You Ask It, I'll Answer It
Dear Jennifer,
I have been reading your book and you say that one should rejoice in your suffering. All I seem to do is get frustrated and depressed. I have the same trials day in and day out. People making fun of me or dismissing me because they see I have a disability. I feel that I always have to prove myself to everybody, even though I have become a success. As you say in your book, I have become very independent, but I feel isolated. I feel I have not experienced socially what others have experienced at __ years old. I try to pray but feel I make little progress. Your book makes it seem as if this whole thing has been a pretty smooth ride for you, with a few bumps in the road in which you are able to conquer most everything.
Thank you,
Whitney
Answer:
Hi Whitney,
Thanks for your honest email. I have a lot of empathy for how you feel. I have felt that way many times. The road of faith is full of bumps and lonely places. Please know that just because you are reading words that communicate the lessons I've learned along my path of faith, doesn't mean they were easy lessons. The book is the polished result of lots of private tears and feeling the harsh rub of life's sand paper upon my heart.
When I say "rejoice" in our circumstances, I say that only because it is an act of obedience. I rarely feel like rejoicing. I am still on the path of faith, too. I still feel immense frustration from time to time. There are days that the blues get the best of me. I struggle with isolation, too. But, I keep walking by faith and that is my hope for you, too. We will someday be in Heaven where our faith will be sight, there will be no more tears, and we will know as we are known. That is worth rejoicing over!
Hang in there sister--do not lose heart.
Bless you,
Jennifer
And now the beans are officially spilled.
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