Saturday, 11 May 2013

Healing: the UPS & the DOWNS

Setbacks are inevitable. I knew they would come. Although, I hoped that they wouldn’t, it’s part of the process. I had thought that everything would just settle down in a few weeks but now I’m realizing that it may take a little longer than I had anticipated... and that’s okay!




My body has been reacting to stress through seizures for 6 months; I can’t just expect my brain to suddenly just know how to stop! My teacher told me this good analogy:
“It’s like having a broken leg. You can’t just start to walk on it and expect it to be better just because you know it’s broken. It still needs time to heal.”
So, I can't just return to my life and expect everything to be normal. My brain still needs time to heal and adjust.

The journey can feel SO LONG and some days I just feel worn.

Maybe it’s because I am only looking at the road ahead and all the things I want to be doing but can’t-instead of looking at how far I’ve come. When I look back to where I was just a week and a half ago, that’s when I realize that I have made progress! Huge progress, actually! It’s just hard to see that when your in the midst of a bad day.

We have to remember that the struggle is part of the story. The nightmare we may be living—or have lived at some point—is something God can use to remind us of our need for Him. He can take our broken pieces and make them into something beautiful if we only trust Him.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” {2 Corinthians 12:9-10}

I know because I am experiencing it. I am now only beginning to see the pieces come together. It may take days, or weeks, or months before I can see the other side. In the meantime: I know whose arms will never fail me, whose ears will never tire of my cries and whose shoulder I can always lean on.

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength." {Philippians 4:13}

 This truth carries me through the things that seem beyond what I can possibly manage. With God’s strength and the encouragement from the people around me, Perseverance is possible!

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings; because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” {Rom. 5:3-5}
It doesn't matter what your challenge is, God has enough strength to help you conquer it. Nothing is too big for Him. Let Him strengthen you when and where you need it. With Him at your side, perseverance will come.

Sometimes I will feel discouraged, but I can’t let that keep me down. It’s a process that will take time. Each time I get back up from a setback, I’ll grow stronger and move closer to the end goal.

Thank you to the many, MANY people who have been praying for me, encouraging me, and reading this blog (over 530 views in 2 weeks!). Please continue to pray for patience as we work towards healing, pray that God would open my eyes to the hidden stressors in my life, pray that I will be able to say no to the things I’m not ready for, and pray that I wont allow setbacks discourage me.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” {Joshua 1:9}

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