Reflections with God While Waiting to be Healed

I found this book deeply profound and moving. Perhaps one of the hardest things to endure when one is battling a chronic illness is coming to terms with how intensely personal, lonely and unique one’s suffering is. Most people untested by this kind of trouble cannot relate well. In fact, most are frightened or repelled by such pain as though it might be catching. In “Reflections with God”, readers who are battling illness will find a kindred spirit in Linda, a soul so tested in the crucible of affliction she is qualified to voice the haunting questions, doubts, agonies, and fears about life, loss, the unknown, and the very character and motives of God. Not only will readers be comforted by her profound compassion and empathy, but also be rewarded—perhaps even transformed—by this intensely personal journey towards light and healing, and the gradual discovery of a new order of profound and satisfying depths. ~Marion MacKenzie Pyle Author, Speaker, Coach, Seminar Leader Healed, Healthy and Whole, How We Beat Cancer www.healedhealthyandwhole.com

Linda Seger and I suffer with the same neurological condition called Dystonia. Every case is different, in which body parts are affected and severity of the symptoms, which involve constant moving and twisting. It is a very tough condition to manage not to mention even getting a correct diagnosis. She poses many questions that a patient would have running through their constant thoughts of what’s wrong God and why is this happening to me? I love her perspective and questions that she poses.

Reflections with God While Waiting to Be Healed by Dr. Linda Seger is an uplifting and powerful message to everyone about a loving and healing God in times of pain and suffering. She shares her wisdom and insights from her personal journey and trials with dystonia and also cancer. She addresses questions and concerns and struggles; waiting; faith; surrender; hope and much more. Each chapter begins with an inspiring scripture or quote such as the following: “Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” –Hippocrates. “The wish for healing has always been half of health.”—Lucius Annaeus Seneca. “Life is not the way it’s supposed to be, it’s the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.”---Virginia Satir. “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”—Helen Keller. “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”—Joseph Campbell. Each one of these and others included in the book are thought-provoking and profound and a good introduction to the wisdom that Dr. Seger shares. Her approach to her afflictions and struggles is encouraging and inspiring and shows the resilience of the human spirit that hopes and trust in a loving and healing God. There is much for anyone to reflect upon and to follow. I recommend this amazing, enlightening book which I received through TBCN in exchange for an honest review.

This small, easy to read book has hope and healing between its covers. The author has struggled for her own healing from dystonia and early stage breast cancer.  Even if you don't agree with all her theology, you cannot argue with her honest struggle to find hope and meaning in her illnesses.  She addresses every pat answer as to why Christians suffer and goes further and asks questions we all struggle with.  Questions like "What does God want from us?" and "Where is the Holy Spirit in all this?" One of her answers is that "...many times, our God is too small and we need to expand our theology and broaden our relationship with the Most Holy One and Wholly One."  Serger is so honest and looks at answers she doesn't like and even ones she's afraid to entertain.  She says, "In the midst of this struggle, I decided not to turn my back on God. For me, there was no other place to be and no other place to stand--but on God's side.  So I move more deeply into this relationship." She talks about despair, depression, wanting to give up, feeling like no one understands. She offers the things that have helped her yet all the while sharing that she she's not at the end of her journey yet. And all this is offered in short chapters that almost read like a devotional, yet so not "preachy".  This would be an  excellent gift for anyone suffering with long term illness.  For those of us blessed with good health it is an eye-opening experience into the world of pain and struggle of those who do suffer. I received a complimentary copy of this book from The BookClub Network in exchange for my honest review. www.bookfun.org

Reflections With God While Waiting to Be Healed is written by Linda Seger, Th.D. Linda developed a movement disorder and later breast cancer. Through the Promises for healing in the Bible, through prayer, daily therapy and the best doctors in the world, she improved but was not healed. She turned further to God, exploring where He is and who He is while waiting to be healed. This is a book of her journey along with very helpful information for anyone who is going through illness or injury. She gives the reader very good information regarding what they may be going through and their walk through their condition. She explains that when we develop a condition that our life will change. Instead of having time for going to events we enjoy, we may now be spending that time with medical visits. She explains the need to reach out to others for help. We may now notice the people we look to raise us up are not the people we look to during a health condition. We look to people who will give us a smile, compassion and caring. We are to call on our spiritual community during a time of need. Even though we may be tempted to blame God for our situation, we are to look to Him to help us through our journey. I really appreciate this book and the good advice the author has given from experience with her heal walk. I like that she points out that our life may take on a new normal. Our new normal may be therapies that take up our time or learning to do simple things in a new way. But good can come out of tragedy. Our illness may lead us to do something for others. I received a copy of this book from BookClub Network and I have written an honest review.

