Mamas in Faith

We are called to steward our bodies, however that is not the only thing that the Bible outlines as something to be well taken care of but for the purpose of this post I do want to focus on the body some. For the last almost five years I have felt at war with my body, frequently leading me to neglect it, neglect many of the blessings God has already provided me and I am sure… cloud my judgement in many ways. Despite what some say the way we view our bodies and their importance is shaped by our worldview. And the deeper I have gone in the Word the further away I am holding my hope on ever being in full remission from all my autoimmune disease symptoms.

While I know that remission is possible for many, health is not promised in Scripture. For me that may look like having autoimmune sypmtoms for the entirity of my life. Even if that is the case that does not mean I get a free pass to not glorify God in the process. That also does not mean I should not do my best to steward this body that I was given well either. Scripture calls us to glorifiy God in all things.

I was recently working my way through Job again. And let me just pause a moment to tell you that if you have not read Job in its entirety lately it may be a good time for you to visit it again or maybe even the first time.

In our society today there are a couple things pushed on us both from the more progessive christian or some more charismatic believers and from secular perspective. One being that we all have the ability to have healing and deserve it and the other thing that is prominent right now is being a victim to your situation.

I desperately wanted to play the victim of poor circumstances for how my body feels most days… especially a couple of years ago when I was at the highest weight I have ever been, just thinking about moving (even in bed) felt like a huge task and all of my visible skin looked and felt like it was going to be the death of me. I wanted to play the victim and I also wanted to believe that because I was the victim that God should grant me full healing this side of heaven. Then and only then could I truly gloify His name and live out the purposes He had for my life.

Y’all I actually was so deep in my own despair that I thought God owed me healing because isn’t He the God of healing…

No where in the Bible does it say that we are promised healing (even as believers in Christ) this side of Heaven. This can be really difficult for those of us in the midst of autoimmune disease to grapple with. But even if healing does not come that does not mean we are not called to still glorify our Creator.

For a time I had also convinced myself that in order to trust in God also meant that all medications designed for autoimmunity must also be bad. That if I did not trust in only what was given to us from the earth that He created must be bad. While I do not believe all medications are bad I also do not think that they “fix” or “cure” autoimmunity. But I also do not believe that taking enough supplements, herbs, tinctures, etc… you know all of the natural things is going to “fix” or “cure” you either. Autoimmunity is far more complex than many are lead to believe. And maybe one day there will be some answers, but I am not holding my breath for that either. But to also add I do not believe that having a chronic disease is a punishment for my sin or for the sins of the generations before me. We simply live in a fallen world and dieases exist.

Something I have heard frequently in my life as a like a one-liner relating to struggles and God has been “God won’t give you more than you can handle”… I would like to argue that God does give people more than they can handle BUT not as punishment, He sometimes gives you too much to get you to realize that there is a certain level of dependence required, that you cannot actually live life apart from Him.

None of that means that I cannot still work diligently to steward my body to the best of my ability, more consistently as I walk and work to be more obedient. This will look different for most of us, and could look different at different times as well.

Right now for me stewarding my body well looks like:

• Taking my perscribed biologics
• Working with nutrition specialist (working from more than one angle at the moment)
• Taking some vitamins and supplements based on lab findings not just based on what the latest trend is
• Trying to lose some weight
• Fueling my body in a way that should be minimizing added inflammation
• Resting and getting more sleep
• Praying (and no not for healing)
• Moving my body
• Journaling (I do not do this one nearly enough)
• Adding things that minimize stress (I enjoy playing the cello, reading while sipping hot tea before bed)

We are not promised healing on this side of heaven, but we are called to steward our bodies well. This does not have to be a dogmatic situation, just as santification can be a slow steady process that occurs best surrounded by those you can sharpen you appropriately, asking for help or seeking help in stewarding your body well is important.

My hope is no longer in achieving full remission, my hope is in Christ. Remission may come but it is not promised. What is promised is salvation through Christ alone. So we can steward our bodies well without putting our hope in full healing, we can put our hope in Christ, knowing that one day our bodies will be made new.

Want to follow along as I attempt to do 15,000 steps a day until my next rheumatologist visit in 10 weeks? (Sept 2025) https://www.instagram.com/the.mommin.chronicles/

If you are also walking through an autoimmune disease journey what ways are you currently choosing to steward your body well?