Living Waters chronic pain ministry seeks to be a support for those who live with chronic pain as well as raise awareness of this hidden epidemic in the church. It is our desire to help answer some of the tough practical, emotional and spiritual questions about pain and suffering, and put a face on invisible disability within the body of Christ.
The Bible has a sober and realistic perspective on suffering that includes chronic pain. It affirms the unfathomableness and tragedy of suffering and its often staggering weight. It also makes clear that God’s ways are not our ways, and that while He does sometimes bring about miraculous physical healing, there are many times that He does not. When the miracle we long for does not happen, we are often left with more questions than answers, trying to make sense of what is happening to us.
Sadly, we tend to live in a “fix-it” society, and often this is also found in the body of Christ, the church. However, it is curious that the Bible has so much more to say about suffering than it does about physical healing. We read time and time again how God uses all things to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Most importantly, we discover that no matter what we are dealing with the Lord is there, and He is our strength, our refuge, and our source of sustenance through His Living Waters.
He sees, He hears, He knows, He understands, and YOU are inscribed on the palms of His hands.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me.” Isaiah 49:15-16
Living Waters Blog: Hope Courage Strength
Are you wondering how you’re going to get through the holidays? Do you look at others and wish that you had the same joy and excitement as them? Do you feel left out because of health limitations? The reality is that the holiday season isn’t always as joyful or easy for people who live with chronic pain or illness. We often struggle with health flare-ups, places we cannot go, things we cannot do, anxiety, depression, fear of the future, and guilt about not being all we want to be for our friends and family.
When God touches your life, you are changed. You'll never be the same again. You can't go back to what you were before, not that we always want to.
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, Nahum 1:7
Life can be unpredictable and challenging, but faith and trust in God Can help us to overcome tragedy. We can find peace amid such turbulence. The Lord is our refuge in times of trouble, and through Him we can find peace even in the midst of the storm!
Every broken part of your life - every challenge, every hurt and struggle - is an invitation to grow, a doorway to a greater intimacy with God and an opportunity to serve Him.
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Bring Living Waters Ministry To Your Church
Whether you live with chronic pain, are involved in a support or "care" ministry at your church, or just have a passion to reach those who are hurting, we would love to help you reach those who live in the midst of the unfathomable. We invite you to connect with others, learn how to more effectively minister to those who live with chronic pain or any other kind of ongoing struggle, and help us bring the challenge of suffering out from the shadows and into the light of the gospel.
Together we can make a difference in people's lives!
Our eight-session Living Waters program has been edited so that it is applicable to any type of suffering and struggle, not just illness and physical pain. Faith in the Fire: FInding Hope in the Midst of Struggle, is available for churches and small groups to use and includes a leader's guide, accompanying study guide, eight meditations, and an optional PowerPoint presentation for each week. Videos are expected to be available shortly, and the program is being launched at Mariners Church, Irvine, CA in Jan/Feb 2025 (attendance is open to anyone who lives in the area and can get to Mariners Church. Please email for more information! Through the eight sessions of Faith in the Fire, we look at who the Bible says God is, what He has to say about pain, the purpose and value of our lives, how to navigate relationships, and the tough topic of forgiveness and grace in the face of hurt. Each of these can also be presented as separate events or workshops. The eight sessions are:
1: What Does the Owner’s Manual - The Bible - Say?
2: What Is Happening to Me & Why Do I Feel This Way?
3: A Theory of Acceptance
4: Does God Have a Purpose for My Life?
5: How to Navigate Relationships & Avoid Isolation
6: Coping with the Hurtful Things People Say
7: Finding Your Place in the Body of Christ
8: Eight Steps to Finding Hope in the Midst of Struggle
Contact Us to Learn More
Many thanks to Charlene Tsai for blessing this ministry by creating the amazing cover art for Faith in the Fire
