I have been seeking treatment for chronic headaches ever since I was eight. Numerous doctors in various fields have attempted to come to an acceptable explanation for the pain in my head, but to no avail, and I am now committed to avoiding most strenuous activities and sports. I don’t remember what it was like to live without headaches.



Because the migraines frequently cause intense nausea, my stomach "broke," so to speak, around the end of 2005. After many tests and hospital visits, I was diagnosed with acute Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder and a Hiatal Hernia. I had stomach surgery and the recovery from this took about nine weeks. While the surgeon was working on me, he accidentally damaged a pressure-point connected to the nerves in my left shoulder. This means that I daily experience extreme red-hot pain inside the ball joint of this shoulder, which increases/decreases with every breath. Some side-effects of this operation are that I must chew everything very well, I only eat small amounts of easily digestible foods, and I am no longer capable of throwing up, unless under a great amount of physical stress and pain – which is not as nice a side-effect as you might think at first.

I wandered the road of bitterness for three years when God determined the time had come to break this daughter of His. The combination of intense spiritual agony brought on by angrily running from God, the constant throbbing headache, and the loneliness of not being willing to seek out godly guidance finally brought me to a place where all of my own strength and pride failed. One night, I fell on my face before God on my bedroom floor and admitted that because of my sin and disobedience, I deserved more than pain; I deserved death! That even if all my physical pain went away, I would still be just as wretched and miserable and in need the saving blood of Christ; a Savior greater than what mere man could offer.

For the last several years, I have not had an end to my trials, but I have found that my difficulties in this life are truly blessings from God, meant to make me more like His Son, and to bring God glory. My body is much more ill now, but my soul is so much healthier. I would not choose to go back and exchange my health of years ago with my health of today, because, through the pain and trials, I have learned that my relationship with Christ greatly outweighs any suffering in this world.

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Evie Poythress lives in Vancouver, WA, with her husband. They were married just 4 months ago, and she is enjoying this new season of blessings and lessons. Her health continues to be a trial, but through the stuggles she is daily seeing that the Lord is the giver of limitless mercy and grace to his children.