...but not in the way you are thinking. Though, it pulled you in didn't it? haha! Now that you are here, read on...
In having MG and POTS/Dysautonomia, or many other chronic illnesses, we often appear to "look fine", but the inside of us is far from fine. Among many other symptoms, the extreme chronic fatigue, exhaustion and weakness is nothing any generally healthy person can relate to. I know because I used to be healthy. I used to experience the fullness of life in a healthy body. I also used to run. And my exhaustion after a race was nothing like the exhaustion/fatigue/weakness I feel every day of my life now. But for the purpose of an analogy in the attempt of something people can relate to, we're going to talk about running track.
Imagine running track. But... it's not a short sprint to the finish line. Not one lap around. Not even a few miles. You are running with no end in sight. Loop. After loop. After loop. It doesn't matter if you get tired. It doesn't matter if you need a break. Keep running.
Sounds exhausting right? It is. Our bodies are fighting every single second of every single day, chronically fatigued/exhausted/weak, again among all the other symptoms. But that's not all.
Now add hurdles. Not just a few. Nope, they just keep on appearing. Wait, now add a blindfold. Yes, now you have to constantly run and without notice jump over a hurdle, and another one, and another one. Keep going. Never stop.
What are these hurdles?
- a doctor telling you "it's just anxiety"
- medication that causes more side effects than symptoms
- someone telling you "push through it" when you know pushing through it will land you in the hospital because with MG there is nothing there to push with
- someone complaining about how you can't go out or need to cancel plans AGAIN
- but watching as everyone else lives their normal lives and can go out and have fun while you have to stay on the track
- having to explain this to every new person you meet
- feeling questioned by every new person you meet, feeling the doubt as they look at your healthy appearance and blind to the sickness inside
- getting yelled at by someone for using a handicap spot because you look healthy
- not leaving the house today because your legs just won't work for you
- bill after bill after bill to pay without the financial ability to do so because you can't work
- then getting ridiculed about how you can work but just don't want to (yeah I wish!)
- another trip to the ER
- surgeries
- hospital stays
- scars on your body from treatments to filter your blood
- loved ones abandoning you when you need them the most
- not even remembering what it was like to feel healthy
So on and so forth. It's tough enough running this track every single second of every single day, but add in all those hurdles and it's even tougher. So, if you are a family member or friend of someone who has MG, POTS or any chronic illness, always look for an opportunity to remove a hurdle. Look for an opportunity to make our constant run a little less exhausting. We will appreciate it so very much.
Sometimes people are in the stands, cheering you along, supporting you, encouraging you, there to bring you water along the way. Other times, they leave, one by one, or all at once... and sometimes you are there all by yourself. Running, just running, alone.
For me, it is those moments that are the hardest, feeling alone on this track running in this never ending run that no one can seem to relate to. But it is in those moments, I realize though I am weak, I am incredibly strong. I am strong because I'm still on that track. I am strong because I am never actually alone. I am strong because God is my strength. And with God as my strength, I know I can keep on running.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Constantly Under Attack
Last night I went to church. I tried to sit where I always try to sit in any church- the back end corner. I sat down only to have a lady tell me she needs to sit there. I wasn't about to argue with an older lady in church about why I needed to sit there just the same, so I moved a row up. Then, through the whole service I heard coughing and sneezing surrounding me. I haven't gotten to the point of feeling comfortable wearing a mask everywhere I go so instead I put my face in my sleeve for a few seconds when that happens. But I'd be sitting there with my face in my sleeve the entire time for as much as it happened last night.
The reason I try to sit in the back end corner is to avoid as many germs as possible, to avoid what happened last night. This morning I woke up with slight pain my throat and ear. Now I seem to be having some congestion. I'm not sure if it's related to the coughing and sneezing in church or not, but this is another reason why I have to avoid being surrounded by people and be very cautious when I am.
My getting sick isn't like when a healthy person gets sick. Getting sick makes MG and POTS flare up. That can land me in the hospital. As if that's not enough, if I were to need antibiotics, I have an even greater risk of landing in the hospital because of how so very many antibiotics are known to make MG worse. I have landed in the hospital from antibiotics before. And it took a long long time to "recover."
