Today’s a new day!
Over the past twenty-plus years, I have walked through one of the most difficult journeys of my life. There have been diagnoses I never expected, hospital stays, surgeries, treatments, setbacks, moments of uncertainty, and seasons where I had no idea what tomorrow would bring.
People have often asked me, “Have you ever asked God, ‘Why me?'”
My answer has always been the same.
No.
Not because there is anything wrong with asking that question. In fact, many faithful men and women throughout Scripture poured out their hearts before God. They asked difficult questions. They lamented. They cried. They wrestled with pain. God is not afraid of our honest questions.
But for me personally, “Why me?” was never the question God placed on my heart.
Instead, from the very beginning of this journey, another question kept rising within me:
“God, what are You trying to teach me in this season?”
That simple shift changed everything.
Instead of only looking for an explanation, I began looking for His presence.
Instead of demanding answers, I started seeking wisdom.
Instead of focusing only on what I had lost, I began discovering what God was building inside of me.
Looking back over these twenty-plus years, I realize that some of life’s greatest lessons weren’t learned on the mountaintops. They were learned in hospital rooms, waiting rooms, sleepless nights, rehabilitation sessions, and quiet moments when all I could do was trust Jesus.
So, what has God taught me?
I’m glad you asked.
God has taught me that my identity is not found in my health but in Him.
When your body begins to fail, you quickly discover that your worth isn’t measured by what you can accomplish. My value has never been based on my strength, my productivity, or my abilities. My identity has always been found in being a child of God.
God has taught me that weakness is not failure.
The world celebrates strength, but God’s Kingdom often works through weakness. It is often in our weakest moments that His strength shines the brightest. My limitations have become opportunities for His power to be displayed.
God has taught me patience.
Healing rarely happens on our timetable. Answers don’t always come when we want them. Waiting has never been easy, but waiting with Jesus has shaped my faith in ways instant answers never could.
God has taught me to treasure every single day.
When you’ve stared mortality in the face, ordinary days become extraordinary gifts. A sunrise. A conversation with my bride, Laura. A laugh with a friend. A walk outside. These are no longer ordinary moments—they are reminders of God’s goodness.
God has taught me compassion.
Pain has a way of opening your eyes to the suffering of others. I have learned to notice the people sitting quietly in waiting rooms, the caregivers who are exhausted, the families praying for miracles, and the person who simply needs someone to listen.
God has taught me that prayer changes me.
Sometimes God changes our circumstances.
Sometimes He changes us while we’re in them.
Both are miracles.
God has taught me that hope is never wasted.
Hope isn’t pretending everything is okay.
Hope is believing that Jesus is still faithful when everything around you says otherwise.
Hope is trusting His promises even when you cannot yet see His plan.
Most importantly…
God has taught me that He will never leave me.
Not once.
Not in the emergency room.
Not in the hospital room.
Not during surgery.
Not during the difficult diagnoses.
Not during the darkest nights.
Not during the countless doctor’s appointments.
Not during the moments when I didn’t know what the future would hold.
Jesus has been faithful every single step of the journey.
If you’re reading this while walking through your own difficult season, maybe your question today is, “God, why me?”
If that’s where you are, know this: God welcomes your honesty.
But perhaps, when you’re ready, you might also ask another question:
“Lord, what are You trying to teach me in this season?”
That question doesn’t minimize the pain.
It doesn’t erase the tears.
It doesn’t guarantee immediate answers.
But it does position our hearts to receive what God may be doing beneath the surface.
I’ve learned that while God may not always remove the storm immediately, He is always present within it. Sometimes the greatest miracle isn’t that our circumstances change overnight—it’s that Christ transforms us as we walk through them.
My health journey has been long.
It has been difficult.
It has been painful.
But by God’s grace, it has also been one of the greatest classrooms of my life.
And for every lesson, every trial, every unexpected detour, and every reminder that His grace is sufficient…
I simply say:
“Thank You, Jesus.
Now, Lord…
What would You like to teach me next?” ~OC
