I’ve read Aaron Armstrong’s blog, Blogging Theologically, for some time. Yesterday was the first time I could remember his wife, Emily, blogging.
Her first sentence was powerful and immediately drew me in:
I was diagnosed with epilepsy on Friday.
Her post is a picture of a person receiving the new diagnosis that she will carry the rest of her life. Obviously there was something wrong or she wouldn’t have been meeting with doctors. But the day the diagnosis comes is different than other days.
And unlike my own experience with my son, she received the blow by clinging to truth. After quoting from a section of the Bible that is very precious to me, Psalm 139:15-16, she wrote this:
I was intricately woven. All the days of my life have been planned. Every moment.
While this brings comfort, it also hurts. It is a strange mix of pain and awe to know that an infinitely wise God has crafted my brain just so.
Since my son also deals with seizures (none since early summer; praise God for medicine and prayer!), I’ve learned things like: 200,000 people will be diagnosed each year, and over a lifetime nearly 10% of Americans will experience a seizure. These very large numbers can overwhelm us – what can we do?
Emily Armstrong demonstrated one thing we can do – we can prepare ourselves and our families for what God has for us, no matter what it is. She didn’t cling to Psalm 139 in those moments after diagnosis because she accidentally opened her Bible and found it. It was already a precious and well-known truth.
And we also don’t need to put on a false front. It really hurts, and God is good. Let’s be ready by lingering in God’s word, both to receive the blow and to walk, with tears of grief as well as confidence in God, with those who have received such news.
The Works of God 
I just found this blog today and I want you to know that I appreciate the work you are doing here and I will be a regular reader.
God bless you!
Love your message of love John
Thank you for the article! I appreciate it
Jennifer
It really hurts, and God is good. Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. Boy and I living that up close and personal right now. I have been struggling with feelings that I can’t even put into words right now. It just hurts. While I am watching the news do stories about a local girl who 3 weeks ago was paralized in an accident and how the community is coming around her, fundraising and donating everything the family needs including a brand New wheelchair van and major home remodeling, special equipment to make their life easier, I am struggling. Hurt, sorrowful for my own son who has a disease that has taken away his ability to walk, how we have fought over the past few years with insurance to get even the most basic needs meet. How we have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars to do the most basic renovation of our home. How we had to drive many miles just to purchase a used wheelchair van that 4 years later we are still paying on. I felt guilty to have these feelings and yet I don’t know what to do with them. It hurts to see all this happening for her, my son even asked why, he wondered why no one cared about him. It is a struggle for me, I am rejoicing with the family and yet grieving as well…… yes it hurts.
The accidents that disable people are sexy and attract attention. The kids who are born with genetic problems (like my daughter) or develop diseases aren’t. Perhaps that’s because people see accidents and think, “Oh, that could happen to me”, a selfish response at it’s heart. Or, maybe on the neutral side, it’s just because the accidents get in the news, people know about them, and the genetic and other issues don’t qualify to have our kids on the news.
It is hard, and there aren’t easy answers. God is sovereign, yet bad things happen to people, and when it’s kids, that’s even worse. But I know that God cares, he cares about you, your son, and your family. And I care about you even though I don’t know you. I will pray for you and your son. I will pray not only that you find comfort and encouragement, but that some of the financial burden is helped as well.
I remember well when my mom was diagnosed with epilepsy at 30 yrs old, it hit her in the bathroom as she brushed her hair, fell back and broke her head, 22 stitches ~ it was a blow to our family. I believe God is in all, especially in the pain, it is He that gives purpose to the heartache and sorrows and, will bring beauty from the ashes~ Wonderful post! I’m sorry about this diagnosis ~ God will compensate in a million ways. Sincerely ~Deborah