Your immune system protects you, normally. It fights all the bad stuff that surrounds you- the germs and invaders you encounter every day. Well, my immune system is deficient in fighting that. I don't have that protection healthy people have. So when the invaders come in, there isn't much to prevent them from harming me. Thus, the only thing I can do is prevent it by avoiding it.
On top of this not only is my body not fighting the bad stuff, but my body is fighting the good stuff, so to speak. That's what an auto immune disease means. My body is literally attacking my own body, every single second of every single day. The more I try to live normally, the more my own body tries to prevent that from happening. Specifically, my body is attacking the neuro-muscular junction, that signal from nerve to muscle. The more I use any specific muscle, or the more stress or a number of other factors, the more my body attacks. And the more it attacks the less my muscle works. My own body is trying to bring me down fast and hard.
How do you remedy that situation? Well that would be called a cure that doesn't yet exist. Or medication, which hasn't worked for me. Treatments, which are very dangerous for me because of my blood clot disorder. Immune suppressants- which I can't take because I'm already deficient in protection as mentioned above. It's just one big crazy mess. But that mess is my life and I'm trying to make the most of it.
So please, please please please, don't cough or sneeze out into the air or even in your hand. Do it in a kleenex or your sleeve. Wash your hands frequently. Don't go into public if you know you are contagious with anything as "simple" as a cold. By doing so you could very well be preventing me or someone else with chronic illness from landing in the hospital. And I will be very thankful for that.
I hope this helps everyone understand why I need to avoid so much, why I need to be cautious, why I need to rest so often, why I need accommodations and live a bit differently. It's not what I want, it's what I need, in order to keep on waking up each day and keep on going wherever life takes me. Thanks for reading!
The reason I try to sit in the back end corner is to avoid as many germs as possible, to avoid what happened last night. This morning I woke up with slight pain my throat and ear. Now I seem to be having some congestion. I'm not sure if it's related to the coughing and sneezing in church or not, but this is another reason why I have to avoid being surrounded by people and be very cautious when I am.
My getting sick isn't like when a healthy person gets sick. Getting sick makes MG and POTS flare up. That can land me in the hospital. As if that's not enough, if I were to need antibiotics, I have an even greater risk of landing in the hospital because of how so very many antibiotics are known to make MG worse. I have landed in the hospital from antibiotics before. And it took a long long time to "recover."
Your immune system protects you, normally. It fights all the bad stuff that surrounds you- the germs and invaders you encounter every day. Well, my immune system is deficient in fighting that. I don't have that protection healthy people have. So when the invaders come in, there isn't much to prevent them from harming me. Thus, the only thing I can do is prevent it by avoiding it.
On top of this not only is my body not fighting the bad stuff, but my body is fighting the good stuff, so to speak. That's what an auto immune disease means. My body is literally attacking my own body, every single second of every single day. The more I try to live normally, the more my own body tries to prevent that from happening. Specifically, my body is attacking the neuro-muscular junction, that signal from nerve to muscle. The more I use any specific muscle, or the more stress or a number of other factors, the more my body attacks. And the more it attacks the less my muscle works. My own body is trying to bring me down fast and hard.
How do you remedy that situation? Well that would be called a cure that doesn't yet exist. Or medication, which hasn't worked for me. Treatments, which are very dangerous for me because of my blood clot disorder. Immune suppressants- which I can't take because I'm already deficient in protection as mentioned above. It's just one big crazy mess. But that mess is my life and I'm trying to make the most of it.
So please, please please please, don't cough or sneeze out into the air or even in your hand. Do it in a kleenex or your sleeve. Wash your hands frequently. Don't go into public if you know you are contagious with anything as "simple" as a cold. By doing so you could very well be preventing me or someone else with chronic illness from landing in the hospital. And I will be very thankful for that.
I hope this helps everyone understand why I need to avoid so much, why I need to be cautious, why I need to rest so often, why I need accommodations and live a bit differently. It's not what I want, it's what I need, in order to keep on waking up each day and keep on going wherever life takes me. Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
My current status
"It's Complicated."
hahaha! no really, all joking aside, in regards to my health- it really is. It's so complicated that unless you're walking in my shoes, it's probably insanely hard to understand. So today, I'm going to do my best to explain briefly what having these conditions mean for me, and well, also you if you are a part of my life in whatever way.
When I wake up in the morning, more often than not I have trouble breathing and I'm pretty weak. I've come to my own conclusion of why this is. I believe it is because when I'm sleeping I'm breathing very shallow and the oxygen isn't flowing through me as it needs to. So when I first wake up I have to remain laying there and focus on breathing deep breaths to get that oxygen to go through me and give my body some strength while expanding my lungs to prep them for the day. I've asked for oxygen because I know my ox sat drops but they won't listen to me since in the office of course my ox sat is normal.
I shower every other day instead of every day (unless I need to of course haha) in order to conserve energy/strength. Let me explain this. Standing up or even sitting up with my legs down makes blood pool in my legs. That's why I have to wear compression socks. Well, you can't really wear compression socks in the shower. So my legs pretty much turn this not so awesome pinkish purplish color. I shift my weight back and forth to try to help. When blood pools, my whole body gets thrown off and I can faint. Thank God I have yet to due to this and hopefully never do. Heat makes MG worse but I freeze if the water is too cold so I make it warm and try not to spend all day in there. Washing my hair wears down my muscles in my arms from holding them up. I get out of the shower and I'm pretty tired. So pretty much every time I take a shower, I lay down afterwards. And then if I have somewhere to be I continue getting ready after a rest break.
Cooking/laundry/cleaning etc. I try to do as much as I can but I also need to keep a balance of getting help with whatever I can. It's any repetitive motion that hurts the MG such as throwing in item after item of laundry even if it isn't a large load. With cooking or baking I can't do anything for a long time so mixing stuff isn't the easiest, lifting pots and pans and such I should have someone else do. Also the whole standing in one place thing is bad with POTS. With cleaning, vacuuming or mopping would be the toughest because of the repetitive motion. But in general lately my arms have been affected worse than my legs or anything else for MG. That could be because you use your arms for pretty much everything even while sitting or laying. So my arms get less of a break.
Computer/typing/phone. Again the arm thing. I often try to use my laptop while sitting in bed or a recliner with my legs up. That helps prevent the blood pooling with my legs. It also helps my arms be able to sit there and rest while typing as opposed to having to hold them in the air if I'm at a desk. Also with the computer is my vision. My eye muscles get weak and it turns into slightly double vision and also this horrible headache. Phones aren't the easiest because of having to hold my arm up to hold the phone. My arms feel like I had a major weight lifting work out after I get off the phone.. for a few days. Also with the phone my breathing, face muscles and voice are affected. Talking too long my jaw gets super weak and in pain. My voice can get weak after a while but fortunately that hasn't been too bad lately I don't think. But the biggest thing I have to be aware of is my breathing. When I talk too long, or do anything too long, my diaphragm gets weak and if MG hits it hard I will land in the hospital.
Visiting with people. Imagine all the things listed above happening at once. That's why it's hard for me to go out frequently. It's also mentally and physically draining in general. I enjoy seeing family and friends but I have to do so sparingly so that I can actually enjoy those moments rather than struggle so hard through them. I need to rest when I talk so that my jaw keeps moving, my voice keeps working, and my diaphragm gets a break. If I'm standing, I will soon need to sit. If I'm sitting I will soon need to put my legs up. If my back isn't supported, I will soon need to lay down. Sensory overload may or may not hit me and if it does I need to go into a quiet room and do nothing until it goes away. Some lights affect me. Temperature definitely affects me. Fumes and perfumes affect me. Too much noise and commotion can affect me. I can get mentally exhausted as well as physically exhausted.
Eating. It's so important that I eat as healthy as possible. This means organic, non-gmo.. cutting out dairy, sugar and gluten/yeast/carbs as much as possible. I'm planning to write a post regarding this in the near future. But basically all that stuff we call "food" really isn't food, it's poison to our bodies and mine especially. My body is extremely sensitive to everything. I've noticed such a difference since eating the way I do now. And yes, sometimes I give in, but I really pay for it.
Driving. Again the blood pooling in the legs thing, and obviously that happens if I'm just riding in the car too. So if I'm riding I try to put my legs up, or at least crossed on the seat with me. Driving also tires the heck out of my arms from having to hold them up. I also sometimes get motion sickness driving or riding. That just makes me feel so sick for a while. My vision will start to go if I don't get to lay down/breaks within sitting, standing or walking. This means things turn hazy or cloudy or I have a lot of trouble focusing and that headache kicks in. Oh and my neck and back need to be supported because that's my weakest part currently.
So pretty much what this all adds up to is my body can only tolerate a small dose of anything. I need lots of rest breaks... rather I need "breaks" of activity with lots of rest, if that makes sense. I try to do as much as I can, live as normal as possible but this is in fact far from normal. I'm just used to it and I've come to acceptance on it. I still feel so blessed for all that I have and all that I can do. At the end of the day it's not about what you look like, what your physical abilities are, what type of job you have if any, or how many things you can accomplish in a day. It's about you who are on the inside... having God on the inside... and letting Him shine through you through it all.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying. Thanks for sticking with me! God bless.
hahaha! no really, all joking aside, in regards to my health- it really is. It's so complicated that unless you're walking in my shoes, it's probably insanely hard to understand. So today, I'm going to do my best to explain briefly what having these conditions mean for me, and well, also you if you are a part of my life in whatever way.
When I wake up in the morning, more often than not I have trouble breathing and I'm pretty weak. I've come to my own conclusion of why this is. I believe it is because when I'm sleeping I'm breathing very shallow and the oxygen isn't flowing through me as it needs to. So when I first wake up I have to remain laying there and focus on breathing deep breaths to get that oxygen to go through me and give my body some strength while expanding my lungs to prep them for the day. I've asked for oxygen because I know my ox sat drops but they won't listen to me since in the office of course my ox sat is normal.
I shower every other day instead of every day (unless I need to of course haha) in order to conserve energy/strength. Let me explain this. Standing up or even sitting up with my legs down makes blood pool in my legs. That's why I have to wear compression socks. Well, you can't really wear compression socks in the shower. So my legs pretty much turn this not so awesome pinkish purplish color. I shift my weight back and forth to try to help. When blood pools, my whole body gets thrown off and I can faint. Thank God I have yet to due to this and hopefully never do. Heat makes MG worse but I freeze if the water is too cold so I make it warm and try not to spend all day in there. Washing my hair wears down my muscles in my arms from holding them up. I get out of the shower and I'm pretty tired. So pretty much every time I take a shower, I lay down afterwards. And then if I have somewhere to be I continue getting ready after a rest break.
Cooking/laundry/cleaning etc. I try to do as much as I can but I also need to keep a balance of getting help with whatever I can. It's any repetitive motion that hurts the MG such as throwing in item after item of laundry even if it isn't a large load. With cooking or baking I can't do anything for a long time so mixing stuff isn't the easiest, lifting pots and pans and such I should have someone else do. Also the whole standing in one place thing is bad with POTS. With cleaning, vacuuming or mopping would be the toughest because of the repetitive motion. But in general lately my arms have been affected worse than my legs or anything else for MG. That could be because you use your arms for pretty much everything even while sitting or laying. So my arms get less of a break.
Computer/typing/phone. Again the arm thing. I often try to use my laptop while sitting in bed or a recliner with my legs up. That helps prevent the blood pooling with my legs. It also helps my arms be able to sit there and rest while typing as opposed to having to hold them in the air if I'm at a desk. Also with the computer is my vision. My eye muscles get weak and it turns into slightly double vision and also this horrible headache. Phones aren't the easiest because of having to hold my arm up to hold the phone. My arms feel like I had a major weight lifting work out after I get off the phone.. for a few days. Also with the phone my breathing, face muscles and voice are affected. Talking too long my jaw gets super weak and in pain. My voice can get weak after a while but fortunately that hasn't been too bad lately I don't think. But the biggest thing I have to be aware of is my breathing. When I talk too long, or do anything too long, my diaphragm gets weak and if MG hits it hard I will land in the hospital.
Visiting with people. Imagine all the things listed above happening at once. That's why it's hard for me to go out frequently. It's also mentally and physically draining in general. I enjoy seeing family and friends but I have to do so sparingly so that I can actually enjoy those moments rather than struggle so hard through them. I need to rest when I talk so that my jaw keeps moving, my voice keeps working, and my diaphragm gets a break. If I'm standing, I will soon need to sit. If I'm sitting I will soon need to put my legs up. If my back isn't supported, I will soon need to lay down. Sensory overload may or may not hit me and if it does I need to go into a quiet room and do nothing until it goes away. Some lights affect me. Temperature definitely affects me. Fumes and perfumes affect me. Too much noise and commotion can affect me. I can get mentally exhausted as well as physically exhausted.
