3 years
- notpopular110
- Jun 6, 2018
- 3 min read
On Friday, June 1st I celebrated the three year anniversary of me being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Yes, I celebrated it. My Diabetes Day! The reason I celebrate it is twofold, first it is a reminder that things don’t always happen the way you want them to, but God is in control. And secondly, its to remind myself that God is a loving, gracious God.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This world is filled with sin and sometimes we forget that sickness is the product of sin. However, I thoroughly believe that pain and sickness help (at least me) appreciate God more. We always think we know what our plans are; where we want to live, what we want to do, etc. etc. But we don’t and sometimes when we get that in our head God must remind us that we aren’t in charge. Now I’m not saying that my diagnoses was because I was getting full of myself, because that’s simply not the case. I had just graduated high school, I was going to attend Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) in the fall and I planned to be a military psychologist. But God used diabetes to show me that, my plans were not his plans, my ways were not his ways. He taught me valuable life lessons that I never would have learned if it weren’t for type 1 diabetes.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I’m thankful for my disease, it has taught me responsibility, dependence, love, and maturity. It’s allowed me to bring myself closer to God and to work through my anger, fear, and sadness. Having diabetes has allowed me to make plans lightly, I no longer make plans by myself, but with fervent prayer. He knows what is best for me and He directs my paths. I am constantly reminded of the plans I thought I had, that were changed so quickly, but so perfectly.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Diabetes is a constant reminder of God’s grace, his love, his sacrifice. I do not have to be worried about this disease forever! I do not have to dwell on things of this world, but on the bigger picture. We will all die and when we do, one of two things will happen. And for me, I will ascend to heaven, I will no longer have diabetes, I will no longer have to worry about my blood sugar, my A1C, my shots, etc. I will be free, I will be healthy, I will be full of life; a perfect, pure, abundant life! Christ knew of our sickness and our pain; He suffered through them too. He wept because of death. He was beaten and shamed. He went through more than we could ever imagine! But He willingly sacrificed himself so that we would not have to go through eternal anguish. He loved us so much that He desired to take that pain away from us, and He did!
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Diabetes is a constant reminder that my life is fleeting, this world is temporary, but God isn’t. He will restore me to perfection. He will restore us all to perfection. And there will soon be a time when there is no trace of sickness or pain or fear, but only peace and love and praise. I praise God for this gift of type 1 diabetes, because with it comes an appreciation of what I would never do, but what I never have to worry about. It comes with the realization that God is so perfect that He would sacrifice everything for use to be perfect too. And that’s exactly what He did.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.