Sometimes the greatest gift we can receive isn’t advice or answers. It’s knowing we don’t have to walk the journey alone.
Living with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome doesn’t mean giving up the things you love. It means learning how to prepare wisely, receive support, and spend your energy on what matters most. That’s exactly what God has been teaching me over the past several months. I’ve also discovered how important community support for chronic illness can be, especially when we’re willing to receive it.
My grandkids, although only four and six years old, have the energy that would make the Easter Bunny jealous! Except their batteries never seem to run out until bedtime!
So Grandpa and Grandma are expected to keep up. At least according to the grandkids. They don’t understand chronic illness, but they do understand helping.
Here’s a fun fact about these two little campers. They think it’s perfectly normal to go hiking every day. And we’re not talking about leisurely strolls around the campground. These kids go on real hikes!
Now let’s be completely honest.
I LOVE hiking.
I LOVE nature.
I LOVE the forest.
I’ve always loved hiking.
So shortly after breakfast, we packed lunches, grabbed the bug spray, sunscreen, and my hiking poles because Grandma planned to do her very best to keep up and not be outdone.
The truth is, I’d been preparing for this trip since the end of January. Every day I built walking into my routine. Every week I challenged myself to go a little farther.
That process taught me something important. It showed me exactly which muscles were still weak and which ones were especially prone to pain. There were many walks that hurt. A lot.
Because of that, I fully expected pain to be part of this camping trip too.
Years ago, I was rather embarrassed by my hiking poles. At the time, I had severe POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), and my doctor suggested that I begin walking with hiking poles outside my home. You know… in front of the neighbours!
The goal wasn’t even ambitious. I was simply trying to make it to the end of the block. In fact, it was only three more houses from where I normally turned around. Even that felt intimidating.
Using hiking poles made me feel… vulnerable. But I listened to my doctor because I wanted to make a start. That was almost fifteen years ago.
Let me tell you, I’ve gotten way past that hesitation! I hadn’t actually used my hiking poles for about five years. However, when my husband, Rob, suggested we pack them for this trip, I immediately understood the value.
You see, using support like this isn’t really just about you. It’s also about caring for the people you’re with.
When your family sees that you’re making wise choices to care for your health, they don’t have to spend the day worrying about you. Instead, they can relax and enjoy the experience with you.
Whether it’s accepting help with chores, asking a friend to come to a medical appointment, or using something as simple as hiking poles to help you walk a little farther, accepting support brings a twofold blessing.
It benefits your own well-being, and it gives the people who love you the gift of peace as well. That day I realized I didn’t need someone to solve my problem. I simply needed the right support.
Finding Strength in Support
But here’s what surprised me. The hiking poles didn’t make me weaker. They made it possible for me to enjoy the hike with the people I love. Even more than that, they gave my family confidence that I was making wise choices for my health. Instead of worrying about whether Grandma was going to make it, they could simply enjoy making memories together.
That reminded me that support comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s a pair of hiking poles. Sometimes it’s a friend who offers to pray, someone who carries a heavy bag, helps prepare a meal, or simply walks beside you without trying to fix everything. None of those things take away our independence. Instead, they make it possible for us to participate more fully in the life God has given us. This is what chronic illness support looks like at its best.
For many of us living with chronic illness, accepting help can feel uncomfortable. We don’t want to inconvenience anyone, appear incapable, or feel like we’re slowing everyone else down. Even asking for help with chronic illness can feel like we’re becoming a burden. Yet God never intended us to carry every burden alone. He designed us for community, where we can both give and receive support with grace.
If you’ve been trying to prove that you can do everything on your own, perhaps this week is your invitation to let someone help. The Bible reminds us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Sometimes the greatest act of faith is allowing someone else to help carry the load for a while.Receiving support isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s often one of the wisest ways we care for ourselves and the people who love us. Sometimes we don’t need more solutions. Sometimes we simply need someone willing to walk beside us.
If you’re in a season of waiting, my free devotional, Hope in the Waiting: A Devotional for Setback Seasons, offers Scripture and encouragement to remind you that God is still working, even when you can’t yet see the outcome.