Praising God While Riding My 4-Wheeler

 I drove the 4-Wheeler down the dirt road this evening. While driving I did my best to hold back tears as I praised God with excitement and an awareness of where He brought me from. There was a time I couldn’t drive a vehicle much less a 4-Wheeler due to seizures caused by a brain injury, but God brought me through it.  There was a time when I only prayed, hoped and dreamed to be on this side of the battle….healed.

I thank God He healed me! 

This time last year I was struggling to survive. Three years ago an EEG showed a spot on my brain. My former diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures was changed to epilepsy.  It was common for my day to consist of twenty plus seizures.  Life was a constant battle. A battle to survive.  Because of seizures I fell often, in falling I hurt my back and couldn’t walk in a store without falling or being in intense pain so bad I would need to go out to the vehicle and wait. Tests showed I had degenerative disc disease, arthritis, thinning cartilage between two lumbars, inflammation and spurs. Because of this I had to use a wheelchair in stores for around a year. It worked on my pride immensely. 

I thank God I am not where I use to be. I am healed! 

God answered my prayers. In a couple weeks it will be one year since God healed me of seizures.  July will be one year since I had to use a wheelchair.  This time last year I was on all kinds of medication.  Soon it will be one year that I haven’t had to take any prescription medications. 

I know beyond a doubt God healed me. I know where He brought me from. I know where I am today. I am living what a Physiatrist, a Neurologist, among other specialists told me I would never live.  At the beginning of last year a Neurologist told me I would have Epilepsy for the rest of my life. But God!  

Some say God doesn’t heal. You came by to late to tell me He doesn’t do miracles. I am one.  I know what I went through. I know what it is like to come out of the stormiest nightmare and see the sun shine.

Whatever you are going through, whatever storm is in your life, trust God. He will never leave you, He will never forsake you.  I know this world is dark and lonely, but I also found in the darkest midnight God was with me. He is with you.  Cling to Him.  Trust Him. Call out to Him. 

Maybe you are mad at God, it does not surprise Him. He knows.  I have been mad at God. I have also experienced His love break through my anger and calm the chaos inside of me.  

Maybe you think you have run to far from God to want you. You haven’t.  God does not require you to clean yourself up before coming to Him. He wants you to come just as you are. He will clean you up.  

You do not have to walk this life without God. Walking with God does not mean you won’t have problems, it does mean that He will be with you to lead you, to guide you, to comfort you, to shine His light and help you through.

I have tried to walk without God, it’s miserable, but walking with God, that changes everything. 

For ten years I fought to survive. I fought to live. If not for God I would not be here. It would take a book and then some for you to understand what God brought me through.

Tonight I praise Him for where He brought me from. On the other side of trauma, walking in healing and grace that can only come from God. 

I don’t understand His mercy. I don’t understand His grace. I don’t understand why He loves me and saw fit to pull me out of the grave. I don’t know why He healed me. I don’t know why He cares. I do know that He is able. He is gracious. He is merciful. He is good. His ways are not my own. He is more than enough for me. He is all I need. He provides. He guides. He gives. He takes away. He is the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end. His is faithful. He is love and He alone gets all my praise.