By Darla Butterfield May 8th, 2024
I remember staring down at my phone in disbelief at my husband’s words a year ago. His text messages following his virtual meeting with a new neurologist indicated that this doctor actually had a diagnosis, an answer to all the puzzling symptoms Josh had been experiencing for the last six months. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) was what the doctor determined best fit Josh’s medical records and symptoms. Of course, I started Googling to try to understand what this meant. I could see the pieces fall into place that this did match much of what Josh had been experiencing.
So, what was the answer? How long did people suffer with this and what was the treatment or cure? How do we fix what was broken? I quickly realized there were no answers for what I was looking for. The doctor gave Josh a prescription for a medication that would help some with his energy and focus, but there wasn’t anything else the neurologist knew to do. This was a chronic condition with no known official treatment or cure. People suffered with this for years, many of them bedridden, and as I read more stories, they were often depressing.
While we followed the example in James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord,” there has not been healing for Josh yet.
Throughout this journey we are on, we’ve often been reminded of Paul. Paul was no stranger to suffering. Yet, in his second letter to the church in Corinth he said “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) I can’t fix what’s broken with Josh’s health. What I can do is not lose heart. Keep my eyes on Jesus and the hope of we have of eternal glory.
I’m learning to put my faith into action in a new way now with serving my husband and family and it has helped me recognize that there are other ways we can better live out what we believe. James 2:14-17 says “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
You may not know anyone suffering from ME/CFS like Josh, but you may know of a person or family that has been impacted by a problem with their health. Often there’s the initial meal train started, but maybe that’s over. You can always offer a meal or just having someone reach out and acknowledge what someone else is going through can make a world of difference.
Look for those that are marginalized and ways to meet their physical needs. There are many local organizations that are often looking for volunteers or donations to continue to serve others in your community.
One eye-opening thing for me has been to recognize the need for disability access for others. I honestly never thought of those people like Josh who can physically walk yet need the aid of an electric wheelchair. Before Josh’s health condition, I didn’t even realize our own church was lacking access to the upstairs classrooms! If given the opportunity, advocate for that access for others. It could be life-changing for someone and their family.
ME/CFS Awareness Week is May 8-15th. It is a condition that is often brought on by a virus. In Josh’s case, and likely many others, COVID was the trigger. We may not be able to fix what’s broken, but we can put our faith into action by serving others, shining God’s light into a dark world, and fixing our eyes on Jesus.
If you'd like to learn more about putting your faith into action, check out our Bible study James: Faith in Action.
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