The Spiritual Implications of Perioral Dermatitis / Rosacea
Part 1:
If you've done any research about body extremes and perioral dermatitis or rosacea you know the rules:
Don't get too cold. Don't get too hot. Don't sweat. Don't wear makeup. Don't eat too much, Don't eat too little. Don't have alcohol. Don't have spicy food. Don't have sugar. Don't have hot drinks. Don't eat chocolate. Don't eat grains. Don't take hot showers. Don't take cold showers. Basically, don't be human.
So not only must you suffer with the hideous reflection in the mirror, you also can't do the things you enjoy in private. Muzzle-mouth, disease face took away any desire for public interaction long ago. But now you learn that in private or among close friends and family you can't enjoy a trip to the beach or a snow ball fight or a cocktail. This is when I broke down and cried real hard. Perioral dermatitis / rosacea had already ruined my looks and now it was ruining my entire life.
And the next thought that crept in went something like this: "you know, if you can't do the things that you enjoy doing... if you can't have the things you want to have... if you miss out on all of life because of this then maybe you should just.... not... live."
For someone on the outside looking into your circumstances, suicide may seem a bit extreme. I've had plenty of clear-skinned people tell me my face wasn't "that bad" or "that noticeable" and assure me there were still plenty of ways to enjoy life. But you only understand that real dire, confidence shattering, life-ending sort of feeling if you've experienced perioral dermatitis or rosacea yourself. Especially if you've experienced a recurrence because traditional medical treatments have failed.
In addition, if it's true that perioral dermatitis issues are autoimmune related then you, like me, likely have multiple other issues going on and total face flare is just adding weight to the heaviness life already had before. Death would be escape. The problem with giving up in this way is that:
1. Loved ones are counting on you and love you and if you off yourself you're knowingly bringing them harm and putting skeletons in their psychological closets.
2. You don't really want to die, you just want to end the misery.
Don't get too cold. Don't get too hot. Don't sweat. Don't wear makeup. Don't eat too much, Don't eat too little. Don't have alcohol. Don't have spicy food. Don't have sugar. Don't have hot drinks. Don't eat chocolate. Don't eat grains. Don't take hot showers. Don't take cold showers. Basically, don't be human.
So not only must you suffer with the hideous reflection in the mirror, you also can't do the things you enjoy in private. Muzzle-mouth, disease face took away any desire for public interaction long ago. But now you learn that in private or among close friends and family you can't enjoy a trip to the beach or a snow ball fight or a cocktail. This is when I broke down and cried real hard. Perioral dermatitis / rosacea had already ruined my looks and now it was ruining my entire life.
And the next thought that crept in went something like this: "you know, if you can't do the things that you enjoy doing... if you can't have the things you want to have... if you miss out on all of life because of this then maybe you should just.... not... live."
For someone on the outside looking into your circumstances, suicide may seem a bit extreme. I've had plenty of clear-skinned people tell me my face wasn't "that bad" or "that noticeable" and assure me there were still plenty of ways to enjoy life. But you only understand that real dire, confidence shattering, life-ending sort of feeling if you've experienced perioral dermatitis or rosacea yourself. Especially if you've experienced a recurrence because traditional medical treatments have failed.
In addition, if it's true that perioral dermatitis issues are autoimmune related then you, like me, likely have multiple other issues going on and total face flare is just adding weight to the heaviness life already had before. Death would be escape. The problem with giving up in this way is that:
1. Loved ones are counting on you and love you and if you off yourself you're knowingly bringing them harm and putting skeletons in their psychological closets.
2. You don't really want to die, you just want to end the misery.
Part 2:
These reasons may be enough for you to continue on, hoping for a day to dawn when you're healed. This sort of hope isn't enough for me. What if that day never dawns? What if I lose the loved ones who count on me? What if these things cause me to believe I actually do want to die, not just escape?
True hope, the kind that's imperishable is found only in the One who can ultimately heal. He is the creator and sustainer of all life. And He is in complete control - from the outer galaxies to the hairs on your head, whether you profess Him or not.
This Heavenly Father of us all is extremely interested in our healing. Along with many other provisions for the human condition we are desperate for, but for now let's stick with healing. While God spent time on earth in human form He healed. A lot. But even deeper than this is the fact that He suffered brutal death for our ultimate healing, our eternal healing. Not just for our bodies but for our "person", our souls, our hearts, the deepest parts of who we are inside. And He came back from being dead to prove He's the only one that can do that for us.