Eating. It's so important that I eat as healthy as possible. This means organic, non-gmo.. cutting out dairy, sugar and gluten/yeast/carbs as much as possible. I'm planning to write a post regarding this in the near future. But basically all that stuff we call "food" really isn't food, it's poison to our bodies and mine especially. My body is extremely sensitive to everything. I've noticed such a difference since eating the way I do now. And yes, sometimes I give in, but I really pay for it.
Driving. Again the blood pooling in the legs thing, and obviously that happens if I'm just riding in the car too. So if I'm riding I try to put my legs up, or at least crossed on the seat with me. Driving also tires the heck out of my arms from having to hold them up. I also sometimes get motion sickness driving or riding. That just makes me feel so sick for a while. My vision will start to go if I don't get to lay down/breaks within sitting, standing or walking. This means things turn hazy or cloudy or I have a lot of trouble focusing and that headache kicks in. Oh and my neck and back need to be supported because that's my weakest part currently.
So pretty much what this all adds up to is my body can only tolerate a small dose of anything. I need lots of rest breaks... rather I need "breaks" of activity with lots of rest, if that makes sense. I try to do as much as I can, live as normal as possible but this is in fact far from normal. I'm just used to it and I've come to acceptance on it. I still feel so blessed for all that I have and all that I can do. At the end of the day it's not about what you look like, what your physical abilities are, what type of job you have if any, or how many things you can accomplish in a day. It's about you who are on the inside... having God on the inside... and letting Him shine through you through it all.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying. Thanks for sticking with me! God bless.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Happy Mother's Day
As everyone celebrates their moms today, I celebrate my mom who has taken on more than the responsibility of mom. As if being a mom wasn't enough responsibility.
When I'm too weak, she does my laundry.
To conserve energy, she cooks my meals.
To again conserve energy, she drives me.
When it's a long walk, she pushes me in the wheel chair.
Knowing that stress brings on my conditions, she makes those stressful phone calls for me.
When I can't go shopping myself, she shops for me.
When life gets so tough and I feel so abandoned, she's right there to comfort me.
My mom has taken on the roles of mom, housekeeper, cook, chauffeur, receptionist, secretary, care giver and friend. I'm sure a lot of moms already feel that way, but I never thought that would be a possibility for my mom when I'm the age of 30.
The lives of those who live with or are in a relationship with someone with a chronic illness are greatly affected. I am so blessed to have a mom who has helped me pick up all the pieces that came crashing down when life hit me hard. I don't know how she does it all but I continue to pray one day she no longer has to do it all... that she can regularly do something nice for herself because I can do all those other things myself, every single day.
To all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day. To all the moms out there who take on all these other roles in addition to mom, Happy Mother's Day and so much more. You are a blessing and recognized far too little for all that you do.
When I'm too weak, she does my laundry.
To conserve energy, she cooks my meals.
To again conserve energy, she drives me.
When it's a long walk, she pushes me in the wheel chair.
Knowing that stress brings on my conditions, she makes those stressful phone calls for me.
When I can't go shopping myself, she shops for me.
When life gets so tough and I feel so abandoned, she's right there to comfort me.
My mom has taken on the roles of mom, housekeeper, cook, chauffeur, receptionist, secretary, care giver and friend. I'm sure a lot of moms already feel that way, but I never thought that would be a possibility for my mom when I'm the age of 30.
The lives of those who live with or are in a relationship with someone with a chronic illness are greatly affected. I am so blessed to have a mom who has helped me pick up all the pieces that came crashing down when life hit me hard. I don't know how she does it all but I continue to pray one day she no longer has to do it all... that she can regularly do something nice for herself because I can do all those other things myself, every single day.
To all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day. To all the moms out there who take on all these other roles in addition to mom, Happy Mother's Day and so much more. You are a blessing and recognized far too little for all that you do.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Obstacles or Opportunities
What if we changed the way we look at things?
When something that comes our way that is typically seen as an obstacle, what if instead we see it as an opportunity? Perhaps even a gift from God- as they say- a blessing in disguise.
