An Excerpt From My New Book: Disabled, Yet Victorious

In the next few weeks, we are going to be exploring my new book titled Disabled, yet victorious. Many go through life depressed and envying others because they think if they had been born differently, or if an  accident  did not happen, their lives would have been perfect and happy. But a happy life is not necessarily about good things happening around you, it is about fulfilling the purpose for which you were sent to do in the world. You may never find fulfilment until you understand your shape, discover your inherent abilities and get to work on them.

Our experiences are beyond our control. They are allowed by God to mold us for his purpose. We have various kinds of experiences in different areas of life, but the most notable is a painful experience brought about through problems, disappointments, hurts, denials, inabilities, rejections, thorns, and trials. God never misses a hurt, infact; your life message will most likely come out of your greatest hurt. Who could better counsel  the parents of a Down syndrome child than a couple who have a child afflicted in the same way? Who could help a widow recover faster than another woman who had lost her husband. Who could help an alcoholic recover than someone who fought the same demon and found freedom?

To effectively understand your assignment in life, the very experiences that you hate and resented in life, the ones you have wanted to hide and forget are the same ones that God wants to use to help others. They are your purpose, your message and ministry

Be  Ready To Share Your Pain

For your pain to be used, you must be willing to share them. You have to stop hiding and covering them up. You must honestly admit your faults, disabilities, fears, and failures. People are more encouraged when we share how God helped us overcome our weaknesses than when we boast about our strengths. Only shared experiences can help others. It is what you do with what happened to you. What will you do with what you have been through? Don't waste your pain; share it with others as someone probably needs to hear it.

Take Pleasure In Who You Are

We should believe that the maker who molded every creature knows what is best for each of his creation.  Therefore, we should gratefully accept the way he has fashioned us. Were you born with a handicap or it came about by an accident? Your shape, your pain, your thorn was sovereignly determined by God for a purpose, so you should not resent or reject it. And instead of trying to be like someone else, celebrate what God has given you and take pleasure in who you are. Afterwards, you are going to be in that body for not less than seventy years, if you live that long.

Part of loving yourself the way you are is recognizing your limitations. No one is good at everything, and no one is called to be everything. You should never compare yourself to anyone because you will always find someone who seems to be doing better than you and you will become discouraged. Or, you find someone who doesn't seem as effective as you are and you become swollen with pride. 

This segment will be continued again. Until then, stay upbeat and excited about life.

Yours.

Elizabeth