Thoughts on waiting.

Kerissa • October 15, 2015

Hey friends,

Tomorrow, rheumatology is getting me in for the Periodic Fever Syndrome, and I’m so thankful to the Lord that it’s much sooner than January. The appointment is at 1 PM.  Please pray that this specific dr. will be able to start treating it.  The numerous fevers are hard on my body, and I’ve been dealing with episodes of joint pain and inflammation since August.

I received my repeat 24 hr. copper test results, and sadly, the level increased from 77 to 106 in just a month (normal range is 3-50).  We have lots to discuss with my GI dr..  I see him this coming Monday.  I also have a follow-up with my sleep medicine specialist next week.

I will update after those appointments!

To end, I recently came across this little “devotional” I wrote years ago.  I can’t remember if the homework assignment was to paraphrase a passage or an original composition.  I don’t even recall when I wrote it (my bad for not putting a date!)…maybe it was after being newly diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (aka Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) or when I started dealing with all my other numerous rare diseases.  Nevertheless, I wanted to share it in hopes that it encourages you.

The Hardest Thing to Do
by Kerissa

          Wait .  Sometimes, this word can be the hardest to accept when in times of trial or tribulation.  There will be times when we ask with little faith, “Why do I have to go through this?” or “God, why am I suffering?”  What can be done about these questions when one is anxious for answers or does not know what path to take?
          Although waiting on God and humbling one’s self can be the hardest thing to do, God states in His Word that His “plans…stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”  We should not worry about anything because He always intercedes at the right time.  Psalms 27:14 says, “ Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”  Complaining like the children of Israel did against Moses will do nothing.  Waiting in quiet patience and faith, even when under affliction, will bless God and make Him proud.
          If we accept our difficulties with humbleness, we will be able to say with confidence, “Now, Lord, not my will, but Yours be done.  I do not know what to do.  But I will wait until You drive back my foes.  I will wait , for my heart is fixed on You alone, O God, and my spirit waits for You in the full conviction that You will be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower.” ~Charles Spurqeon
          So wait on the Lord.  He really does hear our cries and prayers.  Know that God is always by and on our side.  In the end, we will all be able to understand why God placed those terrible thorns in our path, and someday we will thank God for the word “ wait ” in each of our lives.

October prayer request

By Kerissa Lee • October 19, 2025
Dear friends, At the beginning of October, I started taking a new medication for the autoimmune disease. I thought I was tolerating it just fine, but after several days passed, I began experiencing nausea, loss of appetite, weakness all over, and increased pain. 🙁 It’s like I’m experiencing another “mito crash.” I found out that this specific lupus medication affects mitochondria. That is, it causes an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This, in turn, causes cell damage and oxidative stress. I sure wish the rheumatologists would have known about this before prescribing. But I have to remember that Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome is rare, and they’re not “mito experts.” Anyways, the last time I felt like this was back in May.. I’m so grateful to God that I haven’t needed to be hospitalized from this, but at the same time, I’m also sad that this happened at all, especially because I had such a nice stretch of stable health. I’d really appreciate your prayers, that this muscle weakness can resolve soon, and that this increased pain all over will get back to my baseline. Every time I have a “mito crash,” it feels like I’m fighting the flu which always sucks. The pain has been hard to bear. And whenever I’m in the thick of it, it’s difficult to remember that this too will eventually pass. 😢 Pray that I will endure and follow Jesus’ example like this passage from Hebrews 12:1-2– “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross...” Thank you all so much for praying for me. ❤️

Thank you! (+ a prayer request)

By Kerissa Lee • October 4, 2025
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3

Praises & Prayer Requests

By Kerissa Lee • September 3, 2025
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23