About the Author

K.J. Ramsey is a trauma-informed licensed professional counselor and the author of This Too Shall Last and The Lord is My Courage. She is a recovering idealist who can’t stop offering space to see every part of our souls and stories as sacred.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. I am so thrilled that you shared your story. I too, am a counselor. A Christ Follower and have Lupus–for 36 years. The tears I have cried, could fill a lake! I have had fellow Christians to care and hold me through the very tough times, but there are times that there is just you and God. Thankfully, He never leaves or forsakes you. If I could not hold on to that, I would never make it!
    I have suffered things that my doctors’ say I could not survive—God still has me here for a reason—to pray intercessory prayers and to help others–2 Corinthians 1 :3-7. That’s my mission. Some days I can’t but He who started a good work in you—will complete it. Also I thank God for wonderful loving Christ loving parents, who helped me raise my 2 boys–men now after their father deemed me unacceptable.

  2. The biggest lie, I’m constantly battling, is tied up in Pride. “You should be able to…” “If you had enough Faith, then you could…” “You’re giving up too easily, when you…”

    Daily dealing with my physical disabilities for decades, much easier than my accompanying chronic Depression.

    The things I have to remind myself of regularly, is that God hasn’t promised me an easy, tragedy-free life! Every day, a Christian loses his/her life because of their stand for Jesus Christ (My life hasn’t come close to that). My past victories in Jesus, aren’t the same as my victories in Jesus today. Stop comparing them. Instead I need to Count my Blessings…even if I have to do that from my bed, instead of from a job, or full-time ministry! It’s OK to be brokenhearted (even ugly-crying, w/snot running out of my nose)…because Jesus promises to fill me back up (Beatitudes)! Only He can!

    Sometimes He uses others, to come alongside & support me, in my times of dispare…crush my pride, & let them! Accept them as the gifts from God that they are.

    • I like to remember that on the other side of pride is grief–grief for all the groaning, the losses, the imperfections. And grief makes room for the grace of God to carry me into courage, right where I am. It sounds like you’ve experienced that over and over too.

  3. Healing is the children’s bread. You belong to God. He is behind the scenes working, even in the small details concerning your complete healing. Be encouraged, while at this place, to drink from this wellspring of life that has been placed before you. God is working it out for you as He replenishes you for His glory. Restoration is at hand.

  4. I am a retired mental health clinician and it is so difficult accepting that I can’t help myself as I used to try and provide help for others. I pray but not hard enough. It gets harder to face and deal with the physical limitations I am experiencing. I so appreciate what you write- hope!!! My word this year was supposed to be fulfilled but I think unless I have hope I will never get there. I pray for all of us.

    • Thank you for sharing, Madeline! I hope you’ll remember that even your tears and sighs are prayers. You don’t need to pray harder. Your humanness is a prayer.

  5. Thank you for your transparency about your struggles. Your journey is daunting, yet you know God walks with you, as He has with me after contracting West Nile Virus over 3 years ago.
    He has been my trusted, loving companion throughout, and my faith continues to grow, as I draw closer to Him. I see the purpose in my struggles, as my light shines brighter now to inspire others in their walk in faith. May you see this happening on your recovery path as well.
    If they’re is an online support group for your condition, you may find information, comfort, and hope there, as I have as well. May God shower you with His healing grace!

  6. Thank you for sharing your story. I can empathize because my husband was sick for five years and all doctors could tell us was it is autoimmune (very broad). It was agonizing especially since his family lives out of town and would ask me if he was a hypochondriac and that was really hard as well. Eventually he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and that was horrible as well. He has been gone for 10 years now but I learned not to quit praying or leaning on God. He will never leave you or forsake you. God bless you praying for your healing. Sharon

  7. Thank you being honest about your struggles. Everyday I wake wishing that I was still asleep. My home is a disaster of clutter and chaos. Hope is what I cling to. I believe in my heart that God is with me, so I fight everyday to walk in His light. I will remember you in my prayers.

    • Janice, thank you for sharing so honestly. I pray you’ll continue to find hope in honest words like these, and that there will be people who you’ll dare to show your own tears. Grace to you. So much grace.

  8. K.J., this really spoke to me. Your words reminded me from where our hope comes. May you be richly blessed!

  9. On good Parkinson’s days, I Praise and Thank God.
    On bad Parkinson’s days, I Praise and Thank God for the things that I still can do!

