A Prayer When You Are Faced with an Incurable Diagnosis
Written by: Vivian Bricker, Read by: Lia Girard
Bible Reading: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” - Isaiah 46:10
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Recently, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. Sadly, there is no cure, and all I can do is take medicine to try to prevent the disease from growing worse. To say that these last few months have been a whirlwind is an understatement. Each day, I have been faced with pain that I have never experienced before. While I have been used to emotional pain for most of my life, I hadn't been used to physical pain like this.
With this disorder, I think my mental state has grown much worse over this past year. Knowing that I have an incurable diagnosis is a lot to carry every day. Most days, I want to hide and pretend it isn't real. The way this condition affects my overall life makes me want to stop living. While this can sound grim, it is honest. I'm not going to lie in order to make others feel better, and neither should you. If you are going through an incurable diagnosis right now, know that you are not alone.
After doing hours of research, I found that autoimmune disorders are not as uncommon as I used to believe. Autoimmune disorders are actually quite common and are not considered rare by the medical community. Though my life has changed with a new hardship, God’s plans for me will not be thwarted. He can still use me to carry out His wonderful plans.
This is why we must not think our incurable diagnosis is a game-over card. Instead, we need to think of it as a roadblock that can be managed with the Lord’s help. While some of us may never be cured of an illness on this side of heaven, we can still trust in the Lord every day. And one day, we will experience true freedom from illness, and we will never feel pain again. Illnesses, pain, and death will be things of the past.
In truth, these things might not even pass into our minds anymore since we will be captivated by the Lord and all of His beauty. This doesn't mean our pain now doesn't matter, but rather, it means that there are brighter days to come when our pain will no longer control our lives.
Until then, we have to keep moving forward and trust God. I understand this is hard, as I have been challenged in my faith over the course of this year in more ways than I can count. Have I succeeded in all of these challenges? No, I have not. I have grown angry at God and blamed Him for my pain, illness, and lack of healing. However, I have also learned the goodness of God and the simple joys He gives me when I do feel good, when I feel the crisp air on my face, or when I see the smile of a loved one.
God directly tells us, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’” (Isaiah 46:10). God’s purpose will stand, and He will do all that He pleases. Our incurable diagnoses will not usurp His plans, purposes, or will for our lives.
There are still many great things to come, even if we don’t see them right now. There are many great things to come, and they will be fulfilled by God. When the days are dark and hard, find hope in God’s words as recorded in Isaiah 46:10. Find strength in His love, and know that His purposes for your life will prevail.
Let's Pray:
Dear God, thank You for still having a purpose for my life. Some days, I feel like my life is over. This incurable diagnosis is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. Please give me strength and hope through You. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Jacob Wackerhausen
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Originally published Thursday, 06 March 2025.
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