A Life Worth Living
“God’s ways are often not what we would choose for ourselves, but that ultimately His ways are the greater good.”
A friend recently asked me how having a daughter with a disability has grown my faith. Her question intrigued me. Certainly, Sarah has filled these last 14 years with incredible joy. I cannot – I dare not – imagine my story without her in it. Sarah has taught me how to love unconditionally, how to embrace life fully, and how to experience happiness and all-out delight daily.
But there have been hard times, too. Times of fear and great sadness. Too many nights spent next to Sarah’s hospital bed, wondering if she would survive another day or be taken home to Heaven before the next sunrise. It’s during those times especially that Jesus increases my faith. Trials have a way of doing that. They give us opportunities to trust the Lord with our lives and the lives of those we love. They teach us that we are not in control, reminding us that God’s ways are often not what we would choose for ourselves, but that ultimately His ways are the greater good.
Sarah is Christ’s image bearer, and Jesus has worked through her powerfully to demonstrate the eternal truth of Scripture. He reveals Himself through her, and she and I both depend on Christ’s mighty power working within us to help us through every heartache, every disappointment, and every day. To think anything less – to believe that we can do anything in our own strength – well, that would be utterly foolish.
So when people ask me how I can hold on to joy despite the daily bumps and bruises of life in this imperfect world, I tell them that Sarah and I have a secret. And this is our secret: Christ lives in us (Colossians 1:27)! That’s how we keep smiles on our faces in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, and that is why life is sacred.
When we look at one another, if we choose to see through God’s eyes, we won’t see facial features or body types. We won’t see age or developmental stages. We’ll see Jesus.
Jesus Christ lives inside each one of us. When we look at one another, if we choose to see through God’s eyes, we won’t see facial features or body types. We won’t see age or developmental stages. We’ll see Jesus. Recognizing that reality and seeing the God-given sanctity of every human life will then influence how we treat each other, how we make decisions, and how we respond to whatever this lost and dying world throws our way. It will grow our faith.
No matter what difficulties and disappointments we face – be they related to disability or not – clinging to Christ is what will allow us to see the value in our own stories and in the stories God is writing through others. For just as we accepted Christ Jesus as our Lord, we must always continue to follow Him, letting our roots grow down into Him and building our lives upon Him. Then our faith will grow strong… and we will overflow with thankfulness in all things (Colossians 2:6-7).
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6-7
The Lord has done some miraculous things through Sarah over the years, and I know the best is yet to come. Her life gives us a beautiful example to follow. It’s a life worth living.
Written By—Shauna Amick
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