INNER STRENGTH â—½ YOU
Have you heard the statement “God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle?” Have you ever felt like that isn’t true? I have come to realize that for me, at least, it’s not so much that it’s not true. It’s more about what it feels like to “handle” it as in life as I/we know it.
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Many lessons I’ve learned on inner strength stem from learning how to find joy in ordinary moments. Sometimes things get so tough, though, that I have a hard time feeling joyful. I don’t think I’m handling it so well. Even at my age of 48, I am consciously breaking the childhood cycle of feeling pressured to always be okay to the point of being happy, even. I bring that up because the pressure to feel joy as I’m handling things does begin to normalize. It takes strength, patience, and faith to do this. Breaking unhealthy childhood cycles is a journey of these three things.
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Psalm 46:1-2
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
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What does God’s help look like in our lives? He certainly doesn’t always take away the storms when we want Him to. However, in my experience, when I reach out to Him, I sure don’t feel alone going through them. Then, through patience, I have had storms clear up.
When I was in middle school, I developed Pulmonary Fibrosis. I had to breathe with support of an oxygen tube. I had a portable one and then a really big tank at the house. My family sat in the living room every night and prayed. I honestly don’t remember how long it lasted. My mom and I flew up to National Jewish Hospital in Colorado a couple times for me to get treatment and testing done. What complicated it was I also had rheumatoid arthritis and myasthenia gravis (a form of muscular dystrophy) at the time.
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I spoke to a psychologist who supported me through my complex childhood and we role played how I would explain my situation to the kids in my classes. The main message I gave them was, “I know this looks scary, but it helps me and I’m not going to stop breathing. It helps me think and feel better.” The students’ eyes were fixed on my message. School went on from there, thankfully with a little bit of normalcy. Talking to my students helped me to handle those times.
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The Holy Spirit guided me and gave me the inner strength to bear it/handle it. Did my emotions range from acceptance to anger and back? Of course, they did. I showed my anger in more frustration and tears, but still…I handled it. This is one example of how I went through life bearing what God gave me, without necessarily feeling happy.
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Patience through prayer paid off. A miracle happened, granted by God. I woke up one morning and I could breathe normally on my own! I got retested and there was no medical explanation. Thank God, literally, for healing me! Miracles really happen.
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Psalm 34:17
“When the righteous cry for help,
the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”
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I’m so grateful that the Holy Spirit called me to share this story with you all. As an adult, I will take this reminder and do my best to apply it, as I’m currently going through another really big storm!
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If I can do it, so can you!