Welcome to the Grace Through Pain blog — where I share stories of living with rheumatoid arthritis through faith, grace, and resilience. Whether you’re looking for practical wellness tips or quiet encouragement, you’ll find it here.
My Journey Through Pain and Faith: Finding Grace in Every Step
I first noticed the pain in my joints around 2005—mostly in my elbows and occasionally in my knees. At the time, I dismissed it as just everyday aches and pains. A few painkillers taken when needed and I was good to go. When it got really bad, I had to visit my family doctor, a kind and thoughtful man, who prescribed mild anti-inflammatories. He suspected arthritis and recommended a visit to the rheumatologist, but since my symptoms were manageable, I simply brushed it off.
When he suggested that I include celery in my daily diet, I wasn’t very willing to try it. When you don’t eat a certain vegetable often, it becomes difficult to add it to your diet, let alone eating it daily. Now, when I remember his advice, I feel regretful that I didn’t follow it sooner.
For the next five years, I just carried on with my life. I ate what I wanted to, took pain meds when needed and prayed occasionally—but only casually. Life was busy. I was working full-time, raising a family and doing my best to juggle it all.
Back then, I worked at a picture framing gallery. I loved it. The space was filled with beautiful artwork and I was learning how to choose the perfect frame or matboard to bring out the best in each piece. More than that, I learned about people—how to listen, connect and offer the best customer service.
Even though the pain would become unbearable at times, work kept me going. It gave me something to focus on beyond the discomfort and the flare-ups.
In 2007, I got the opportunity to own an art gallery. That moment changed everything. It was a gift from God, and it marked the beginning of my true faith journey. I started each morning reading the Bible, declaring the promises in Psalm 91 over my business and my family. Those morning devotionals stirred up something in me. My relationship with Jesus, which I had neglected, became stronger . I began to feel the joy and peace that only God can give.
Then, in late 2011, something shifted. My symptoms worsened. I lost a beloved family member. My eyes were so dry, Even though I cried, I couldn’t shed tears. [Rheumatoid Arthritis causes that] Something was definitely wrong. My pain was constant. This time, I had no other choice but to visit a rheumatologist. Next step was blood tests, then strong medications and the dreaded side effects—it became overwhelming.
I followed the treatment plan for a while but eventually decided it wasn’t for me. The side effects were too much. I would feel really sick and nauseous for days and when I finally started to feel better, it was time for the next round of medication. I remember asking, Why me? Why can others live pain-free while I have to fight through every day?
I went back to my family doctor and we decided on a gentler approach: a low-dose steroid. It helped me function. Daily activities were manageable as long as I kept taking this steroid, but deep down I knew—longterm this wasn’t good for my health. I took it for nine years, increasing the dose during flare-ups. I didn’t look for other alternatives or consider dietary changes because I was coping very well.
Eventually, I made a decision. I had to take back control. In August 2024, I began weaning myself off the steroid. I changed my diet, added light exercise and introduced supplements. Trying to get myself off this steroid was really difficult. I tried halving the dose, but by the end of the day, I would feel the pain creeping in and take the other half. So I decided that I would try half the dose and when the pain returned, I would take a painkiller. This way worked out well for the next month, until I decided to stop taking the half dose. To say it was a painful time, is putting it mildly. To cope, I was taking painkillers in the morning and in the evening. I felt very tired every day [a side effect of steroid withdrawal]. I was in a battle for my health. Even though I struggled a lot, I wasn’t going to give up. God gave me the strength for each and every day and through His grace,I’m now feeling a lot better.
Spiritually, something beautiful was also happening. I began reading the Bible—not just reading, but truly studying it. I read the entire Bible twice. Then, on my third read, I followed a different pattern: I would read the whole chapter of Psalms 91 first, then a few verses from Proverbs, the Gospels and then Genesis— taking time to reflect, remember and understand. This way of reading really showed me who God really is. He’s loving, patient and kind.
This opened up a new level of faith for me. God showed me how to truly let go and let Him lead. His Word became my anchor. The Old Testament gave me perspective. The New Testament gave me hope. And Jesus became the center of everything.
Life isn’t easier now. Some days the pain is still there. But I’ve made up my mind—I’m not defeated. I will live a full life. And by the grace of God, I’ll continue walking this journey, trusting Him with every step.
Key Quotes From This Journey
“Through His grace, I weaned off steroids and found strength in surrender.”
“God used my pain to lead me into purpose.”
“The Word of God opened up a new level of faith in me.”
“Jesus became the center of my life, and everything changed.”
“I’m not defeated—I will live a full life with strength in every struggle and grace in every step.”
“Let go and let God. His peace is real, even in pain.”
“Thank you for taking the time to read my story. My hope is that this space becomes a place of encouragement for you too—a reminder that even through pain, there is purpose, and even through struggle, there is strength. Grace will carry us, every step of the way.”
“If this journey speaks to your heart, I invite you to walk with me along this path. There’s so much more to discover about living with faith, strength, and grace—one day at a time.