“My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians
12:9a
Four and
a half months trapped in a silent world with no hope of finding my way out. I
tried to speak and no sound came out. I couldn’t whisper, couldn’t even call my
husband. But God often speaks through silence.
The
doctors found nothing, even with a laryngoscopy. One told me to force myself to
talk normally and get over it! How’s that for encouragement and professional
advice? I was losing hope.
Months
passed. And God’s silence, as well as my own, dragged on. A notepad accompanied
me everywhere, including the bank. My kids were away at college, so I learned
to text message. E-mail was the preferred method of communication.
I had a
Bible study to lead, a busy life with major commitments. Every woman in the
Bible study had a chance to lead. I sat with my notepad and wrote notes if
necessary. Several women discovered they possessed and undiscovered gift. We
learned new ways to be vessels used by God through being emptied of ourselves. He
didn’t need my voice.
God
spoke through my silence, but He also spoke into my silence. I prayed like
seldom before without the distraction of phones and conversations. My inner
spiritual life soared. God frequently gives object lessons to make us conscious
of areas where we need to grow.
Eventually
God led me to a speech pathologist at our local university hospital. Her
laryngoscopy revealed what no one else had seen, a condition treatable through therapy.
She thought twelve weeks. I spoke the first time. God will not allow us to suffer
one moment longer than necessary.
What
situation in your life seems hopeless? What frightens you? Everything God allows
in our lives is to be used for our benefit and His glory.
When we
take our focus off the obvious and look for what God is saying, He will reveal
His all-sufficient strength. Roadblocks in life are a prompting to seek God and
His plans to thrive through trials and grow. When we give it to Jesus, He will
never let us down.
© Copyright, Norma Gail Thurston
Holtman, July 26, 2011, July 20, 2017
About the author:
Norma
Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction
Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and
poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and
in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance
Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction
Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New
Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with
Norma:
Book Links:
I can't truly imagine how you felt during this time but it is evident that this will allow you to witness to others more effectively. Thank you for sharing and Blessings!
ReplyDeleteNot being able to speak for four and half months, I cannot fathom. Thankful your inner soul took new heights and God's blessings was still there. I truly believe God uses our trials to prepare us to minister to others at times. Blessings and thank you for uplifting deovtionals.
ReplyDeleteWow! Sorry that took you by surprise! But I'm glad God worked through your situation! He blesses us even when things seem impossible or out of our control! Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDelete