Faith Through the Journey

After dealing with Crohn’s Disease for 43 years, there are aspects of it I have learned to take in stride. There isn’t a lot I can do about the fact that I have an inflammatory bowel disease, and it isn’t generally something discussed in polite company. I admit there are some disgusting parts of Crohn’s Disease that sometimes make me feel “yucky” and gross.

Since it is an autoimmune disease, one of the primary treatments for Crohn’s is the use of immunosuppressant drugs. Through trial and error, we have discovered that I have to take two of these drugs to keep Crohn’s from flaring up in my body. The downside to these drugs is that they leave me open to infections, some of which must be treated with antibiotics.

Just when I thought there couldn’t be anything more disgusting than a disease of the digestive system, I have now developed a fungal infection because of my suppressed immune system. I am reminded of Bible stories I have heard about lepers in Bible times who would have to cry out “Unclean!” before they entered a town so that people could run away and hide, lest they too become infected with leprosy and become outcasts because of the disease. As soon as the doctor pronounced the diagnosis of “fungal infection” I immediately thought of those poor unfortunate lepers who were considered not fit for human contact! Who wants a fungus, after all?? After using some drugs that were supposed to take care of this infection, I returned to the doctor who pronounced that, not only had the original infection not gone away, but I had a SECOND fungal infection!! Talk about feeling UNCLEAN!! I felt that I should probably wear a hazmat suit so I wouldn’t infect anyone else! Thankfully my sweet husband didn’t move out or treat me like an outcast! The resolution of this issue remains to be seen, but hopefully it will eventually turn out well.

About this time, I became aware of a song entitled, ironically, “Clean“, by Natalie Grant. It was a sweet and timely reminder to me that, no matter how I felt physically, God sees me as “clean” inside because of the blood of Jesus that covers my sin. These words are precious to me; I am clean in God’s sight!

“There’s nothing too dirty that You can’t make worthy; You wash me in mercy, I am CLEAN“!

“Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice, Your blood flowed red and made me white; my dirty rags are purified; I am CLEAN“!