  10. I know all too well what you’re feeling. Having a chronic autoimmune illness that has altered my life dramatically has me praying more than I’ve ever prayed in my life, and also practicing acceptance… I have learned to be grateful for the days I can function and also thank God every single day of my life no matter how I’m feeling. I try to find a positive in each day and ask God for strength and thank Him for every moment. Prayers for you, too, and thanks for sharing and inspiring others. ❤️

  11. K.J we can in times wonder were God is. Why has he not healed me. Why me. But God is beside you no matter what. I know people have said why has God healed that person not me. I doing everything right. Standing on the promises of his word. You can get cross with God. Say did you not heal me. You healed that person. But I have learnt to say to myself our is not to ask why. Just trust God is there working behind the scenes. I know a lovely Salvation Army officer. Who lived right for God. He had cancer. Prayed and trusted God word. God never healed him. But he always said if I never get my healing this side of earth. I get it when I go home to be with him. I just have to keep trusting God knows best what he is doing. Keep trusting him and his word plus prayer no matter what. That is what he did. I admired him for that. I broke my Ankle before Christmas last year. A good friend said to me when I was offal pain while it was healing. Said Dawn you think your pain is bad of your Ankle. While you are healing. At least you can take pain relief. Look at what pain our Lord was in when he went to cross for all man kind. Our Lord had no pain relief like you. That rang true to me. My pain the time my Ankle was healing. Was nothing to compared. What Our Lord went through on the cross. For the whole world. Because he Loved us. I then would say. Dawn your not that bad. Your pain no were near as bad. I know it not nice for your Husband to see you not well. Probably wonder why God have you not healed my lovely wife. Why my wife. It heart breaking for you as wife to see your Husband breaking his heart over you not well. Also a good few years ago until I had my Hysterectomy. My Husband used to break his heart to see me not well. It broke mine too. But through it all. It taught us to keep close to God no matter what. Keep trusting him he knows what he doing. Keep handing it all over to him. Ask God to help me cope with not being well back then. Give my Husband the strength to be there for me. All through thoes days until my hysterectomy 4 years ago past in October last year. God gave both me and my Husband the strength to cope. Deal with all I was going through. As my periods were so heavy. That my hormones would throw me into seizures then. It was not nice. Only cure was the Hysterectomy. We praised God when I was given the date for it. Plus when I had it. I am thankful. To God he took me through the operation. Helped me heal. Today since having the Hysterectomy. I had no periods. So no seizures. We both thanked God for that. We both learned. That sometimes God doesn’t heal us the way we like. Like through him directly. We have to go through the healing process. Like I did with my Hysterectomy. Know God is using this way to heal me. If God is we have to trust him that he will take me through it. God did. It made us rely on God more. Seek his word more. Plus the song that he brought to my mind. I sang it alot. During that time. Was “What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” How true that song was for me in thoes days. I know God will carry you through yours too. Plus carry your Husband. K.J. I will say a prayer for you and your Husband. Keep trusting God that he knows what he is doing no matter how hard it seems. Dawn Ferguson-Little from the other side of the world. In Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland. Thank you for all shearing your story. Being so brave to share it. Xx

  12. KJ, your words are a GIFT! What a joy it is to have you here at (in)courage. I know this is an article I will share and return to myself agagin.

  13. Hello

    God Bless your Sweet Heart!
    We so need prayers of encouragement…
    I had some years of needing
    The encouragement. I’ve had
    Non cancer tumor on the 5th
    Nerve which is located between
    Ear & Brain. Had surgery &
    Radiation about 2O yrs ago.
    There are days that the remaining tumor gives me trouble. God has been there
    Through it all. As you said it
    Isn’t easy & we need to say that
    So others will know we are in
    It with them for the duration.
    Never give up!
    Hugs
    Sandy

  14. KJ,

    I’m smiling because it feels so right for you to join us in this season; you have a unique perspective that will add depth and insight, and, no doubt, will minister to our (in)community. SO thankful you joined us!

    I’m praying for you, too, friend. Praising God for intertwining our paths in the past and present, asking Him to continue to reveal Himself to you as you point a hurting world to Him.

    xo

  15. KJ,

    Thank you for sharing your heart wrenching story. Praying for God to heal your body in His timing. Jesus said we would have trials down here. But take heart for He has over come this world. Praise God. He alone can give us a hope that surpasses all understanding. He is well acquainted with our pain & suffering. He dealt with some of the same things. He loves us to much to leave us alone in our pain. It takes courage to tell others about our situations. Telling allows us to come beside you & pray for or assist you. Thanks again for sharing your story. Praying for you!!

    • those are some of my favorite of Jesus’ words (ones I wrote about a lot in my first book!). Thank you for your kindness and prayers!

  16. Please help me find hope in this hopeless body.
    For I relate to this story.
    In 2013 I was plagued with a blood infection that attacked my back and has permanently damaged me for the rest of my life. It has damaged my Thoracic spine all the way down to the lumber, including nerve damage. The feeling of hopeless riddles me everymorning, wondering am I going to be able to get up or is it going to be a lay in the bed kind of day due to disability.
    That has gained much negativity in my mind.
    Am I worthy? Am I loved?
    How can I give Him control of my life, when I don’t even have control of my life?
    I don’t. My health, the medical system the world controls me.
    Much prayers needed.