Lost your job? Maybe there is one so much better for you just waiting for you to grab it. Or maybe you are supposed to have this time to yourself for self reflection and personal growth.
Getting divorced? Maybe you will be able to obtain something you couldn't if you were consumed within that relationship. Or maybe there is someone who is a better fit for you out there going through the same thing.
Chronic illness? Maybe God wants more time with you that wouldn't be possible unless you were pretty much forced to spend more time just laying in bed. Maybe He wants to show His strength through you. Maybe He wants to increase your faith and lead others to Him through you. Maybe He wants to show you what amazing things He can do when you realize how much you lost but how much more you can gain.
In a rush at the store and the person in front of you can't seem to come up with the money to pay their bill? Pay it for them. Stuck in traffic and see someone with a flat on the side of the road? Pull over and help them. You aren't going anywhere anytime soon anyways. Every obstacle leaves room for opportunity.
I don't have all the answers, and I don't claim to. But I'm going to bet you if we start looking at obstacles as opportunities we'll all smile a little more and bring more joy to one another's lives and to one another's hearts.
Obstacles are endless. Opportunities are endless. You just have to determine which one you want to see and which one you want to reach out and grab... then go out there and get it.
God bless.
When something that comes our way that is typically seen as an obstacle, what if instead we see it as an opportunity? Perhaps even a gift from God- as they say- a blessing in disguise.
Lost your job? Maybe there is one so much better for you just waiting for you to grab it. Or maybe you are supposed to have this time to yourself for self reflection and personal growth.
Getting divorced? Maybe you will be able to obtain something you couldn't if you were consumed within that relationship. Or maybe there is someone who is a better fit for you out there going through the same thing.
Chronic illness? Maybe God wants more time with you that wouldn't be possible unless you were pretty much forced to spend more time just laying in bed. Maybe He wants to show His strength through you. Maybe He wants to increase your faith and lead others to Him through you. Maybe He wants to show you what amazing things He can do when you realize how much you lost but how much more you can gain.
In a rush at the store and the person in front of you can't seem to come up with the money to pay their bill? Pay it for them. Stuck in traffic and see someone with a flat on the side of the road? Pull over and help them. You aren't going anywhere anytime soon anyways. Every obstacle leaves room for opportunity.
I don't have all the answers, and I don't claim to. But I'm going to bet you if we start looking at obstacles as opportunities we'll all smile a little more and bring more joy to one another's lives and to one another's hearts.
Obstacles are endless. Opportunities are endless. You just have to determine which one you want to see and which one you want to reach out and grab... then go out there and get it.
God bless.
Friday, May 2, 2014
100th Post!
Happy 100th post! Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me along the way! I appreciate you so very much.
I'm standing on a staircase. I'm neither at the top nor at the bottom, but there are many... very very many stairs below me. How did I get to the stair I'm on now? I climbed there.
laid off from my job
moved away from everyone I knew
apartment problems
car problems
pneumonia
pneumonia again
unable to work
a 2 year battle of doctors telling me it was all in my head
hospitalization
losing a loved one by their own will
Myasthenia Gravis
more hospitalization
having to leave a loved one
plasmapheresis
surgery
pulmonary emobolism
POTS/Dysautonomia
having to move back in with parents
being in a battle every single day... against your own body
I climbed those stairs. I didn't know what each one would contain. Some I stopped on longer than others. But I always kept going. I never gave up.
I am certain there will be many more stairs in my future. But you know what is great about climbing the staircase? You can turn around, look back, look down, and say wow, I did all that. I made it.
Some people rarely deal with hardships in life, it's almost as if life is handed to them, an easy life, right there on a plate. And sometimes it's the people who you think least deserve such a great plate full of life... while those who strive to live a good life are handed garbage after garbage after garbage. It stinks right? Why do bad things happen to good people? I've got 3 points here.
1. I can't take credit for this one, I got the idea from the movie God's Not Dead... yes, I really liked that movie... and I highly suggest you go see it! And this won't ruin it, so keep reading. Anyways, maybe some of those who have those good plates, the devil just leaves alone. He leaves them alone because some of them are so far from God he doesn't even have to do anything! They are keeping away from God on their own! So why touch that? He wants them far from God and he doesn't even have to do anything! But then there are the good people who get so many bad things happening to them. Maybe it's because the devil needs to give them a fight, a reason to question God, to pull them away from their walk in the Light. If the devil already has you on his side, why put something bad in your way? If the devil sees you are on God's side, he's going to want to put you under attack. Keep that possibility in mind every time you encounter a struggle. It will make you want to push through it that much harder and that much stronger! Resist the devil and all his evil ways! Rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior!
