The Road Less Traveled: How Pain, Purpose, and Promise Intersect in the Middle of Your Mess
A story for the woman who’s worn out, wondering, and waiting for God to move.
There’s a kind of tired you can’t nap your way out of.
I was there.
Flat on a hospital gurney in a paper-thin sheet, mind racing, chest heavy, and soul whispering “Is this how it ends?”
And in that moment—in the middle of tears, monitors, unanswered questions, and overwhelming fear—I heard it:
“You will not die. You will live.”
(Psalm 118:17)
It wasn’t thunderous. It wasn’t theatrical.
It was Jesus—in the still, quiet whisper of a God who meets us in hospital hallways and hidden breakdowns.
How I Got There: Auto-Pilot Life, Crashing Body
The year was 2015.
My body was shutting down. My emotions were threadbare. My spirit was spent.
I had been doing all the things:
Serving
Smiling
Saying yes
Showing up
Pretending to be fine when I was anything but
Behind the scenes? I was navigating ER visits, autoimmune flares, doctor after doctor, med after med… and still no answers. Just more fatigue, more confusion, and a foggy sense that my body was fighting me instead of for me.
The Spoon Theory & Silent Struggles
The Spoon Theory explains life with chronic illness: you start each day with a handful of spoons (aka units of energy).
Simple tasks like brushing your teeth or making breakfast? That costs a spoon.
Add in work, kids, ministry? You’re empty by noon.
And when your illness is invisible—when your hair’s fallen out but your smile is still showing? People assume you’re fine. When you’re not.
Here’s the kicker:
80% of the 50 million Americans with autoimmune conditions are women.
And many of us are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or told it’s “just stress.”
When Pain Becomes Purpose
I’ll never forget crying quietly on my closet floor so my kids wouldn’t see me.
I wasn’t just praying—I was pleading.
And God didn’t show up with an instant healing.
He came closer with a whisper and a promise:
“You will not die. You will live.”
And that’s when it started to shift.
I didn’t get my strength back overnight.
But I did get my voice back.
I found a purpose I could carry even when my body felt weak.
I began writing, speaking, coaching—not from the mountaintop, but from the middle of the mess.
Purpose Before Healing
Sometimes we think we have to be “healed” before we can be “used.”
But sis—let me tell you something loud and clear:
God doesn’t wait for you to be perfect to make you powerful.
He’s not looking for your polish. He’s looking for your yes.
I started serving again.
Writing again.
Laughing again (and sometimes crying again too, because healing is messy).
And slowly, I stopped just surviving—I started thriving.
How I Took Back My Health (and My Hope)
I began treating my body like the temple it truly is
I learned to advocate for myself in every doctor’s office
I changed how I eat, think, rest, and pray
I stopped believing that my symptoms were my identity
I started coaching other women to do the same
Because here’s the truth:
Your health journey is not selfish.
It’s spiritual.
You can love Jesus and learn to take care of the body He gave you.
If You’re in Your ER Moment…
Maybe it’s not a literal hospital bed—but maybe you’re lying awake in anxiety.
Maybe your marriage is on life support.
Maybe your faith feels faint.
Maybe your mind is stuck in survival mode.
You are not broken beyond repair.
You are not forgotten.
You are not too late.
Isaiah 43:2 says:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”
Not if. When.
But He promises—you won’t drown.
You’ll come out drenched in grace. Maybe limping. Maybe weary.
But also wiser. Stronger. Whole.
Final Encouragement: You Will Not Die. You Will Live.
Friend, I still forget where I put my tea three times a day.
The brain fog is real. The Holy Spirit is real-er. 😅
But I’m walking now—not just surviving.
And so can you.
🧡 Cry in the shower.
🧡 Ground your feet in the grass.
🧡 Eat something nourishing.
🧡 Text a friend.
🧡 Say the hard thing.
🧡 Rest when you need to.
And above all—cling to the hem of His garment.
That’s where the healing begins.
That’s where your story starts to rise.
📥 Want to Learn More About Healing & Wholeness?
Check out WomenAroundTheWell.com for the exact nutritional, spiritual, and lifestyle shifts that helped me reclaim my life from chronic illness and emotional exhaustion. I created resources just for you, because I’ve lived it—and I _know_there’s more ahead for you.
💛 You’re not stuck. You’re just getting still.
💛 God is not done with your story.
💛 You will live. And not just survive—but live well.
See you next time, around the well.
