Teens in Chronic Pain

One problem commonly faced by those in chronic pain is a feeling of inferior or having a poor self-image of yourself. It’s easy to think less of yourself when you are in a lot of pain. Whether it’s the fact you are in a wheelchair, using crutches, have numerous scars, don’t have the ideal body because you can’t work out in ways the average person can, or simply have a bad hair day because the pain kept you up all night, it can be hard to feel attractive and confident in yourself.

David, the man after God’s own heart, had a best friend named Jonathan, who was the son of Saul (the first king of Israel). After David had become king, Jonathan passed away. Jonathan left behind just one son (the others had also passed away) named Mephibosheth. He was lame in both feet and had such low self-esteem that he called himself a stray dog. [2 Samuel 9:1-13]

Because Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son, David took care of him by giving him all the property that once belonged to Saul, and invited him to eat at the king’s table as if he were one of David’s own sons. Likewise, God is looking out for us and has glorious plans in store for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11

It’s easy to get down on yourself, but I try to remember how much God loves me and it boosts my own self-confidence. Sometimes I forget just how much God truly loves me. And by forgetting that incredibly crucial fact, I allow myself to point ot my many flaws and imperfections. I look at how I don’t measure up and how so many of my peers are doing better at X and Y (even though I know I shouldn’t be comparing). I sometimes struggle to see why He loves me this much when He’s God, the creator of this amazing and incredibly intricate universe.

Verses that help remind me of His love for me…

Galatians 2:20 - “So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Ephesians 2:10a - “For we are God’s masterpiece…”

Psalm 139:13-18 - “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to [a] me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.”

Matthew 10:29-30 - “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny[a]? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Luke 12:7 - “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Genesis 1:27 - “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them.”

So why do I ever feel inferior and question God’s love for me? Stupidity and human nature, I guess.

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