Gastritis, God and Gratitude for my Calling

Originally published in Jan 2025

GASTRITIS

2025 started out with new things happening left and right and I was all in for the ride!

• I recreated my website

• I started offering services using my gifts that God has given me

• I joined some online groups to learn and share with like-minded women who all want their ministries to glorify God

• I began a Mastermind course to hone the skills I have and to learn new skills.

Yes, it was all going great. Until it wasn't.

I started having some health issues recently. I won't go into all the details here because - well, it's not important to this story. Bottom line: I had a lot of testing and labs and found out that:

1) I had a bad case of gastritis, and

2) A CT scan showed two spots, one on the left side and one on the right.

The gastritis was causing all of my issues and it could be dealt with. The spots -I was told that the spot on the left side area was a cyst and they weren't worried about it. But the right side was a mass and they just didn't know what it was. I went for an ultrasound and then was told I should see a surgeon. I got a referral and I see the surgeon next Thursday.

GOD

Throughout this last week, I have really struggled. I felt God had led me to all these new changes this year. I felt He had asked me to stretch myself and do more for Him. And I jumped in with both feet. So why was I now having health issues, so much so that my work stopped? No blogging, no editing work, no virtual assistant work. Just doctor visits and tests and labs and more tests. For three days, I wondered and questioned and honestly, felt a bit sorry for myself. And when I am in that state, when I feel ill physically and have no stamina mentally, I slip into second-guessing myself. Oh No, maybe this was all me, maybe God didn't lead me to make all these changes, maybe all this work I've done and all this time I've spent is a waste!

But I kept praying, kept asking questions, kept doing my bible study, even though I didn't feel like it. And God got me through those days. God reminded me that He absolutely called me to do what I am doing and that He had a plan in place.

GRATITUDE FOR MY CALLING

Thursday rolled around and I had a new attitude. I had spent Sunday night and Monday doing nothing, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday at doctor appointments, labs and testings. I was determined that Thursday would be different.

I told a client to send me her last book edits so I could work on them, I did some virtual assistance work, I watched a training I had missed, and I got into my groups and caught up a bit. I still felt bad, I still didn't have a lot of stamina, but I worked a while, rested a while, worked a while, rested a while. And I'm so grateful that I can do this. I'm so grateful that God called me to own my own business. I'm so grateful that I could take a few days off without feeling like I would lose my job or have to take sick days or just let fellow employees down! My clients were so kind, sending prayers my way and letting me know they were thinking of me.

So what have I learned through all of this?

• I've learned that you need to listen to your body and do what needs to be done. If I hadn't gone to the doctor and gotten a CT scan ordered, because of gastritis, I wouldn't know about the mass. Maybe I needed to get sick in order to find this mass. God sure orchestrates things amazingly, doesn't he? Matthew 22:32 (NIV) says:

  "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

• I've learned that God is always here and He has a plan. And when we know He has led us here, we know that that plan will be fulfilled for His glory. Now, that doesn't mean that I may not have to let my business go at some point. Maybe the mass will turn out to be a long-term issue that I have to deal with. Or maybe His plan will be fulfilled sooner rather than later. I don't know the future. I will continue following Him wherever He leads. Ephesians 1:11 (NLT) says:

  "Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan."

• I also learned, or was reminded, that it is okay to ask questions of God. But when we ask questions why, we follow with a statement that His will be done! It is also okay to feel our feelings and wonder. Jesus had feelings and so does God. And when we wonder, we ask Him for clarity. And it is even okay to feel sorry for ourselves, maybe let ourselves be a couch potato for a time. But we don't STAY in that space, we don't stay in that head space. We get up with a new attitude and we begin again. Matthew 6:10 (ESV) says:

  "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

• I've learned that being a small business owner is what God has called me to do and I am very grateful for this. I am grateful that I can be sick for half a week and not feel judged. I am grateful that I have clients who will pray for me. I am grateful that I can spread His message even in the business world. Colossians 3:17 (NASV) says:

  "Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

RESPONSE:

I'd love to hear your comments. How has your business affected your spiritual life? Do you see your business as a calling, a ministry? And what has happened recently that solidified the knowledge that God has led you here? I can't wait to read your replies!

Until next time,

Vickie