On more than one occasion I have had friends and people I barely know ask me how I am still standing and able to praise God after all the challenges life has thrown at me. That generally brings to mind Job’s wife who counseled him with the unwise words to just curse God and die. (Job 2:9) Instead of turning away from God, my challenges have pushed me closer to Him. There is no place I would rather be when the doctors give me more “bad news” than pressing into God so that I know that He knows exactly how I am feeling and that I need Him.
I am not special, but like many of you, I am a walking testimony to God’s grace. I was born again in my 20’s, also got married a few months later and began my adventure of military moves. God was with me in each new place. I shared in yesterday’s post about not liking change. Twenty-five military moves with different bases and different houses didn’t change my mind on that but rather cemented it. Nevertheless, God provided jobs when I needed one, new friends in each new place and always a church to keep me centered. I was born with asthma and until the pregnancy with my third child, I had not suffered any symptoms since before my college days. With Steven, I was hospitalized several times because of extreme asthma episodes. But God brought me through and then we moved to Maine. I stayed sick a lot there, with pneumonia. I should say that my mother died shortly before we moved to Maine and that emotional stress didn’t help. Again, God comforted and helped me each time I was hospitalized. Fast forward to 2015 when I had a stroke. Again, God was right beside me as I struggled to talk (I could only stammer) and as I went through rehab to learn how to walk again. I’m not going to lie. It was hard but I literally felt God’s presence and His Spirit telling me that I could do it, whatever I needed to do. Three months after my stroke I was miraculously back in my classroom part time and ended the year as a full-time teacher again.
Life isn’t easy for anyone. The road has bumps, unexpected twists and some curves that come up fast with no warning. But God is in the driver’s seat and I have the attitude that I am along for the ride so I may as well trust Him and enjoy the ride. I am here today to declare that God saves, heals and uses wounded people who are not perfect. I am one of those and I am blessed to know that as I draw near to God, He draws near to me. Together, we make a formidable team and I bless His Name that I am still here to write this blog and tell you about His love, mercy and grace.
What has God done for you? Have you pressed in closer to Him as the days get more challenging? I have found that the way to be a survivor is to trust in God. He knows the past, the present and the future and He hasn’t changed His plan for your life. All He does is for our good always in all ways.
