5 Steps on My MS Battle Plan - By Tracie Peterson

Author Tracie Peterson

MS and MS by Tracie Peterson

Sometimes things come to us out of nowhere and we can’t help but wonder what God has planned. That’s the way it was when I was diagnosed with not one, but three different auto-immune disorders, one of which is Multiple Sclerosis.  Until that moment, MS had always stood for manuscript – not a life changing disease.

Tracie's Office

 Finding out I had MS sent me into a whole different area of research. No one in my family has MS so there was no one close to go to and learn about the disorder. God put me in touch with some really great people, however, and over the years I’ve learned a lot. I’ve also seen how God has been at work.

Tracie's Montana Mountains

MS symptoms are different in different folks, but one of the worst symptoms is the fatigue and memory loss.  For a writer, both of those things interfere a great deal. When I was first diagnosed it wasn’t unusual for me to sleep up to 18-20 hours a day. Most folks didn’t understand – doesn’t everyone get tired? But this was different. I was exhausted to such a degree that I could barely move. The memory loss showed up in forgetting words or thoughts. I’d be working on my manuscript and come to a word that I just couldn’t bring to mind. It was so frustrating and worrisome, but God has shown me how to turn even that over to Him. When I come to those places where the word or words won’t come, I just leave myself a blank and come back to it later. I also started making lists for just about everything. For the exhaustion I’ve learned to pace myself and take naps. The doctor also had an amazing medication that has helped.

Tracie's MS Hoodie!

Everybody has something in life that interferes in some way. It might not be a disorder or disease, but there will always be those things that come to us and create havoc and frustration. There are a lot more things that we can’t change, than those we can so why let those issues run our lives or worse yet ruin them? For me, it’s a matter of refusing to yield territory to the enemy and in order to do that—I have to have a battle plan.

My plan goes something like this.

 1) Pray and spend time in God’s Word.

 2) Humble myself and admit my weaknesses, but focus on my strengths.

 3)  Understand that sometimes the answer doesn’t look like I think it should.

 4)  Keep a positive attitude – commit it all to God

 5) Use my problem to encourage others and lead them back to the source of strength – Jesus.

Your battle plan will probably look different. It might be longer or shorter, but the important thing is to have one and let God run the show.

CFP: Thanks so much Tracie for sharing with us and our readers! We love your writing!!! Great Battle Plan!

Giveaway: A copy of Tracie Peterson's latest book (which I am listening to now on audiobook!) A Treasure Concealed. Winner's choice of format (OPEN to international readers also, the book is available through Book Depository!) Question: Do you have a "Battle Plan" to address health issues in your life or a loved ones' life? 

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble is the author of Tidewater Inn and of the Lonestar Series and the Rock Harbor series.

I met Colleen through some online groups, including American Christian Fiction Writers. She is CEO of ACFW.

Colleen, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.  Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

I suffered with debilitating migraines for decades (40 years.) It was often hard to deal with everyday life, and even harder to write when the pain crushed me. I had to rely on God day to day. I searched all the time for relief and finally found what worked (bioidentical hormones) and am now migraine free! So grateful to the Lord for that.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

Romans 8:28. My family and I were involved in a bad auto accident. At the time I couldn’t see anything good in it. A teenage boy had been killed, and we were all injured. But through that accident, I came to know Jesus and so did my family. A year after the accident eleven people had come to Christ as a result of that accident. It’s difficult to go through challenges like that and we can’t always see the reasons, but God always brings good out of it in the end.

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print? 

Yes, Tidewater Inn will be available in audio and large print. Quite a few other books are in large print and/or audio.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

You have the strength and courage in you to face challenges and overcome them. God will never leave or forsake you, and you can rise above any challenges you face. That’s the theme that runs through all my books. My heroines are all overcomers. I love seeing strong women take on the world and win with God’s help. 

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

I particularly enjoyed writing Tidewater Inn because Libby learns to take one step each day that will strengthen her character and her faith. It’s the little decisions we do every day that either take us closer to God or further away. So often sin is not something big—it’s a tiny step that reaps huge consequences down the road. So even as Libby learned how rewarding generosity was to her soul, the villain chased after greed to disastrous consequences.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

I often have information about healthy diet in my books, but that subject didn’t come up in this book. For example, in Lonestar Secrets, my heroine has multiple sclerosis and she learns that gluten free eating will help her disease. I’m a huge believer in a paleo lifestyle and rarely eat grains. I never eat gluten. My new book, Rosemary Cottage, features a midwife who uses homeopathy and herbs to help her patients as well. God designed our bodies so well, and if we give it the right fuel, it can repair a lot of damage. I recommend everyone with an autoimmune disease watch this video of Dr. Terry Wahls and how she healed her MS with diet.

Thank you Colleen for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Thanks so much for having me! It’s a wonderful work you’re doing.


Colleen's books are available through Amazon. Tidewater Inn is also available through Barnes and Noble.  You can also find it at CBD.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Colleen’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.