Broken but Blessed

My sister and my husband decided to challenge each other to a climbing rope game at the fair. It was hilarious. As my sister tried one last time to climb the rope, the man in charge of the game also climbed the rope. My sister flipped off the rope at step 3...the man made it all the way to the top. She felt so defeated. I started joking with her that I bet I could climb that rope with no problem. At this point, the man began climbing the rope with one hand behind his back; but halfway through his climb, he pulled his arm out from behind his back to help him balance. Of course, my sister called him on it; she told him that I cannot balance myself. He accepted the challenge and climbed the rope one more time keeping his arm behind his back. And by golly, he did it! He climbed to the top with one arm to use! It was so much fun watching!

I think back over the last year and a half since my car accident, I can truly say I have been blessed. February 2018...life seemed impossible. I cannot do life with one arm! The moment that I realized I can do life with one arm was the moment I held my nephew for the first time. In that moment, I saw a little light of hope just laying in my arm. You see, my sister was due to have him at any time when my car accident happened. Jacob came two weeks following my car accident. That little fella will never know just how much of a light and blessing he was to me during that time...and still is today. You see, I realized that even though I am broken, I am still blessed.

March 15, 2018 - the first time I held my nephew - also the first picture of me since my car accident

We often times feel like God is punishing us when we are faced with hardship and tribulations. Sometimes, that is the case. Sometimes, it is not. Deuteronomy 29:29 - "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us..." God does not tell us why we go through hard times; we can speculate, but He does not directly tell us. BUT, He does tell us what those trials and tribulations will do for us. Check this out:

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:3-5

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" II Corinthians 4:17

My trials and tribulations...being hearing impaired, experiencing a tragic car accident, losing my arm, chronic pain...those hardships are molding me into the person I am to be. We don't see suffering, hardships, and trials as a good thing...they are sometimes horrible and unbearable. And yet God uses these moments to continue to mold us. This little saying came across my Facebook the other day, and I want to share it with you.

Grapes must be crushed to make wine.

Diamonds form under pressure.

Olives are pressed to release oil.

Seeds grow in darkness.

Whenever you feel crushed, under pressure, pressed, or in darkness,

you're in a powerful place of transformation.

Trust the process.

Trust God.

So often we forget that God has a purpose in E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G in our lives...I know I have! But God's Word tells us that as a child of God, we are being conformed into His image. Romans 8:28-29 says,

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Philippians 1:6

Dr. David Jeremiah said, "Christians can have joy in tribulation because we know God is transforming us. We can face the difficulties of life knowing that God is moving us." So, I may be broken, but I am BEYOND blessed! I choose to find joy in my hard times because I know it's God molding me into the image of Christ. I don't have to like my hard times...and believe me, I quit being an arm amputee everyday...but I ACCEPT it! Hold on to the truths in these verses mentioned above, especially during your trials and tribulations. It may not make sense why, but God is using it to mold you into the image of Christ...and in that, you can find joy, hope, and peace.