2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
I have clung to these verses for years. It has served literally as my sanity! I know I am by no means Paul, nor do I care to be! (I like being a girl!). Though I do think that Paul is one of the best examples of a Christ emulator that we have!
Let’s start at the very beginning (because that is a very good place to start)!
At age 13 I was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. I was the youngest documented child having this ocular disease at that point in time! At age 14 I had surgery but by 16 my eyes had returned to their pre-surgery selves and I was devastated. I knew what it meant..no driving…Ever! The next 6 to 8 months were rocky to say the least. I was struggling with the new identity that everyone was throwing on me…..that blind girl! I could have screamed…oh wait I did…MANY MANY times. That’s not who I was and I was not about to let it define me!
It was during this time that I got baptized and accepted a call into full time ministry, which at the time I thought was for missions but God had different plans!
While working through all this these verses became my peace. I remember in college taking these verses and applying them. I begged God, but to no avail. So I have clung to the rest! But when I finally accepted AND embraced this new me, I was bombarded by believers who said….“you’ve given up.”
Or
“you aren’t trusting God”
Or
“God will heal you, if you just believe.”
And the list goes on and on and on….
NO! STOP! DON’T EVER say that to anyone! You WILL make them doubt their faith! That opens a huge door for Satan and he WILL say “ohhh let me help you with that!”. Your job is to come alongside them and help them find God’s purpose in whatever is going on.
As for me, I have embraced me. It does not define me but it does affect me. I may not be able to drive BUT because I don’t hubby and I have a great time together! I am always with someone else in the car and that means their undivided attention. I do have other limitations as well like sweeping the floor…it’s an everyday reminder that I am not perfect. I used to get offended when hubby would walk in and say “would you like me to sweep the floor” after I had just swept it. Now I just let him sweep the floor! Romans 8:28 is so true. We need to etch it into our minds and recall it often whether it is for our own issue or someone else!
Our job is to not tear down but to build up! Be encouraging not fault finder!
