Unhealing, hope, and new perspectives 👓

For over a year I injected myself with an intense psoriasis medication, one you’ve probably seen commercials for on TV, one with a scrolling bar of side effects. After suffering with Palmoplantar Pustular Psoriasis for the end of 2021 and all of 2022, the injection became the ONE thing that finally, slowly worked. When I was doing those bimonthly injections I was so hopeful the med would finally convince my body to be chill and stop fighting itself.

I learned firsthand the hardest thing about a chronic illness is holding the twin realities of hope and acceptance.

I wanted to wake up alive with hope and certainty that my pain wouldn’t last. I didn’t want to become embittered. I wanted to go on adventures, even if they took too much from me. Because wrapping myself tighter and tighter into suffocating safety isn’t any way to live.

But my body was broken. My hands didn’t function quickly, and my feet tore open if I walked too much. I needed to wear gloves, eat less gluten, nap when I’m tired, take my medication, and reduce stress. My illness changed the day-to-day functions of my life.

I couldn’t let my hope become a false reality, but I also couldn’t let my reality steal my hope. It seems impossible, except for the Sunday School answer: Jesus.

Jesus can bring healing to my body. And He is my comfort and strength in my unhealing.

I believe healing is possible. I pray expectantly, and I take my meds and naps regularly. I work through the messy emotions and implications of God delaying or answering differently than I expect.

(Spoiler alert: God healed me. Through the completely unexpected pregnancy and birth of my daughter. Since then, I have not had a psoriasis flair and my hands, feet, and psoriatic arthritis are in remission.)

You may not have pushed $3000 worth of meds into your body with a hope and a prayer, but since we live on a broken planet, I’m fairly certain you also have some chronic non-healing situation(s) in your life.

It may not be a physical limitation, but maybe a baby that won’t sleep or a marriage that feels unfixable or a child far from Jesus or a job that sucks your soul, or a relationship damaged so badly you aren’t sure it can be healed.

To this Jesus says,

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (CSB)

-Matthew 11:28-30

Just come to Jesus. Rest. Nap. RECEIVE His care through the kindness of others. Read or listen to the Psalms. Journal your pain and confusion and hurt. Lay it all out there with God. Hold nothing back. Unburden yourself.

Reading through the gospels, I love hearing Jesus words of wisdom and care, but even more I love seeing what He did. It’s almost like his heart couldn’t stand the brokenness, the unhealed-ness—He had to intervene (again and again).

When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

-Matthew 14:14

Jesus is compassionate and healing. Healing may not look like we think and it probably won’t happen on our time table. But He heals us. All of us. Not always the physically broken parts, but the better healing—the healing of our souls.

Forgiveness. Freedom. Peace. Joy. His very Presence—this is the healing He blesses us with, even in the “unfixables of our lives”1.

Jesus, be near us in our broken places. When reality feels unyielding, and we long for a light at the end of the tunnel--may we find comfort and strength in the lamp of Your Word. As we try to hold hope and acceptance for our unhealed places, may it be Your arms holding ours up. Amen.

💖 Lady Tremaine — This book. It’s honestly in at LEAST the top three books I’ve read this year. It’s a retelling of Cinderella from the Step-mother’s perspective. The writing is masterful and the plot compelling and unexpected. 10/10 recommend! It’s free to read on Kindle Unlimited, but I’m going to get the hardback for my bookshelf too.

💖 Lemon Blueberry Muffins — We went blueberry picking last weekend and still have some berries to enjoy. These muffins are perfect for fresh blueberries and the lemon addition is a nice twist.

💖 Staying as a Boundary — This read contains a lot of wisdom.

💖 The Bible Project Matthew Guide — Currently reading in Matthew and this is such a great overview of the book and Matthew’s intention in writing it. If you’ve never checked out The Bible Projects resources before—they are incredibly well-done and theologically sound.

💖 My fav dry shampoo — Because necessity often demands it.

✨Keep chasing vibrance,
Katie

P.S. I’m booking speaking engagements for Fall 2026 and 2027. Let’s chat about how I can serve your community! Inquire here.