Last October I experienced a severe bout of vertigo, so
severe we called 911. I felt as though I was in the middle of a merry-go-round
with everything spinning around me, totally out of my control. I could not
walk. I became so nauseous I felt as though my body convulsed. My hearing was
garbled.
That night I was treated with medication at an urgent care facility. It did not solve my problem, and I continued to have less severe
attacks. I eventually saw an ear, nose and throat specialist who diagnosed
Meniere’s disease, prescribed medication and put me on a low salt diet.
Probably a month passed before I felt like myself again. It was
a long haul. And I live with the consequences. If you’ve ever monitored your
sodium intake, you know this is no easy task. Everything from bread to milk
contains sodium. Don’t even think about eating cheese, the love of my taste
buds.
The vertigo experience left me shaken and leery about
accepting speaking engagements. What if I suffer an attack “on the road”? Can I
trust God that it won’t happen again?
Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience. Oh, not vertigo
itself. But the feeling that life is out of control, spinning around you and
you can’t do anything about it. You pray and pray and pray. You beg God to
change your circumstances. Perhaps you face a dire diagnosis or a dim future
after a major loss. How do you help yourself when you feel helpless?
How do you regain trust in God?
You keep the FAITH. God has permitted this situation to
touch your life. Yes, you may struggle, but struggles make you stronger. Faith is holding on to what you know is
true when what you see as true
contradicts it.
F – Forgiveness – We accept forgiveness from God, so we
extend forgiveness to others. We are all flawed human beings. Whoever may have offended
you is made in the image of God. Their action against you may have been
intentional or unintentional. You may not be able to forget. And you may never
forge close ties with the offender, especially if the hurt involved abuse. But
as you consider why they may have acted as they did (perhaps they themselves
were deeply hurt in the past), you will find God’s Spirit helps you shower them
with grace. I’ve at times echoed Jesus’ prayer: Father forgive them for they
know not what they do.
A – Attitude – Live with an attitude of humility. Realize
you do not have all the answers or you would be God. Be teachable. When life
overwhelms me, I seek advice from other Christians. I once visited a counselor
when I needed help in dealing with a situation. The older I get, the more I
know what I don’t know and the more I know God does not expect me to walk this
path alone. He is with me, and He sends other Christians to strengthen me.
I – Inner Peace – Our inner peace comes from knowing Christ.
Acknowledge him as your Savior. Look to him daily in prayer, and do what he
puts on your heart. Accepting Christ was the best decision I ever made, and
through Bible reading and prayer, He nourishes my soul.
T – Trust – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean
not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will
direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). When you don’t know which end is up, wait
and trust that God will pull you through. Whatever has spun out of your control
is under his control. I write this Bible reference on greeting cards and keep
it in mind at all times.
H – Hope – Live with a hopeful spirit that tomorrow will be
better. With hope in my heart, I asked my doctor if Meniere’s disease is
manageable or am I bound to have attacks from time to time. He assured me if I
stick to the plan, I should be OK. So I hope to manage the disease. No matter what we face on this earth, with God’s help, it is manageable. And no matter
what we face on this earth, this is not all there is. You cannot even imagine the glories of
heaven or you would be all too eager to get there. So settle down and hope for
what is to come.
Live in the moment with an awareness of God’s Presence. Let
go of the past. Let God take care of the future. That’s FAITH. Faith is holding on to what you know is
true when what you see as true
contradicts it.
#keepthefaith #FriendsoftheHeart.us
Photo by Firaaz Hisyari from Pexels
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