One of the most common experiences of people with disability or chronic illness is feeling intruded on by Christians who come and lay hands on us to pray for our healing without permission. Whether we do or don’t want healing, the problem is that people don’t enter our world to learn about the comples emotions that pain and illness generate and stay present as we find our way back to God. The message to us in this intrusive experience is that God can heal us and then everything between us and God will be fine.
Esther Smith writes not only from the perspective of a counselor but also from the perspective of a person who experiences chronic illness and disability. Her book is like a breath of fresh air. She not only encourages readers to wrestle with the emotions that are typically pressed into the back corners of the heart and mind as unacceptable in the “good” spiritual life but suggests questions that will help in the journey of spiritual growth with chronic illness.
I have walked my own journey with chronic illness for many years and I still find this book refreshing. I highly recommend it.
