This week, participating in National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness week, I made a conscious effort to not grumble or complain. That is almost impossible but I did try. Then I remembered that today would be Thankful Thursday and I could utter (or write, really) the words that very few people understand…I am thankful that I have multiple sclerosis.
Have you ever faced a valley time in your life? A dark place, an obstacle so much bigger than you, a situation that seemed hopeless? In Psalm 23 it says this:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4
The valley of the shadow of death is referring to those dark periods, those valleys I referenced above. In II Corinthians 12:9, Jesus says “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.
You see, friends, it is when I am my weakest that His incomparable strength can truly be seen. It is when my flesh is rendered useless that His will can be accomplished. If I was still my “able-bodied” self, I would be back in the rat race of life, corporate America and checking off boxes on my good Christian list.
Attend church- check.
Volunteer at free clinic- check.
Put money in the offering plate- check.
But I didn’t know Jesus then. I hadn’t let Him fill all my empty spaces.
And now, post-MS diagnosis, post-independent, career woman Melissa I can finally say I am set free, through the precious blood of Jesus, from needing to strive to please Him, from having to accomplish anything in my own power, from having to earn my space. Jesus knows me and every day I know Him more.
That is why I am thankful for this illness. It brought me to a place where I can know my Jesus. If that is what it took, how can I not be thankful for it?
What are you thankful for today?
