chronic illness

We are ‘continually’ healed!

What we fail to understand is healing is not a one-time thing or event. And our definition of healing is not always the same as God’s. Sometimes we pray to be ‘whole’ and expect it. But if we were meant to be whole, we may not feel like we need God. It’s why the Bible says, ‘I am the Lord who continuously heals you!’ He knew we’d need to be heated ‘continually.’ He knew we’d have to be healed a lot more than once! He knew we’d fail. He knew we’d fall short. He knew we’d come back to him again. It’s in the coming back, in the need that our healing lies. When we need him, when we can’t live without him, when we know we need to be ‘healed’ by him–we are whole. Let’s face it. Most chronic conditions are never healed fully. They are managed. Whether you’re praying for healing from cancer or addiction. The sickness never entirely disappears. You still have to have follow-ups with doctors. You still need to talk with lots of loved ones or attend support groups. Maybe we’re not meant to be completely healed? I’m not sure. But I know we are meant to have a dependency on God. It is only then that we can be whole in our spirit and mind.

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored “Not Without God: A Story of Survival.” Her stories have been featured in various guest articles, medical journals, magazines, newsletters, and over 200 of her blog posts. As an educator for more than twenty years, she’s had the privilege of working with thousands of students from different backgrounds and parts of the world. Her writing endeavors earned her an invitation to speak at the Harvard Faculty Club’s “Business Expert Forum.” Zina’s goal is to help others overcome adversity, and she strives to do what she longs to–help other people. Socializing with friends, taking business trips, listening to music, and meeting new people are among her hobbies. You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, or Twitter.

True Love Came To Visit

I sought after God at a young age. It wasn’t until after I had my accident that I REALLY experienced His love. I felt it through others. What I mean is, I found it in the three short months I spent in the hospital. As strange as it may seem, for the first time—my life had meaning. I had all these injuries and had become paralyzed, but I was still searching.

I lived in a good neighborhood and went to a good school. But I would ask God questions about life, and about what it all means. I knew there was more beyond what I could see. Then I got my answers. True love came to visit me in that hospital room.

Through compassion from doctors, nurses, and loved ones – I experienced a PEACE like none I had known. Life is so precious! When you are well, you may not necessarily feel like you “need the Lord.” But when you are sick, and hanging onto life by a string – you know it. And the way he comes in to rescue you is remarkable!

You can be in a desperate place, a minute to minute, moment to moment kind of place. I urge you to seek after him before the accident and before the diagnosis. It’s like not being prepared for a flood – if there were an “extreme” weather event, you probably would’ve wished you would’ve bought insurance. And luckily, most do. Buy insurance!

Invest in the One who can bring you security. Believe, read, pray, and seek! You will be better prepared in case there is an “emergency.” “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).”

God is love because He sent his only son, and he died and rose again for us! We have proof of it. His promise to redeem us from agony is proven to be true in the resurrection. There are reasons we go through what we do. We may not understand why. But if you pray and have faith through the pain, true love will reveal itself. Good things will happen to you again.

He will be the one listening while you’re in bed when you need to talk to a friend. He will be with you when you have anxiety. He will be with you when you have to go to the hospital to visit a loved one. He will be there. Every. Step. Every. Time. God truly is a fortress in our lives…

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the book Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She works as an English as a second language Instructor, and has been an educator for almost twenty years. Her stories have been featured in Christianity Today, guest posts, newsletters, and medical journals as well as nearly 200 of her very own blog posts. To learn more about Zina visit: zinahermez.com.

A bit of health advice

Does someone you love suffer from a chronic illness? I’m sure you know at least one person that does. What are some common diseases? Cancer, diabetes, and heart disease only name a few.

How about you? Have you ever gone through something really difficult like this? I sure hope not. It is hard to watch someone you care for go through an illness too.

Besides my accident happening in 1994, my father was diagnosed with lung disease in 2009 (and has had many hospital visits). My mother suffered from a serious illness in 2007.

However, unlike my dad she has not been in and out of the hospital so much. Watching your parents grow old is not easy, and watching their memory lapse can be upsetting.

So I wanted to give a few health tips, and a little research on this topic in case you or your elderly parent could use a little advice.

“The best way to increase muscle mass and increase your oxygen intake is through exercise. The faster your metabolic rate, the easier it is to increase your energy and burn calories,” says HealthCoachTraining.
Research shows that walking on a regular basis reduces the occurrence of memory loss one would typically experience with age.
A study at the University of Kentucky showed that people who expressed more positive emotions, including gratitude lived up to ten years longer than those who expressed fewer positive emotions.

Doctors say only twenty minutes of exercise per day is sufficient. Getting your fitness in does not have to be a huge task. Walking for a little bit, riding a bicycle, or doing daily morning stretches would all be a great way to begin!

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the book Not Without God: A Story of Survival and created the Spinal Cord Injury Solutions! on line website. Zina works as an English Language Instructor, and has been an educator for nearly fifteen years her thousands of students have been from many parts of the world, and she’s worked with all ages.

Zina writes articles on faith and overcoming disability and her stories have been featured in Christianity Today, Spinal Cord Injury Zone, SCI Access, newsletters, and medical journals among many other various publications. To learn more about Zina visit http://zinahermez.com.