only one that can carry us through is the Lord Jesus Christ and trusting in him and our Father in heaven my brothers and sisters in Christ!

You know there was a story the other day I seen in second Samuel where David had sinned and Nathan tells Daniel that He was going to lose a child, God struck the Child in Uritahs womb. David fasted, and prayed in hopes that God would heal the child only to find out when The child was dead, he got up washed his face and ate.

Then something was said to the effect of are you not sad over this? David told those Guys I thought maybe God would save the child however he didn’t and I can’t bring the child back to life but I’ll see him again when I die.

something like that

 

[Truman]

I kind of wish I could have been an easier case for God to deal with, but I've adopted the attitude, whatever it takes, Father Knows Best!

Much love!

With me, He had to employ His foundry! I come from very stubborn stock.
"See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work." - Isaiah 54:16a

 

[marks]

I can't wait to have new teeth again!

I have about half of mine still, with constant trouble. And God has worked through these troubles wonderfully, but even so, I'm looking forward to that resurrection set!

Much love!

 

[marks]

With me, He had to employ His foundry! I come from very stubborn stock.
"See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work." - Isaiah 54:16a

The Word of God is a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces.

Much love!

 

[Truman]

The Word of God is a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces.

Much love!

After several months of refusing to fall on the Rock, the Rock fell on me. Denser than a bag of hammers. Sigh.
"And the one having fallen on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." - Matthew 21:44

 

[MatthewG]

Those Jewish people had even more a difficult time. Saying you believed Jesus Christ raised from the dead. That would make that person a unique target. They would be disowned thrown out of the synagogue, in prison, even killed.

We got it easy @Truman.

 

[MatthewG]

However suffering for Christ is still hard.

 

[Truman]

Those Jewish people had even more a difficult time. Saying you believed Jesus Christ raised from the dead. That would make that person a unique target. They would be disowned thrown out of the synagogue, in prison, even killed.

We got it easy @Truman.

There are Jews preaching Yeshua in the streets of Jerusalem today and there is opposition. What the Rabbis can't stop is what is happening on the internet! They all need to sit down and figure out how to get along, that's what I think! Give it time.

 

[MatthewG]

That will probably go on forever. Haha. There is no more genealogy for them to rely on. From what I heard from another source it can be quite chaotic there… especially being born in Israel… in whom God had predestined to be for the birth of the Messiah who would be able to reconcile Jew and Gentile alike. There are some people out there in all the different types of denominations who are true to the Christian faith, and understand it that God is love and God is good, and that was why Jesus Christ was sent to reconcile everyone back to the Father as what was established with Adam and Eve. God through Christ made it possible. You could even say Yahweh through His Word made it possible.

It’s all a choice now my friend!

 

[MatthewG]

Just for a bit of information, talking to someone today. Mentioned to him several times our hope is in the Gospel of Christ. Telling him that is what it all boils down to for me. You can talk about God and Jesus to someone and eventually it seems it gets to a point there like ya ya Jesus Christ. Then it kind of makes you wonder what their hope is in. They may roll their eyes at just the mention of being thankful to God and Jesus Christ.

That is where our hope is in…

Some have family and everything but the only true hope is found in Christ Jesus above all other things. People fight and argue about material stuff. And they will complain to when their body is falling apart which (there is a time for everything) and I get grieving over a lost person and being there for a person to encourage them but the only encouragement truly is the hope found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It seems the more a person chooses to focus on that Hope found in Jesus these minor problems we face in this life seem to all fade away.

People don’t like that as human beings we tend to like focusing on our problems and heart breaks and aches because it gives ourselves attention as well as attention from others and negates the fact of the main focus whom is the solution.

Jesus.

 

[farouk]

Just for a bit of information, talking to someone today. Mentioned to him several times our hope is in the Gospel of Christ. Telling him that is what it all boils down to for me. You can talk about God and Jesus to someone and eventually it seems it gets to a point there like ya ya Jesus Christ. Then it kind of makes you wonder what their hope is in. They may roll their eyes at just the mention of being thankful to God and Jesus Christ.

That is where our hope is in…

Some have family and everything but the only true hope is found in Christ Jesus above all other things. People fight and argue about material stuff. And they will complain to when their body is falling apart which (there is a time for everything) and I get grieving over a lost person and being there for a person to encourage them but the only encouragement truly is the hope found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It seems the more a person chooses to focus on that Hope found in Jesus these minor problems we face in this life seem to all fade away.

People don’t like that as human beings we tend to like focusing on our problems and heart breaks and aches because it gives ourselves attention as well as attention from others and negates the fact of the main focus whom is the solution.

Jesus.

@MatthewG God bless you in your personal witness. May you be encouraged in it.

 

[MatthewG]

May others be encouraged too. Thank you @farouk