If you've never had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, ask Him to give you one. Right now. Out loud or in the quiet of your heart, doesn't matter. Just ask. The worst thing that can happen is that He doesn't show up. Then you're back to the only hope you had in part 1. But what if He does? Trust that He can handle it from there. And He'll show you how to respond.**
True hope, the kind that's imperishable is found only in the One who can ultimately heal. He is the creator and sustainer of all life. And He is in complete control - from the outer galaxies to the hairs on your head, whether you profess Him or not.
This Heavenly Father of us all is extremely interested in our healing. Along with many other provisions for the human condition we are desperate for, but for now let's stick with healing. While God spent time on earth in human form He healed. A lot. But even deeper than this is the fact that He suffered brutal death for our ultimate healing, our eternal healing. Not just for our bodies but for our "person", our souls, our hearts, the deepest parts of who we are inside. And He came back from being dead to prove He's the only one that can do that for us.
If you've never had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, ask Him to give you one. Right now. Out loud or in the quiet of your heart, doesn't matter. Just ask. The worst thing that can happen is that He doesn't show up. Then you're back to the only hope you had in part 1. But what if He does? Trust that He can handle it from there. And He'll show you how to respond.**
**If you have specific questions, want to know more, need to connect with someone in real time, or need help finding a church in your local area anywhere around the world reach out to Global Media Outreach. They can help you with even your toughest questions and concerns about faith in God, His Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ.
You can also always feel free to Contact Me.
You can also always feel free to Contact Me.
Part 3:
Because God is the only true and ultimate healer, all healing comes through Him. That means even healing that takes place as a result of medication or lifestyle changes. They are all avenues God uses to heal us while we live life on earth.
There are occasions of course that God chooses to heal miraculously, without a medical or scientific explanation. Either way, if you are healed of any form of malady you can be sure God's behind it. Again, whether or not you profess Him.
But let's say for the sake of continuing part 3. that you either very recently or for some time now have professed God. In other words, you express to Him in one way or another that you want Him to be Lord over your life instead of YOU being Lord over your life; That you've accepted the grace of Jesus Christ to save you from bondages (like addictions, selfishness, hatred, depression & anxiety, fear) and to save you from spiritual death when your heart stops some day.
There are occasions of course that God chooses to heal miraculously, without a medical or scientific explanation. Either way, if you are healed of any form of malady you can be sure God's behind it. Again, whether or not you profess Him.
But let's say for the sake of continuing part 3. that you either very recently or for some time now have professed God. In other words, you express to Him in one way or another that you want Him to be Lord over your life instead of YOU being Lord over your life; That you've accepted the grace of Jesus Christ to save you from bondages (like addictions, selfishness, hatred, depression & anxiety, fear) and to save you from spiritual death when your heart stops some day.
If you honestly don't profess God, please feel free to keep reading but just be forewarned that the rest of this may sound a little strange. God gives us new "eyes of our heart" to see things differently than before. And while God is a God of order as apposed to chaos, there are certain spiritual insights and wisdom that aren't always immediately identifiable as "common sense".
Ok, so now we're all on the same (theoretical) page: We profess God. He is the healer. We pray for healing. We have others pray for healing. Through some form or fashion we are healed.
If this is your story, PRAISE GOD!! That's wonderful! Throw parties and tell everybody you know! Give God the credit and be thankful for that blessing, that gift.
But what if healing doesn't come? What if you profess God, you pray, others pray, you make changes, you do the medical interventions you're told to do by professionals and naturalists alike and then, ..... nothing.
What if the Healer doesn't heal?
I've spent some real quality time with this question. I was sure that God could heal me if he wanted to but as far as I was concerned, at the moment, He was choosing not to. Between this disappointment and my semi-suicidal thoughts I went for some Biblical counseling (highly recommended by the way). I learned a few very important things I hope you can also use:
1. It's perfectly natural/normal to want to leave this life when we face what are (or what feel like) insurmountable trials. Paul even writes in the Bible about being torn between life and death, departing from life being far better because it means being with Christ. (Phil 1:23)
2. So while it's ok to desire to escape this life and our trials, God still has a plan for us as long as He is keeping us here. Which Paul also speaks to in the very next verse. Like Paul, it will no-doubt involve others. In my own life, a family member needed someone to talk with about God, illness, and hope while in prison and I was the only one that reached out. Around that same time, a beloved family member/friend surrendered their life back over to God, a prayer request I've had for years. If I offed myself, I would have totally missed out on these. And don't think it's unrelated that trials appear before great victories. Our souls have an enemy and he'll use whatever he's allowed to in order to render us completely useless in the lives of other people who need the light we have.
