If you’ve ever been diagnosed with a chronic illness, or if you’re walking with someone who is, you know how it can sometimes feel like a constant battle. And if you’re someone who has faith, it can raise some big questions. How does your faith play a role in navigating a chronic illness? Does faith mean healing? Or, is there something deeper at play?

Living with a chronic illness can be incredibly isolating. Whether it’s a physical illness, mental health challenge, or something else, the constant pain, fatigue, and uncertainty can weigh heavily on your soul. And if you’re someone who believes in God, you might find yourself asking questions like, “Why am I going through this?” or “Why hasn’t God healed me yet?”

When I was first diagnosed with my chronic illness, I had a lot of anger, confusion, and grief. I was angry at the illness. I was angry at my body for not cooperating. And I was frustrated with God, wondering why He hadn’t healed me. I think, for a lot of people, chronic illness brings up this question: If God is good, why do we have to suffer?

But over time, I’ve come to realise something really important: Faith in God doesn’t mean an absence of suffering. In fact, sometimes, our faith is tested and refined through our suffering. We live in a broken world, and while God can and does heal, He doesn’t always heal in the way we expect or on our timeline. And that’s okay. It doesn’t mean that God isn’t present or that He doesn’t care.

In Corinthians we see Paul talking about his own struggle with what he calls a “thorn in the flesh”. In chapter 12, verses 7-10 he says”

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

This passage is incredibly powerful because Paul doesn’t get the healing he asks for. Instead, he hears God say, “My grace is sufficient.” And in that, Paul finds peace – not in the healing itself, but in the sufficiency of God’s grace. That has been a game-changer for me!

When we live with a chronic illness, we might pray for healing, and often we don’t receive the answer we want. But I’ve come to believe that God’s grace is still enough. His presence is still with us, even in our pain. And sometimes, it’s through the weakness and suffering that we experience God’s power in a way that we wouldn’t otherwise. It’s not about denying the reality of the struggle – it’s about learning to rely on God’s strength when we don’t have any left.

But, I think it’s also important to acknowledge that this doesn’t make the pain any easier. Chronic illness is real. It’s relentless. And sometimes, it feels like an unfair burden. I think one of the hardest things to reconcile is the tension between wanting healing and having faith that God is with you even if healing doesn’t come in the way you expect.

An important lesson that I think we can all learn from is that faith doesn’t always look like immediate healing or answers – though it would be nice if it did! Sometimes, faith is about finding strength in the midst of the struggle. It’s about trusting that God is with us in our pain, that He holds us, and that He will never leave us. And I believe He can bring good even out of our suffering. That doesn’t mean the suffering is good – it just means that God can use our experiences to shape us, to teach us, and to help others.

So, whilst I believe that God can heal, I also believe that healing doesn’t always happen in the way we imagine. Sometimes healing looks like peace, or resilience, or learning to live with a new reality. And that’s where the role of faith comes in. Faith in chronic illness isn’t about waiting for a miracle. It’s about trusting that God’s presence in our lives is enough, no matter the circumstances.

In many ways, becoming chronically ill has deepened my relationship with God. It’s taught me how to lean on Him in ways that I never would have if everything had been easy – after all, if things had been easy then we would have no need for faith. I’ve learned that my weakness doesn’t disqualify me from God’s love. In fact, my weakness allows His strength to shine through. And that is a powerful thing.

If you’re living with a chronic illness right now, I want to say this: You are not alone. God sees you. He knows your pain. And he is with you, even when you feel weak or abandoned. Your illness doesn’t define you, and it doesn’t diminish your worth in God’s eyes. He is still good, and His love for you is unwavering.

Isaiah 41:10 says:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Let this be a reminder that God is with you in your difficulties. He promises to strengthen you and uphold you, no matter what you are facing.

All my love,

Anna x