Suffering Transformed to Perseverance

Life. Life is beautiful. Life is scary. Life brings struggles.

Where is God through the struggle?

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of twelve. I was in sixth grade, already handling the transition from elementary school to the awkward middle school years when I was suddenly diagnosed with a chronic illness. If you do not know what type 1 diabetes is, it is a condition where your pancreas no longer works, requiring 24/7 access to artificial insulin through injections for the rest of your life. When your pancreas quits on you, the hormone, insulin, that regulates blood sugars is no longer functioning properly in your body. This can cause your blood sugar to rise to dangerous levels and result in further health complications. Once someone is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, they will forever be required to inject insulin (through shots, pens, or an insulin pump), check their blood sugar (through finger sticks or wearing a continuous glucose monitor), and count carbohydrates. Along with high blood sugar, diabetics experience low blood sugar, requiring consumption of fast acting sugar to increase blood sugar levels. All this together becomes a 24/7 job to manage your life in a way you never knew you would experience.

As a diabetic, I must think about the foods I am eating to ensure I receive the correct amount of insulin, I must think about the time I am working out and what to eat prior to prevent a dangerous low blood sugar, and I must wake up multiple times in the middle of the night to correct high or low blood sugars. Even things as simple as taking a shower can be halted by the struggles of type 1 diabetes. It can be very difficult to stay positive and want to persevere through this diagnosis when you are constantly struggling with the battle. Type 1 diabetics have no days off.

I began writing this post after I had a bad diabetes week. I went through many severe low blood sugars where my body became immensely weak, and I would shake. This created a consistent cycle of feeling defeated and having to force myself to eat when I did not want to yet had to to survive.

Although this may all seem negative, I want to let you know that I have not allowed this diagnosis to turn me into a pessimist. Where there are days that are harder than others, there have been days where I almost forget I have type 1 diabetes.

Some days are difficult and I long to be “normal”, not having to worry about the efforts I must take to survive and “feel like everyone else”. It is crucial for anyone diagnosed with a chronic illness to find the positive outlook on life and hold on to something that keeps you going and keeps you motivated to fight through the hard days.

Personally, through the struggles I look to the Lord. I surrender my disappointment, my pain, my sadness, all to God. Surrendering to God and submitting everything you have to Him releases the weight of life off your shoulders. God wants you to release the grip of control on your life and allow Him to conduct His will for your life.

Instead of filling my head with doubt, fear of failure, and giving up I reflect on these verses:

Psalm 46:5, “God is within her, she will not fail.”

Psalm 68:19, “Blessed be the lord! Day after day He bears our burdens; God is our salvation.”

---

As I wanted to post this blog yesterday, I did not feel ready, so I went about the rest of my day. This included attending a young adult service where the message was about pressure. I felt God speaking to me as I had been struggling with my diabetes and the stresses of school this past week and I am writing this blog about struggles after all. God is good!

In the sermon, I was reminded of the verse Romans 5:3-4.

Romans 5:3-4, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Honestly, without the struggles, why would we need God? Allow the struggles you face to become a reminder of your dependance on the Lord.

When we approach the pressures and struggles we may face with a positive outlook, it creates all the difference. Allow your perspective on the struggle to become one that reflects on how much stronger you will become after facing this upset.

Jesus is much greater than our suffering and His faithfulness remains through all we endure. We must remain faithful to the Lord and see Him continue to work all things for good in our lives.

Reflect and remember God’s faithfulness. God is with you through every season. He is sitting on your bed right there with you as you cry. He is sitting in the car right next to you as you question why you signed up for another job. He is there to pick you up where you fall, brush off the dirt, and realign you onto the path He has for you. You just need to submit and surrender. As Carrie Underwood said best, “Jesus, take the wheel.”

When you accept Jesus into your life and believe He died on the cross and rose again for your sins, the Holy Spirit now resides in you. With the Holy Spirit, we are all given the strength to persevere through the struggles.

Giving your life to Christ does not eliminate the struggles, but it provides a way to get through the struggles.

I pray that we all have hearts dedicated to Jesus and trust His plan for our lives. I pray we do not lose sight for all God has done for us amid the struggle. Let us all challenge ourselves to keep our eyes aligned on the Savior and have hearts that love Him as He loves us.