When I was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune illness, I thought my entire life was ending. The scary information I had read online made me want to give up on everything. I was already facing a myriad of mental health problems, and now I was going to be facing an incurable autoimmune disease for the rest of my life. I struggled a lot with my faith when I first started experiencing symptoms, and I often wondered if God was punishing me.
Since I had been taught by so many that God was someone who would punish you for even an evil thought, I was certain He hated me and caused this diagnosis to befall me. It wasn't until my fourth hospital visit that I finally saw God's goodness in the pain. He wasn't punishing me, nor did He hate me. I was dealing with one of the results of the fall: sickness. God never intended for illnesses and sickness to be in the world, but they are now part of it because of the fall of man.
Over time, I have grown and learned more about my autoimmune illness, and I don't feel as scared anymore. I have adopted the mentality to take each day as it comes. For the most part, I cannot control what will happen, and there is no reason to stress about it every single day. Life is meant to be lived, not to be suffered through. My autoimmune illness has made me view life differently, and I would like to share a few of these ways with you.
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1. Don't Be Afraid to Be Myself & To Stand Up for Myself
One way my autoimmune illness has changed my perspective on life is that I don't need to be afraid to be myself. For so long, I conformed to what everyone else wanted of me. If I was supposed to be one way, then I acted this way, or if I was supposed to like something when I didn't, I was supposed to say I did just to be accepted. For too long, I was someone I wasn't. I was someone who let other people walk over me and control me, but in an empowering way, my autoimmune illness gave me the capacity to be myself and to stand up for myself again.
Not only in doctors' offices when they shrugged my symptoms off as being "anxiety," but also when individuals were being mean to me. I think I was hoping someone else would stand up for me for too long, but that person never came. I realized I had to be this person for myself. Now, I also stand up for my family members when doctors or others want to say something that is not right or insulting. The days of being passive are gone, as they never served me well.
As Christians, we are not called to be chameleons or to be rugs for people to walk over. God created us uniquely and He has a special purpose for each of our lives (Psalm 139:14; Jeremiah 29:11). We never need to be someone we are not to appease others, nor do we need to let others walk over us. It is a sad reality that it took a diagnosis of an autoimmune illness before it got me to change this perspective on my life. Nonetheless, I'm thankful this change has occurred, as it has helped me tremendously in life.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Delmaine Donson
2. Find Who Your Real Friends Are & Stick with Them
If you know me, you know that friendships tend to come and go. I think it is because I'm not super interesting and tend to be quite depressing. I don't know how many times I've said something so depressing that everyone looks like they are concerned for my own well-being. Rather than laughing and having a good time, everyone quickly becomes burdened by my existence.
Moreover, I'm not good at small talk, nor am I good in social settings. I prefer to be around real friends who are not surface-level. These friends will go through hard times with you and still be your friends on the other side. Fake friends need to be retired because they are not our real friends.
Real friends stay connected and ensure you still meet up for time to talk, regardless of life situations. It doesn't take a second to send a text message to someone to let them know you have been thinking of them. I'm thankful that my autoimmune illness has helped me to find the friends who will stay by my side and hang out with me even when the hangout is going to get a 2-hour infusion of the medication used to treat my autoimmune illness.
Life is too short to waste it pretending to be someone you are not or to have fake friends. God wants us to have community with others and we need to find friends who are closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). The Lord will help us to find these individuals and genuinely have a meaningful friendship with them. Everyone, regardless of whether or not they have a chronic illness, needs real friends who will be there for them.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez
3. Seeing the World is a Different Color
After being diagnosed with my incurable autoimmune illness, I have seen the world in a different color. The trees are greener, the sky is bluer, and the world is ready to be explored. I no longer want to hide away in my room—I want to see God's creation with my family and friends. Life is not meant to pass us by.
Sadly, I think I have been letting it pass me by every day since my mom passed away. I often filled up my days with tasks and work in order not to face the reality of her death. The reality of my own illness has urged me to see the world differently and to know that we are not promised tomorrow. I want to help others learn more about Jesus, find fulfillment in my job, build lasting friendships, and celebrate my time with my family. The world is truly a wonder of God's handiwork, and we don't need to get weighed down by the stressors or pains of life.
My mom loved me and would be overjoyed to see the strength and courage I have had through this process. While I have sometimes cried and felt hopeless, I have gotten back up again because of the Lord. Life can still be dreary at times, and I think that is inevitable; however, being diagnosed with an illness that can make you feel horrible one day without notice makes me want to treasure the days I feel good.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Lilly Roadstones
4. Everyday is a Gift, Even the Ordinary Days
Every day is a gift—this is something we must all keep in our hearts. None of us are promised tomorrow, which helps us know that what we do on earth here matters for all eternity. We are not promised good health or good times throughout our lives, yet we are promised God Himself. He is with us, and He will bring healing to our bones. Although it might not feel like it right now, one day, you will also see the beauty of the ordinary.
I didn't travel where I wanted to go, but I did spend time with my loved ones. In the same way, I may get stuck inside all day, yet I got to see the beautiful sunset in the evening out my window. Every day is a gift, even the mundane days where all we are doing is the same routine we always do. I challenge you to view this present day as a gift rather than a burden. What might life look like to you in a few days, weeks, or years by seeing the beauty in the ordinary?
With time, you will also see that every day is a gift from the Lord (Psalm 118:24). Maybe nothing exciting happened, but sometimes those are the best days. Make peace with the ordinary as you will miss the ordinary days one day. When your loved one passes away, or your life changes to the point that you can no longer ambulate on your own, the days of routine will be a cherished memory of the past. Enjoy them while they are here and give God praise.
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Originally published Friday, 05 September 2025.
