Illness is isolating. Undiagnosed illness can be even lonelier. You are so desperate to find an answer and are just trying to make it through a day. On top of it all, many friends, family and doctors think you are being over dramatic or question if you are making it all up. If you are in this place right now, I’m so very sorry.  Something that helped me when I was in that place was to know that I wasn’t alone. For someone to simply believe me or to just say that they’ve been there before.

Today, I’m sharing another health story because I find those so encouraging. We may not always experience full healing, but there is so much to learn from suffering in illness and it is incredible to see how people grow in those experience.

This health story is from a person very near and dear to me- my brother.  He has been struggling with episodes of symptoms for 5 years now without any answers. His story could be so discouraging, but instead it is filled with hope.  He has shared his story directly on his blog, which you can find HERE.  Be sure to check out his other posts- he has traveled the world and has such interesting content there from his many adventures!

Lastly, if undiagnosed illness is part of your story, I want to say that I’m always here to listen. In church on Sunday, the first week of Advent which is focused on hope, we studied a surprising passage – Psalms 13. But truly it was so filled with hope and so relevant to my brother’s story (and maybe yours too), that I had to end with sharing it:

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die….

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.