Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3
Sometimes we say, “Why me Lord?” When we struggle we may question many things.
With our children with various challenges coming at them daily you may have asked yourself, “Why my child Lord?”
I am going to let out a little secret here … I am nearing 50 in the next several years. I am not sure how I will feel when it actually gets here, but I am hoping it will be like any other day. In saying that as my years increase so does my understanding of many things. Of course I am still learning, but my past experiences have helped me to learn and understand so many things in life. When I am in the midst of any struggle, no matter the severity as the years go on I am more patient and trusting that God will get me through. God uses each and every struggle to grow us and draw us closer to Him.
I actually am humbled when God uses me to go through a struggle because I know that I am going through this so I can help others down the road.
It is not easy.
It is hard.
It is uncomfortable.
It is painful.
It is scary.
My son Charlie who has autism doesn’t understand this yet. He is struggling but constantly trying to figure out so many social cues, what he should do or not do. It is so confusing for him. This is just one of his struggles. The other night it took us together 1 hour for him to have me clip his fingernails. He was so scared. It is usually challenging and takes about 15 minutes encouraging him along the way, but this was a big deal. His hands and body sweating as I tried to grab his fingers. Lord, why was he so afraid? Why is this so hard for him? I know all his sensory challenges, but why does he keep having these daily challenges in his life? Why does it have to be so hard for him?
I believe that God does use ALL things, not just my struggles but even Charlie’s challenges. When I look back at our life together we have overcome so many challenges so far. We have worked on him going to the bathroom on his own, eating more food choices, regulating sounds in the environment to be tolerated,
At my church last week they talked about suffering and our pastor said, “Don’t focus on your suffering, focus on your Savior.” This spoke to me, instead of focusing why my son has to struggle so much, I need to focus on Christ and how he has helped Charlie so far. Instead of saying, “Why my child Lord?” I should say, “Thank you Lord for_____.” There are always things to be thankful for, always. I am thankful that Charlie can use the bathroom himself. I am thankful he can feed himself. I am thankful he has verbal language to express his needs. I am thankful for his every breath.
What are you thankful for? Are you struggling to find things to be thankful for today? Are you weary and feeling exhausted emotionally? God wants you to come to Him and ask for His help. He loves you and is crazy about you and your child. He wants you to lean on Him and trust Him today, tomorrow and the next day.
Watch this great video of Johnny Cash singing Johnny Cash “Why Me Lord.” I hope it encourages you!
Blessings,
Patty Myers
autismblessings
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