For me the main theme of this book is summarized by author Linda Seger, Th.D. on page 28 when she states, “Our struggle with health often triggers a struggle with faith.” Our illness is a thorn in our side that must be dealt with. It is often hard to align our illness with our faith in a loving and merciful God. Why me? How can God let this happen? Is it a punishment for sins I have committed? These questions and others don’t stop but ultimately a close relationship with God is the answer needed. The challenge is to continue to trust God during our difficulties. Life and things in nature grow naturally from small to larger. We expect that our faith should grow exponentially in the same manner without any conscious effort on our part. Unfortunately, like all things in life that are worthwhile, faith must be examined and nurtured to evolve and grow. Only with determination and putting our energies into improving our relationship with our God will God come closer to us. God is not just a healer but a source of strength. He puts people into our lives to help us with our struggles. Take this gift and put together a spiritual team for support. It will be composed of people who all can help you in different ways according to their gifts: praying for your relationship with God; sending you inspirational writings; just listening to you or even bringing you meals. You never can tell who will become an angel in your life. Not all who desire healing will be restored back to perfection but all will become a new creation for good according to God’s plan. Nevertheless, you must cling to God to obtain what He wants to give you because “all else is sinking sand”. He is your Rock, your Shepherd, your Healer and your Helper but you must be a part of His team. Be willing to change and follow where He leads you. You may be pleasantly surprised! After all that the author has and is going through, her book is a positive affirmation of faith that will be an inspiration to anyone dealing with their own illness or that of a loved one. If you get a copy of Linda’s book, please share it with others after reading it. I know I will. I received a copy of this book in return for my honest review from The Book Club Network at bookfun.org.

I received this wonderful book from The BookClub network and will always be grateful. This author writes beautifully and from the heart. I felt that this book was given to me at a time when I was beginning to feel sorry for myself. God really spoke to me while reading. I will be re reading this great book when I feel alone and in need of spiritual guidance.

What I received from reading ‘Reflections with God’` is invaluable. It is a book to keep handy to read, re-read and highly recommend and/ or purchase copies of for others who struggle with a chronic disease and their loved ones. There are such wonderful nuggets of wisdom and – dare I say hope – that will help someone with any disease or injury. Each chapter is short with a specific subject, perfect for those who are in a season of injury or illness in which concentrating is hard. Each chapter builds on the one prior. There are four parts to the book: the first is ‘Questions, Concerns, and Struggles’, second is ‘The Journey of Faith, Dialogue, and Try’, third is ‘Surrender, but Don’t Give Up’, and fourth is ‘Hope in Spite Of’. There are chapters in each part that are helpful in any stage of one’s illness or injury. For example, many chapters in parts 3 and 4 apply to where I frequently am, but after a particularly challenging time, part 2 brought particular encouragement where the author helps me find my ‘Try’ again. She reminds me of celebrating the little victories and blessings. Each chapter begins with a verse of scripture or a quote by a noted person, one of whom is Dag Hammarskjold. The author shares her feelings, faith and the challenges of concurrent injury and illness. One thing I find helpful is being reminded of ‘Expanding our Names for God’ and re-learning prayer and meditation while seeing Jesus in a particular attribute as it relates to where we are. She challenges me through ‘What Must I Do to Help God Heal Me?’, ‘Reflecting Light in our Brokenness’ and ‘The Third Day Always Comes’. In addition, I have learned how the author rejected the ‘Shadowy Dark Force’ that is sometimes an unwelcome guest. The author shares the spiritual and medical team she has in her healing. Her two primary doctors have shared, one in the Forward and one in the Afterward. She writes with vulnerability that is refreshing. As a very intelligent and learned woman with a degree in theology, her writing is clear and can be understood even by those of us with frequent bouts of brain fog as a symptom of our illness. Her writing encourages, is empathetic without pity, and shows her journey in such a way that does not burden the reader with ‘shoulds’. This reader also found a companion on paper who has had some of the same feelings and continues to move forward. This reader is encouraged to know the Lord might want me to learn about Him, myself and what might need to be changing in me. Do not let the part of the title “While Waiting to be Healed” stop you from reading it. The author, who anticipates healing, writes: ‘…we would like to be the person who is struck by the miraculous healing power of God…We recognize a miracle may or may not happen, but we know if we stop hoping for a miracle we would feel abandoned and lose hope.’ (page 140). A blessing to rich to miss in our journey is: “We have the possibility in our illnesses to see more deeply into life.” (page 136) I highly recommend this book to those with an illness or injury that may or may not require long-term healing as well as their loved ones and those who might minister to them. From a grateful heart: I was given the book by Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and here is my honest review.