There have been plenty of times in my life when the circumstances I was facing threatened to crash over my head and drown me -- I couldn't imagine how I was going to make it through!
One of those "BIG WAVE" times came on me in the early summer of 2011. I began to experience some double vision which was eventually attributed to "thyroid eye disease" related to my bout with a hyperthyroid condition known as Graves disease (talk about an unfortunately named disease!). I began going to an ophthalmologist who tried to treat it with some steroids over the course of 6 months or so. The steroids didn't help (they didn't even buff me up!) so Dr. Chen provided me with a vinyl prism that was attached to the right lens of my glasses which sort of helped my vision to be single (although it wasn't completely clear, so everything seemed a bit cloudy).
One of those "BIG WAVE" times came on me in the early summer of 2011. I began to experience some double vision which was eventually attributed to "thyroid eye disease" related to my bout with a hyperthyroid condition known as Graves disease (talk about an unfortunately named disease!). I began going to an ophthalmologist who tried to treat it with some steroids over the course of 6 months or so. The steroids didn't help (they didn't even buff me up!) so Dr. Chen provided me with a vinyl prism that was attached to the right lens of my glasses which sort of helped my vision to be single (although it wasn't completely clear, so everything seemed a bit cloudy).
This all took place while I was only working at my church on a 1/2 time basis and trying to bring in some extra income by drawing caricatures. How was I supposed to draw when my vision was all screwed up?! Why was God letting me suffer financially and now physically? I sought out healing prayer at a number of worship services, but didn't see any difference (pun intended).
But I experienced a curious thing. Not only was I not hampered by having to draw with one eye closed, I actually found that my drawing was coming easier with better results! I'm not sure if there is an explanation for this, but I think that God was proving his presence and power in the midst of a time of discouragement and anxiety. After 1 1/2 years and four surgeries, my eyes are almost completely back to normal and I have a wonderful church family in which I can practice my gifts in ministry. God has grown my faith and the confidence that He can do anything - my problems are never bigger than his omnipotence (that's a $20 theological term for God's attribute of being all-powerful).
So what tidal waves are threatening to drown you? How might developing the child-like faith that believes "My God can do ANYTHING" help you get through the next moment, hour, day, week, and however long it takes? Join us this Sunday, September 1st, and we'll talk about this a bit more.
But I experienced a curious thing. Not only was I not hampered by having to draw with one eye closed, I actually found that my drawing was coming easier with better results! I'm not sure if there is an explanation for this, but I think that God was proving his presence and power in the midst of a time of discouragement and anxiety. After 1 1/2 years and four surgeries, my eyes are almost completely back to normal and I have a wonderful church family in which I can practice my gifts in ministry. God has grown my faith and the confidence that He can do anything - my problems are never bigger than his omnipotence (that's a $20 theological term for God's attribute of being all-powerful).
So what tidal waves are threatening to drown you? How might developing the child-like faith that believes "My God can do ANYTHING" help you get through the next moment, hour, day, week, and however long it takes? Join us this Sunday, September 1st, and we'll talk about this a bit more.
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