I’m so excited to share with you something from my daughter Charity.
As a result of a mass on her brain stem when she was twenty-six, Charity lives with incomplete-quadriplegia. She wrote the post below. I think Charity’s words from a power chair will touch your hearts and you will remember them in whatever struggles you may be facing today.
My Blessing of Struggles
By Charity George
Sometimes I feel like one of the Greatest Blessings of my life is the presence of struggle.
I don’t think that most people like struggling. In fact, when I look at the vast majority of inventions, they are for that very purpose, to ease struggle. A dishwasher helps us ease the struggle of washing big loads of dishes, a potato peeler eases the struggle of peeling with a knife, even movies entertain us so we don’t need to struggle with our thoughts.
Recently though, I’ve discovered how vitally important struggling is for me. Sometimes I feel surrounded by struggle, reaching, speaking, pulling…and my wonderful helpers see this, and because they have such hearts of gold, try to ease my struggling by moving the cup closer, picking up that sock, and handing me the remote.
But then, I began noticing a loss in my range of motion. My arms were stiffer, my fingers even slower than normal. So, even though it pains my helpers to watch me struggle, I’ve asked them to not help me so much because, IT’S GOOD FOR ME TO STRUGGLE.
One of the Greatest Blessings of my life is the presence of struggle. Share on XYet, they don’t leave me to struggle alone, but they will sit with me in the midst of it.
What a picture of Jesus that is to me.
He never promised to take all of our struggles away. Some struggling is important, even essential for our growth.
Not struggling can lead to laziness, a sense of entitlement, unwillingness to adapt and accept, or lack of empathy and negligence of responsibility.
Yet, He promises to be with us always. Jesus promises to be with us in the midst of our struggles, to give us peace, and to comfort us.
He’s given us His beautiful Words to soak into our souls, to transform our struggles into the greatest blessings.
Gina Castell
Great encouragement. What a brave girl Charity is. I’m convicted. I can be the type of girl that likes everything easy. Not that I’ve never struggled in my life. This is a good reminder that life is not supposed to be easy…thank you for that.
Charity
Thank you for your kind words!
Cheryl Balcom
Thank you, Charity, for this fresh perspective. Like Romans 8:28-29 says, God always brings good from our struggles. ❤️ God bless you!
Charity
Thank you, I appreciate this!
Sue vogt
Thank you, Charity!
Charity
Thank you, Sue
Dyann
So good and true. We often avoid the very thing God wants to use to strengthen us. Thank you Charity
Charity
Yes we do! 🙂
Sur Kroeker
Thank you so much for this, Charity! It reminds me of the song Through it All. I’ve learned to trust in Jesus; Learned to trust in God. Through it all I’ve learned to depend upon God’s Word. We love you❣️
Charity
Thank you, Sue
Ben Watson
Charity, thank you for this good post. Our struggles are different. I’m totally blind so have to struggle with inaccessible web sites, apps and the cost of making all this stuff work. I struggle with other people’s attitudes about me. I’m sure you do too. But all these things, light struggles and heavy struggles are good for me because they make me rely on the Lord Jesus. Do you find this true? I’ll bet you do. Keep struggling, and growing both physically and spiritually.
Charity
Thank you, Ben, that was encouraging and so true!
Deb Woollen
Love you so much my friend! My life was changed by your friendship!
Charity
Deb! Miss you so much! I feel the same way:)
Lizzy Slotkin
You are an encourager!
Your words, spoken from the midst of your suffering, strengthen us in our walk of faith.
Thank you, darling sister!
Mike Siebert
Wow, just wow, what a picture! Thanks! You might remember my mom who broke her neck when I was 5. She was eventually able to walk, but scare tissue put her in a cart eventually and struggle was real for her as well. Thanks for sharing.
Kim
Thank you for your reminders and your attitude of trust in Him. You are so encouraging to me!
Linda Brucato
So uplifting to know how our heavenly Father cares so much for us and has given you His presence and His people to help you, even as YOU are helping us to accept hardship.
Carolyn Eumurian
Thank you, Charity. I needed to be reminded of this, too. Struggle brings strengthening and the presence and comfort of Jesus. Thank you for this needed challenge to press on!