“Pain is disorienting. It changes you in ways that you never saw coming. Chronic pain, the kind that you think about all the time, becomes a part of who you are… There’s not always a smile behind the smile, but there’s a reason for my smile.”


Dealing with a chronic condition such as pain or illness is a battle faced by many people – a battle often fought alone. Struggling with daily pain can be disorienting; it can be debilitating, but it can also drive you to Jesus.


At the height of his career in the health and fitness industry, Jimmy Peña encountered sudden health challenges which he never would have predicted for his life. As he unexpectedly lost his abilities, he also suffered the loss of identity. However, through his struggles he found wholeness in Christ. But now, as a result of his previous health challenges, Jimmy faces a new battle with chronic pain and insomnia. Listen as he shares how he manages his pain, where he finds hope, and his encouragement for others facing similar struggles.


Read more from Jimmy and find resources for dealing with chronic pain at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast


Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. Over the past 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 150,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.


www.joniandfriends.org


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Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.