I have been reading through the Bible, and last week, I ran across a date in the margin of the Psalm for that day: July 1997 – almost half a lifetime ago, for me. I had to wrack my brain to recall what

was going on then. Obviously it was serious, as the verse said, “O my God, my soul is in despair within me.”

Then I recalled: I had been diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus earlier that year. When hearing the word, “virus,” most think of a 2-3 day inconvenience. But the Epstein-Barr virus is not that. It acts like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome except that, thankfully, for most, it is not chronic. But, for me, it lasted seven months. Seven months of having no energy. Seven months of feeling like I was walking underwater with cement blocks attached to my feet. During those seven months, I was in college, working at a bank, serving at a church. I was newly married. And I was so incredibly exhausted. I barely had energy to do what I needed to do. I had no energy for friendships or fun or anything beyond just school and work.

What compounded that was the fact that so many people, having never heard of this virus, assumed I was just making it up. As a people-pleaser, that killed me. I had co-workers and teachers and even family who laughed off what I had, thinking I was a hypochondriac looking for attention. Meanwhile, I battled through every single day.

It was a horrible time – physically, emotionally, and mentally. And yet, 21 years later, I had forgotten all about it! I looked at the date and the verse last week, and I had to take a minute to recall what was going on then. And when I did spend time thinking about it, it wasn’t the “awfulness” that came to mind. What I remember most was how supportive Dave was. I remember bonding with my sister-in-law, who suffered from this virus for two years. I remember drawing strength from God in ways I had never experienced before then. I remember truly “getting” the verses about God’s strength being shown in our weaknesses. But I also remember dwelling on the hurts I felt because of the opinions of others, and the fear I felt that this virus would drag on indefinitely. Sadly, I spent far too much time living in that hurt and fear than I should have. Looking back, I am ashamed about the time I wasted focused on what didn’t matter instead of focusing more on what God was trying to teach me through it.

The Lord used that reminder to encourage me to keep in mind what is truly important. Circumstances pass. Trials are forgotten. But God is constant, and the lessons He teaches us carry on. Relationships are important, and how we react to our loved ones during difficult times carries on. “This too shall pass.”

If you are in a season of difficulty right now, focus on who God is. Don’t put effort into the hurts you may feel and the circumstances you can’t change. Put effort into knowing God better, into loving others more. Because that is what you’ll take with you. And one day, believe it or not, you will forget about what’s happening right now. And when you do, you will want to look back grateful for what God taught you and not ashamed at how you chose to behave.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.” ~Psalm 42:5