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Beth Madison is a collector of sayings and Bible verses. In conversation, she is quick to bring up a favorite quote that relates to the discussion. In her home, quotes and verses are scattered everywhere — in frames on the walls, around her workspace, in her purse and stuck on the refrigerator. Madison seems to have a gift for sharing encouraging words that apply to just about any situation.

However, if offered any praise for her resilience and wisdom, she will deflect the compliment and simply state: "If you see anything good, it's Jesus."

After spending any amount of time with Madison, the presence of Jesus in her life is apparent. She deals with several chronic, life-altering illnesses but points to the constancy of Christ that sustains her and gives her strength.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Madison currently serves as associate professor of science in Union's School of Adult and Professional Studies, and she also teaches undergraduate physical science and Honors Community courses.

Beth is married to Andy Madison, Union professor of biology, and they have two sons. The eldest, Will, is a Union graduate who works as a police officer and was recently married, and the youngest, Nate, is a freshman mechanical engineering major at Union.

The Madisons came to Union in 2002 for Andy to work in the Department of Biology. The next year, Beth began teaching one or two adjunct classes for adult learners at Union. In 2008, she began teaching at Union full-time, despite the challenges she has met along the way.

Nine years ago, Madison's life was changed forever. She had dealt with periodic flu-like symptoms since graduate school, she said, but symptoms would appear and then leave. Doctors told her it was just stress. In 2012, the symptoms appeared and did not go away, but instead got progressively worse.

Her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis did not come as a surprise — her mother and both grandmothers also had the disorder, as well as others further back in her family tree. Although one of her grandmothers had died from complications of the disease, Madison said her diagnosis did not scare her. She knew that with good treatment and medication, she could manage it.

"What sunk in from the very beginning, I had a deep sense of knowing that God had something for me to learn in it, but I had to be very careful in how I responded to these lessons because others were going to learn from that," she said. "That's still something that is deep in, that I just know."

A few years later, Madison was also diagnosed with lupus. The daily impact of these diseases is that Madison deals with pain; swelling; stiffness; fatigue; fevers; skin, eye and digestive issues; and having a hard time coming up with words.

"It's in my DNA, so biologically nothing is exempt," she said. "That's what is happening with RA and lupus, is my body is attacking itself. These genes see my joints, my tissues, my skin, my organs as foreign invaders."

Her chronic illnesses affect her in the classroom, of course, such as struggling to think of words. Sometimes, she will write a problem or process on the board — something that she has been teaching for more than 20 years — and in that moment, have no idea how to solve it or where to go with it. Although this is a challenge, she said this has been a "gift of grace" as God is teaching her humility.

In those moments, Madison said she prays for direction. Sometimes, she will tell the class it is a rough day and that they are going to solve it together. Other times, she will call for a volunteer. She said her vulnerability is helpful for the students to see.

"Everybody has something going on," Madison said. "We all have that common need for grace, for help, for something to assuage the hurt, whether you can see it or not. I think that's a gift — God has used this to show me that there's so much need and hurt out there, [and] that he will provide in whatever capacity is needed. The problem always gets done and the process always gets solved."

Dependency is a beautiful gift, Madison said. She has seen time and time again where she has called out to the Lord, and he has always provided what she needed.

"I don't wish this on anybody else ever, but I wouldn't trade it for anything because I've learned so much more about God and his presence," she said.

The Madison family at the wedding of their son, Will, to Union graduate Lydia Davidson ('19).

STAYING ENCOURAGED, ENCOURAGING OTHERS

Her chronic illnesses bring constant challenges and pain, but Madison is encouraged by God's word and presence. Madison admits that at times over the last few years she has felt like giving up on teaching because it would be the "easy choice," but God has not let her do that. She recently came across an Elisabeth Elliot quote that resonated with her: "A whole lot of what we call 'struggling' is simply delayed obedience."

Madison said, "There wasn't anything I had ever encountered that I couldn't do before this, and I encountered some hard things, but always just pushed through and got through. I can waste a lot of precious energy and time and resources on struggling, or I can step back and say, 'OK, Lord. This is what you have for me. Please give me strength and the courage to get through it.'"

Madison writes Scripture on index cards and keeps them in her purse so that she can have physical reminders of what is true. How one feels is temporary and not that important, she said, but God's word is truth.

"I keep reminding myself of that, and just reliance — that this is what God has called me to, and he will bring to completion that good work he has started," she said.

She finds encouragement to keep teaching from the delight of showing students how to see science in the Scripture and the Scripture in science. Madison also sees her task as a teacher is to care for the student as a whole person.

"I'm not just there to give them this amount of content to where they can pass a certain test to get a degree and go on out and get a job, but to care for them and their needs — more importantly their eternal need for Christ and for growth in Christ," Madison said.

Early morning prayer times are important to Madison. She likes to get up early and depending on the day, she either has prayer time in her house or outside while taking a walk. For her, she said, prayer time is best in the woods. From there she goes on to teach her classes, have meetings or meet with students.

"That time in the woods, that just shapes my whole day, just helps realign that perspective again, refocus on what's really important," she said.

A way that Madison uses her love of quotes and Scripture to minister to others is by sending out a daily text of a "verse of the day," whatever God puts on her heart. She currently has a list of about 160 people (she has lost count) to whom she texts a daily Bible verse. She started doing this about six years ago.

Some of the recipients are former students. Some are colleagues. Some are people she has never even met. Some days, she thinks that the verse seems "crazy," but she follows the Lord's leading and sends it anyway. Most of the time, she will get a response from someone that it is exactly what they needed to hear.

"It's just been incredible to see that promise fulfilled that Scripture does not go out empty," Madison said. "It does not return void. It does accomplish the purpose for which it was sent."

REMAINING IN CHRIST

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult, Madison has found disguised blessings in the midst of it. Though she has had to stay home more in order to protect her health, working from home has been a blessing for her, as has been the advent of telehealth options and virtual church services.

In February 2021, Madison began a new way of encouraging others by writing on her own blog called "Soul Scientist." She writes about scientific principles in soils or plant science and their linkage with Scripture — something she was already doing in her classes. She has also sent out a book proposal to publishers. In the meantime, she is publishing excerpts of the book on her blog.

Through God's leading Madison started choosing a verse and word for the year in 2020. This year, her guiding verse is Psalm 131:2, "But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me." Her word is "remain" — to stay, trust and watch.

"That's what I'm praying about with this book in the aspect that if God has for it to be published, it'll just be put right there in front of me," she said. "He's given me the writing, which was an adventure in and of itself. ... So, to remain. Just to watch and to wait and not worry in the process."

In the last year, three more diagnoses have been added to Madison's list of illnesses: dysautonomia, atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation. These conditions are cardiovascular issues resulting from the RA. Even though she has been sick for nine years, she is still surprised to go through the grieving cycle when a new diagnosis is added. For her, it is a loss of more control — or what she thinks she has control over, although she never really was in control.

"This is nothing new to God," she said. "It may be new to you, and some of these diagnoses were surprising this year. But there is no end to strength ... well, there is an end to what you think you can do, or can do, but there's not an end to what [God] can do for you and through you."

You can read Madison's blog at soulscientistblog.com.