Dig Deep, Hold Fast, Take Heart: Finding Strength in Hard Times

“I have good news and bad news…” It’s a phrase that makes most of us cringe — the good rarely erases the bad.

The good news: after more than two years of searching, testing, and suffering, we finally found the root causes of your health problems. The bad news: the journey to healing is just beginning and may get harder before it gets better.

Although my doctor didn’t say those exact words, that summed up the conversation I had recently. I’m grateful for a diagnosis, yet the thought of beginning another lengthy healing process is daunting. After so much hardship, loss and pain, it’s tempting to expect a quick fix. Instead, this season is teaching me more lessons I’m compelled to share: dig deep, hold on, and take heart. My hope is these reflections will encourage others navigating physical or emotional trials.

For newcomers to my blog, you can read about my health journey in the Life and Health section or catch up through my latest health update.

DIG DEEP

~John 10:10

As a child I was a rule-follower: finish assignments on time, be home when expected, and follow doctors’ instructions. I believed that obedience would minimize problems. That trait persists, but in recent years I’ve learned that sometimes we can’t accept the first medical opinion or settle for convenient explanations. Digging deeper becomes essential.

Digging deep means refusing to accept incomplete answers. If I had accepted every prior doctor’s summary of “overall healthy” or “just sensitive,” I would never have found the root causes of my decline. It took persistent visits to conventional and functional doctors, pushing for specific tests, researching likely causes, and trying many treatments. That persistence paid off: I’ve uncovered multiple overlapping issues — celiac disease, hypothyroidism, MTHFR mutations, hormone imbalance, Sjogren’s syndrome, and most recently Lyme disease and mold toxicity.

We live in a broken world and our bodies wear down. It’s easy to give up, accept superficial solutions, or rely on medications that only mask symptoms. But searching for root causes offers the best chance to actually heal. While perfect health may not be promised this side of eternity, I believe God wants us to live full, meaningful lives. For me, that means continuing to investigate what will help me be as healthy as possible.

How did I finally identify Lyme disease and mold toxicity? It wasn’t simple. My test history was long. I kept ruling things out until my symptoms worsened to the point I could barely walk. Only then did a new functional medicine doctor test specifically for mycotoxins and Lyme — the two tests I’d never tried. They both came back positive. I used specialized labs recommended by knowledgeable physicians for accurate results.

Previously I had a negative standard Lyme blood test and was told mold was unlikely. Ironically, what seemed least likely was the real cause. Receiving positive results was not welcome news, but it was a relief to finally have answers. Treating these issues offers a path to improving thyroid function, hormone balance, pain levels and immune health.

If you have persistent, unexplained symptoms that doctors can’t resolve, pursue testing. Lyme often mimics many conditions and commonly goes undiagnosed. Standard blood testing can miss it; specialized urine or advanced panels may be more informative. Work with a clinician experienced in these conditions — don’t try to treat complex infections or toxicities alone.

Finally, digging deep isn’t something I achieved by my own strength. I believe God guided this process, placing in me the perseverance to keep searching and directing me to the right tests and practitioners. Why it took so long and was so painful only He knows, but He has been working on my heart throughout. For anyone still searching for answers: don’t stop. Keep digging.

~Psalms 73:26

The second lesson is to hold on. After years of searching, I wasn’t prepared to actually receive a chronic diagnosis. Learning I have Lyme disease was heartbreaking; treatment varies and progress is rarely immediate. I want instant relief after so much suffering, but healing is a process. Often Lyme symptoms intensify before improving, and patience is required.

Some days it’s tempting to give up and stay in bed. But I ask God each morning for strength. While my body and spirit may feel weak, God has been my strength. Some nights, simply making it through the day feels like a victory.

God doesn’t promise a pain-free life, but He promises presence. Looking back I see that earlier diet and lifestyle changes weren’t wasted; they prepared me for detox and recovery steps I needed later. What felt like coincidence — beginning infrared sauna sessions months earlier — turned out to be providential when those tools became valuable for detoxing mold and Lyme. So I continue with the regimen of targeted supplements, gentle detox methods, and an AIP-friendly diet, calling on God for endurance.

If you’re struggling — starting a health journey, waiting for answers, or coping with pain or loss — hold on. Don’t throw in the towel before you see how God will move. He can change circumstances or change our hearts, and both are part of His redemptive work.

TAKE HEART

The final lesson is to take heart. Worry is a constant companion for me and it makes celebrating small wins difficult. I often try to force outcomes rather than trust God’s timing. This verse reminds me to fix my eyes on what is unseen: the eternal perspective that lessens the sting of present suffering.

Taking heart means remembering there is a larger story at work. Trials shape us, teach dependence on God, and can reflect Christ to others. They don’t last forever. A friend once reminded me how suddenly God can answer a prayer — if He answered tomorrow, would we feel foolish for living in misery today? That challenge encourages living with hopeful expectation.

If your struggle is health-related like mine, take comfort that this life is not all there is. Even if our bodies decline now, a future without pain awaits those who trust in Christ. That hope gives meaning to endurance.

I’ll close with a song that has become an anthem for me: “Take Courage” by Kristene DiMarco. Its message — to slow down, trust, and hold on to hope — resonates deeply. Play it when you need a reminder to dig deep, hold on, and take heart.

TAKE COURAGE

Kristene DiMarco, Bethel Music