Christine's Story

2 Corinthians 12:9—But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

This verse pretty much sums up my life…

I was very blessed to have grown up in a Christian home with a godly family, a Christian education, and life in the church. I accepted Christ into my heart when I was five. Throughout the years, I continued to grow. I dealt with a few “growing pains” and struggles in my teen years, and I didn’t have much of a desire or passion to grow more spiritually. I was going through the motions. When I was a senior in high school, preparing for graduation and post-high school, the events of one night changed the course of the rest of my life, and God was going to use that for his glory.


One evening I experienced the symptoms of a brain hemorrhage. Miraculously, my dad, who is a surgeon and had an understanding of this from his studies, was at home at this time and knew what was happening. He was able to rush me to the hospital and I was able to get the treatment, surgery, rehab, and care I needed.


Life could never go back to the “same.” I had to regain my ability to walk, talk normally, and even swallow regular food and drinks. At first, my mind and body were in power save mode. I did what I had to. As a few days went by, I began to question my future, my abilities and new limitations. Would I be able to graduate with my class in a few months? If not, I had no desire to graduate later, and I was not going to let somebody wheel me across the stage. (I have always had a stubborn personality, and you could say it has been both a blessing and a curse.)


God provided for me medically, with wonderful doctors, successful surgeries, and being able to regain the important abilities needed for a normal lifestyle. God allowed me to graduate with my class, but from that season on, life followed a different course than I had previously imagined.


Through this event and beyond, I have seen the importance of the Body of Christ. God definitely used other friends, believers, and those in the church to minister to my family and me. From notes of encouragement to cooked meals to visits to arranging car rides, I saw the beauty of the church- the body of Christ- from around the world. God also ministered to me through Christian music. Reading was not always enjoyable to me earlier, so I loved listening to music. I found messages in the lyrics that pointed me to Scripture.


Over time, I have continued to grow and heal. I am so thankful to be where I am now. I obtained my degree from the community college here and have had the opportunity to work full-time. God has provided for me, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, and I want to grow to be more like Him. 
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This is where 2 Corinthians 12:9 comes in. I am nothing without Christ. Through my weakness, He shines through. I always need God to be my strength; I am learning to be dependent on Him. It’s an ongoing process; I am still learning and growing. But I know God has been faithful, and I can trust that his faithfulness will continue.