What happens when despite your best efforts, you still have health problems? Today is a day like that for me and my Graves Disease.

Today I feel discouraged because despite my best efforts, my auto immune disease has taken the upper hand.

In moving back home, I have had to find an arsenal of new doctors, and one of them was so encouraged by all of my great test scores, that she decided to adjust my medication dosages and aggressively lower them. Bad move.

Now I have headaches, swollen eyes, high body temperature, inability to sleep, high anxiety, and an inability to eat many solid foods. After a whopping 3 hours of sleep last night, I rolled out of bed and decided to share with my faithful readers:

Because even with our best efforts, sometimes, we still struggle with chronic disease.

So what am I going to do today? In no particular order:

Have a good cry. I've had to learn not to bottle up my feelings, but be honest with myself that it's disappointing when I hit a bump in the road.

Talk with my doctor to change my medications around, then find out what supplements I need to take for now to give me every advantage.

Take my kids to see a funny movie, visit my parents, and have dinner with some of my closest lifelong friends.

Fall asleep, when I can in my husband's arms.

I may feel discouraged today, but I am NOT hopeless. On the contrary, I have an eternal hope. Whatever trials I face today, are nothing compared to the joy I have waiting for me in eternity.

The last thing I will do today is rest in my Savior. This is the Bible verse God gave me at the start of this struggle. It is from Joshua 1:

Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous? Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you... wherever you go.

Knowing God is with me makes me remember that I can face whatever life throws my way, and for now, I will walk this path, hand in hand with HIM.

If you have a word of encouragement for other readers or struggle like this too, leave a comment.