3. {Very related to our purpose} God can use sickness for his glory, too. Picture this: I'm in the supermarket. My face is fully flared, just as red and rashed-out as can be. By the power of the Holy Spirit - cause that's literally the only way in this scenario - I go about my business of buying groceries; The healthy kind that promote healing because that's what God wants me to do, even though I argue with Him about how useless and unfair that is.
At the check out line the clerk is looking at me like "what the heck is going on with your face" and, while most people don't ask and you resist the urge to explain it, the clerk tells you it looks like it hurts. So you tell them: "actually yeah, it does and it really bothers me that it's unsightly too. It's really hard for me to come out in public like this but by the grace of God He's giving me the strength to do what I can't do on my own".
This didn't happen to me exactly, it was with my hair dresser in a salon but you get the picture. God is using you to spread the word about his vast, limitless, overwhelming love for humanity in ways that would not, could not occur otherwise.
4. God is concerned about what you rely on. While I struggle to like certain aspects of my physical body, I have always liked my face, especially with make-up on it. I've relied on my makeup and my clear, pretty face to give me confidence before I understood what self esteem even really meant. Then God took it away. I tell Him in my heart fairly regularly that all I really need is Him, if He took everything else away and all I had was Him - He's enough. Then I go screaming, crying and stomping around when He takes what I didn't even realize I clung to so dearly. On first look it may appear that God is "not nice". But I can tell you from the other side of that tantrum that learning to rely fully on God is so deeply freeing that it would have been horribly mean for God to leave me where I was.
If this is your story, PRAISE GOD!! That's wonderful! Throw parties and tell everybody you know! Give God the credit and be thankful for that blessing, that gift.
But what if healing doesn't come? What if you profess God, you pray, others pray, you make changes, you do the medical interventions you're told to do by professionals and naturalists alike and then, ..... nothing.
What if the Healer doesn't heal?
I've spent some real quality time with this question. I was sure that God could heal me if he wanted to but as far as I was concerned, at the moment, He was choosing not to. Between this disappointment and my semi-suicidal thoughts I went for some Biblical counseling (highly recommended by the way). I learned a few very important things I hope you can also use:
1. It's perfectly natural/normal to want to leave this life when we face what are (or what feel like) insurmountable trials. Paul even writes in the Bible about being torn between life and death, departing from life being far better because it means being with Christ. (Phil 1:23)
2. So while it's ok to desire to escape this life and our trials, God still has a plan for us as long as He is keeping us here. Which Paul also speaks to in the very next verse. Like Paul, it will no-doubt involve others. In my own life, a family member needed someone to talk with about God, illness, and hope while in prison and I was the only one that reached out. Around that same time, a beloved family member/friend surrendered their life back over to God, a prayer request I've had for years. If I offed myself, I would have totally missed out on these. And don't think it's unrelated that trials appear before great victories. Our souls have an enemy and he'll use whatever he's allowed to in order to render us completely useless in the lives of other people who need the light we have.
3. {Very related to our purpose} God can use sickness for his glory, too. Picture this: I'm in the supermarket. My face is fully flared, just as red and rashed-out as can be. By the power of the Holy Spirit - cause that's literally the only way in this scenario - I go about my business of buying groceries; The healthy kind that promote healing because that's what God wants me to do, even though I argue with Him about how useless and unfair that is.
At the check out line the clerk is looking at me like "what the heck is going on with your face" and, while most people don't ask and you resist the urge to explain it, the clerk tells you it looks like it hurts. So you tell them: "actually yeah, it does and it really bothers me that it's unsightly too. It's really hard for me to come out in public like this but by the grace of God He's giving me the strength to do what I can't do on my own".
This didn't happen to me exactly, it was with my hair dresser in a salon but you get the picture. God is using you to spread the word about his vast, limitless, overwhelming love for humanity in ways that would not, could not occur otherwise.
4. God is concerned about what you rely on. While I struggle to like certain aspects of my physical body, I have always liked my face, especially with make-up on it. I've relied on my makeup and my clear, pretty face to give me confidence before I understood what self esteem even really meant. Then God took it away. I tell Him in my heart fairly regularly that all I really need is Him, if He took everything else away and all I had was Him - He's enough. Then I go screaming, crying and stomping around when He takes what I didn't even realize I clung to so dearly. On first look it may appear that God is "not nice". But I can tell you from the other side of that tantrum that learning to rely fully on God is so deeply freeing that it would have been horribly mean for God to leave me where I was.