One thing I can see clearly through blind eyes is that self-reliance is not all it’s cracked up to be.
I used to think that if I could just rely on myself – if I didn’t have to depend on others – then I would experience real freedom.
But, blindness just makes total self-reliance impossible. And, to be honest, sometimes dependence on others can feel like prison bars which keep me from the freedom of independence.
My friend, Margaret Feinberg, has been in a gruesome fight with breast cancer. Though she has been thrown on one of the toughest battlefields of life, her response has been startling and challenging to me.
You may be on a battlefield of your own, and you may be at your wit’s end, a weary warrior — trampled and discouraged. So, I asked Margaret to share a piece of her story with you to encourage and inspire you to keep on trusting. If you want to go deeper, check out her new book and Bible study, Fight Back With Joy, filmed with LifeWay. I have no doubt my wise and inspiring friend will give you the Biblical truth and companionship you need to fight any battle you face with tenacity and joy!
Dear Jennifer,
I am leading your Missing Pieces Bible study at my church. We need some clarification on the conclusion of Day 1 of Week 1.
One lady on the first night shared that one of the questions she has of God is, “Why do I suffer with all this pain? I’m not old enough to hurt so bad.”
The next night we read that you wrote, “We often assume God’s apparent inactivity in our situation is evidence of His neglect [so far, so good, but . . .] when it really may be His way of showing compassion to protect you, provide for you, or preserve you.”
Help us understand how your quote relates to that lady’s question. Thanks a bunch. We had 23 show up for our first session. Praise His holy name!
Michelle
Dear Jennifer,
I have been reading your book, Lessons I Learned in the Dark, and you say that one should rejoice in their 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 that socially; I have not experienced what others have experienced at my age. I try to pray, but feel I make little progress. Your book makes it seem 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, Wendi
Jennifer’s Answer