2. If you had no struggles in life, what have you accomplished really? Did you have anything that really opened your eyes? Changed your perspective? Transformed you into a better person? All those steps I mentioned, that's one heck of an accomplishment... and one that doesn't get recognized by society. But I am certain if you stay close to God in the midst of hardship, it will most definitely get recognized on the other side in Heaven.
3. To bring you closer to God. I don't know if I ever would have a personal relationship with Him if these things didn't happen to me. When we are weak is when He can show how strong He is. Glorify Him in all things. So for that reason, I can look back on these stairs and say wow I did it but if this is what brings me closer to God, if this is what transforms me into who He wants me to be, would I do it again? Would I choose to walk those stairs if I had the option of staying on one floor? Yes, I would. I would do it all over again for God is my strength and He can and will get me through it.
Don't focus on your struggles. Focus on your God who can get you through those struggles. Glorify Him. Put Him first in your life, and watch what amazing things happen to you, with you and around you. Praise Jesus!
God bless you all.
I'm standing on a staircase. I'm neither at the top nor at the bottom, but there are many... very very many stairs below me. How did I get to the stair I'm on now? I climbed there.
laid off from my job
moved away from everyone I knew
apartment problems
car problems
pneumonia
pneumonia again
unable to work
a 2 year battle of doctors telling me it was all in my head
hospitalization
losing a loved one by their own will
Myasthenia Gravis
more hospitalization
having to leave a loved one
plasmapheresis
surgery
pulmonary emobolism
POTS/Dysautonomia
having to move back in with parents
being in a battle every single day... against your own body
I climbed those stairs. I didn't know what each one would contain. Some I stopped on longer than others. But I always kept going. I never gave up.
I am certain there will be many more stairs in my future. But you know what is great about climbing the staircase? You can turn around, look back, look down, and say wow, I did all that. I made it.
Some people rarely deal with hardships in life, it's almost as if life is handed to them, an easy life, right there on a plate. And sometimes it's the people who you think least deserve such a great plate full of life... while those who strive to live a good life are handed garbage after garbage after garbage. It stinks right? Why do bad things happen to good people? I've got 3 points here.
1. I can't take credit for this one, I got the idea from the movie God's Not Dead... yes, I really liked that movie... and I highly suggest you go see it! And this won't ruin it, so keep reading. Anyways, maybe some of those who have those good plates, the devil just leaves alone. He leaves them alone because some of them are so far from God he doesn't even have to do anything! They are keeping away from God on their own! So why touch that? He wants them far from God and he doesn't even have to do anything! But then there are the good people who get so many bad things happening to them. Maybe it's because the devil needs to give them a fight, a reason to question God, to pull them away from their walk in the Light. If the devil already has you on his side, why put something bad in your way? If the devil sees you are on God's side, he's going to want to put you under attack. Keep that possibility in mind every time you encounter a struggle. It will make you want to push through it that much harder and that much stronger! Resist the devil and all his evil ways! Rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior!
2. If you had no struggles in life, what have you accomplished really? Did you have anything that really opened your eyes? Changed your perspective? Transformed you into a better person? All those steps I mentioned, that's one heck of an accomplishment... and one that doesn't get recognized by society. But I am certain if you stay close to God in the midst of hardship, it will most definitely get recognized on the other side in Heaven.
3. To bring you closer to God. I don't know if I ever would have a personal relationship with Him if these things didn't happen to me. When we are weak is when He can show how strong He is. Glorify Him in all things. So for that reason, I can look back on these stairs and say wow I did it but if this is what brings me closer to God, if this is what transforms me into who He wants me to be, would I do it again? Would I choose to walk those stairs if I had the option of staying on one floor? Yes, I would. I would do it all over again for God is my strength and He can and will get me through it.
Don't focus on your struggles. Focus on your God who can get you through those struggles. Glorify Him. Put Him first in your life, and watch what amazing things happen to you, with you and around you. Praise Jesus!
God bless you all.
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