Over the years, lots of stories about my journey into blindness have been written. After a particular magazine interview, I dialed the phone. “Mom, I just finished an interview and I really think the writer is going to do a good job. I think you will like the article.” I continued. “And, Mom, she asked if she could interview you. She only has a few questions and I wondered if you could?”
My mom hesitated. Her response taught me so much about God’s grace.
Hi Jennifer,
I have admired your wonderful outlook with a disability, and that it does not hinder your walk with others or with God personally. I led a Bible study in my home with many ladies using your video studies. They were so wonderful. Now I am experiencing something new. I was recently diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a rare vocal disorder that inhibits my speech. I am not able to speak. This is a great hindrance to my daily life. I’m just trying to cope with it and thought I would write to you for any advice you may have for me, as I now also have a disability.
Delisa
ANSWER:
Hi Delisa,
I’m so sorry to hear of this new difficulty you are facing! Oh girl, I don’t have any profound advice…. I just walk by faith and trust God more than my feelings when it comes to this kind of thing. The main thing that came to mind when I asked God for any specific word for you was this – be patient with yourself and be patient with God. He will grant you grace for your present moment, so don’t worry about your future or pine away for the past. He will carry you through this….
Dear Jennifer,
I was so inspired when I first saw your video on Walking by Faith: Lessons I Learned in the Dark. I’ve had a bad case of tinnitus for almost 1 1/2 years with severe hearing loss in one ear and several sounds that constantly are hard to put out of my mind.
I am a born again Christian but have been struggling with this since I can’t seem to get my mind off of it. With the hearing loss, it makes it even harder because the noise seems to be louder. I am doing some biofeedback and taking anti-depressants which do not help a whole lot. This problem has really been severe for me and my husband, who is also a Christian. He gets so tired of hearing me talk about it. It really gets me down. Since it doesn’t appear God is going to heal me, do you have any ideas on this type of affliction?
Your Friend, Discouraged
Jennifer’s Answer:
Dear Jennifer,
I have written to you before, but that was about two years ago. At that time in June, I lost my eyesight in my right eye do to a blood clot going to the retina and exploding it. They called it a main retina occlusion. The doctors say there is nothing they can do to reconstruct it, and now my left eye is getting blurry.
I was in bed for a year and a half due to depression. I then put the armor on more. I listened to healing tapes and prayed with my prayer partner and best friend. Two months ago I was getting the point…then I seemed to get knocked down again with the flu, which in turn pushed me back in bed and back into depression. How do you do it? You’re blind every day and yet you keep working and giving a smile with your songs and testimonies.
Love, Pam
Jennifer’s Answer:
