Many people with chronic illness experience dreams that are deferred for a season, or even denied for a lifetime. They have an idea of what they want their lives to look like, but their symptoms get in the way.

Ahh, assumptions. We all make them, and they’re often made of us. But what happens when people make assumptions about our health journeys or symptoms? What’s our response when we find ourselves on the receiving end of assumptions that are far from true?

When I first got sick, nearly four years ago now, I prayed and prayed for healing. I could not allow myself to believe that God would allow me to be chronically sick, so I just kept praying for Him to take it all away and restore my health. And yet, healing never came.

I often broach the topic of rest as if it’s something that I have to earn or deserve. The measure of my productivity determines the scale on which I measure my worthiness of rest & grace.