This journey with hidden disability can be long at times. And wearing. I find the need for regular encouragement from the Lord. He is so faithful to provide it.
This morning as I had my devotionals, my New Testament reading was in Mark 6. Verses 45-52 say this:
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Oh my. There is so much about this passage that comforts me. Notice the things Jesus did for them.
- Jesus made them get into the boat to go to the other side.
- He went to the mountain to pray.
- He saw them straining at the oars.
- He went out to them.
- He spoke to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
- He climbed into the boat with them.
In this journey with hidden disability I find regular times when the circumstances seem to be rocking my world – the boat I am in seems destined to be overrun with the waves. I find myself straining at the oars, trying to keep the boat moving to the other side.
And along comes Jesus. Isn’t He wonderful? He sees me in my boat, straining at the oars. He comes to me and speaks peace to me. Then, as if all of that isn’t good enough, He climbs into the boat with me.
We are not alone in this journey because we share it with other families. But more important even than that – we are not alone in this journey of parenting special kids because Jesus sees us. He comes to us. He speaks to us. He climbs into our boat.
And that makes my heart so glad. He is so gracious to us. He knows our human frailty. And He loves us.
We are not alone.
–Shannon Royce
Don’t forget to vote for Not Alone in the About.com Readers Choice Awards. You can vote every day until the contest ends March 19th! 
Shannon Royce
Latest posts by Shannon Royce (see all)
- He Is Reliable - March 3, 2015
- Of Healing and Stained Glass - February 3, 2015
- Arks and Altars - January 6, 2015