When I was younger I read the autobiography of Joni Eareckson Tada entitled, Joni.  If you aren’t familiar with her, she dove into a shallow bay and became paralyzed from the shoulders down. Her story of faith is most definitely inspiring. I was much too young to fully and completely grasp all of her story at the time, but her words have never left me. I have pondered on them more times than I can recall in my life and wondered why they stuck so vividly. Little did I know as a young girl reading this heartbreaking story, that I would someday be drawn to her on a different level decades later. 

Fast forward to now and how life intertwines in wondrous ways! Recently, I was studying and reading in a book that I call ‘my go to book’ – Hope, by Nancy Guthrie. It was given to me shortly after my baby girl met Jesus. Since that day, it has been a book I lean on and reference so very often! The author writes about Joni Eareckson Tada in a segment called A Bruising Blessing. She quotes Joni from an interview she had explaining that if she could take her wheelchair to Heaven she would (before asking God to send it to Hell) and then she would thank Him for it because her journey as a quadriplegic is what enabled her to discover Jesus more deeply and lean on Him. Joni has made her life a living testimony and brought forth so much goodness as a result of her story. A Bruising Blessing indeed!

I have often felt God working in my own life much the same way. First, how my relationship with Him has grown through my dependency on Him. Walking through troubled waters is not possible without Our Savior. I have seldom chatted with myself like this  – ‘Girl, you have two choices. One, run from God because of the sadness and the piercing wounds and be angry for it all. Or two, trust and then run to God for the same reasons’. Neither option changes the path, but choosing to run to and with God makes the journey possible! Enduring the pain I carry and living with these heavy weights are in no way possible on my own. Secondly, God has used, and is using, my own bruising to bless others and lead them to Him. On a much smaller scale than Joni Eareckson Tada of course!

This is not always easy and let me be fully transparent here … it is not something I am happy to be offering or would choose! Quite the opposite! I would hands down still rather have my girl with me on this earth and bless others in a different way!  However, I do trust in God’s plan (I plan I don’t understand) and that is what makes the difference. I know He uses the pain and suffering of others to further His kingdom, to draw His children closer to Him, to reach the lost — as He equips the broken to be His hands and feet. I do love this and have been incredibly blessed by those who are this kind of inspiration to me. I’m grateful to have found hope in the stories and testimonies written and being lived out by others. This wouldn’t be possible without their pain and the heaviness they bear. The same is true for me. God uses brokenness to lead to beauty and hope.

I’ve struggled with embracing Gods plan in countless ways. It takes a great deal of Heavenly perspective to maintain! Choosing option two requires choosing option two over and over and over again. I’m continually being nudged to open my eyes to the brokenness rather than give in to my tear-stained-cheeks. A life long nudge I’m sure. The strength I muster up is sometimes seemingly barely enough … and yet it is always enough to keep me pressing on! If God gave us all we need all at one time, we wouldn’t need Him on a regular basis. Right? Instead, we have just enough to keep afloat and just enough to continue reaching for the Life Ring.

One of my favorite passages in the bible comes from Psalm 23. 1.The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2. He lets my lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name sake. 4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley; I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me.

He renews my life and leads me along the right paths for his name sake! God will not direct us down a path that is wrong when we seek His direction. Amen! Trusting Him and believing that the path you are on is for good takes faith and a whole lot of prayer! Giving my life to Jesus meant surrendering to my ways and picking up my cross to follow Him. Knowing that my story, this heavy cross I carry, and my bruising has become or will become a blessing (to someone) gives me hope and just enough strength in the struggle.

May Waker, You are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me. As you use my bruising I know You will lead me to the quiet waters where I can find renewal and strength. This heavy cross I bear is made possible to endure through Your strength and grace and they draw me closer to You. I’m thankful You give me just enough while I continue to lean in and on more of You.

Dear Friend, may you too, be encouraged by your own bruising and know that in the midst of the pain, God is using you to bless others and further His mighty kingdom..