Check out our storefront for self-advocacy tools and consultations. Or leave us a tip to show your support. Welcome to Patient Empowerment Pulse: Real-Life Wisdom from a Professional Patient Who I Am Welcome to Patient Empowerment Pulse, a blog built on the hard-won wisdom of someone who’s lived both sides of the healthcare divide. I’m Joanna, and this is more than just a health blog—it’s a survival guide for anyone trying to navigate chronic illness, complicated care teams, and a medical system that often feels like it’s working against you. I didn’t set out to become a professional patient. I trained for a career in culinary arts. But life had other plans. Over the years, I was diagnosed with lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, spondylitic arthritis, inflammatory-onset diabetes, and a growing list of related conditions. That’s when I discovered that all my professional training didn’t fully prepare me for what it means to actually live this every day. This blog is where I share the str...
If you’ve ever sat in a pew wondering if you even belong there because your body is in constant pain or your mind feels too foggy to pray—you’re not alone. Chronic illness isn’t just a medical reality. It’s a spiritual one.
This isn’t a reflection on redemptive suffering. This is about being a Catholic who believes deeply and still wakes up exhausted. It’s about trusting God and still needing three medications just to get out of bed. It’s about loving the Eucharist and also feeling too sick to receive.
You’re not failing. You’re still part of the Body.
This article is part of a crossover with Converting to Hope, our sister blog for Catholics and seekers walking toward healing, wholeness, and the face of God.
1. Your Limits Are Not a Spiritual Weakness
So many of us carry shame for not being able to “do more.” We miss daily Mass, we forget feast days, we can’t fast the way we used to. But here’s the truth: God is not measuring your holiness by your energy levels.
Holiness isn’t output. It’s orientation. If your heart turns toward God even in your groaning, that is prayer. That is presence. That is enough.
2. Pain Doesn’t Cancel Your Vocation
You still have a calling. It might look wildly different than it used to. It might shift every season. But your worth in the Kingdom is not dependent on your physical capacity.
Maybe your vocation now is one of fierce intercession. Maybe it's hidden witness. Maybe it’s gentle honesty that lets someone else feel less alone.
Whatever it is—it matters.
3. You Can Be Angry and Still Belong
Some days you will be tired of being patient. Some days your prayers will sound more like shouting. That’s okay.
Scripture is full of people who wrestled with God. Job, Jeremiah, even Jesus in Gethsemane. What makes you faithful isn’t perfect peace. It’s refusing to walk away—even when you’re mad.
4. Prayer Can Look Like Rest
When your body is flaring and your brain is offline, you don’t need to force long devotionals or eloquent prayers. Try this instead:
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Place your hand on your heart and whisper, “Lord, I’m here.”
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Imagine resting your head against Christ’s chest.
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Let silence hold you instead of words.
That’s still prayer. It still counts.
5. Grace Can Find You in the Doctor’s Office
God doesn’t leave you at the church doors. He’s in the exam room. He’s in your pill organizer. He’s in the quiet courage it takes to advocate for your care.
You don’t have to choose between being a good patient and being a faithful Catholic. Both can live in the same soul.
Gentle Next Steps
If you’re looking for practical support in managing your health—while staying grounded in truth and compassion—visit our Ko-Fi Store for Patient Empowerment Pulse.
And if you’re craving deeper spiritual reflection as you walk with chronic illness, keep reading at Converting to Hope—where your questions, your body, and your whole self are welcome before God.
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