Today I would like to introduce you to one of my friends. Nancy and I attended Lancaster Bible College together. I have enjoyed reading Nancy’s journey of faith through Facebook and would like to share her story with you.
Nancy’s Story
written by Nancy Evans Roskowski
I have walked with Jesus since I was a little girl. He has been by my side through the ups and downs of life. There has been so much that He has taught me about His love for me, shown by way of His suffering-filled death on Calvary. I have seen God do so many amazing things in my journey. Yet on this stretch of the river of my faith journey, He needed to dry-dock me. He had so much intricate, detailed work to do on me, and I had to be “put out of commission” to do so.
My dry-docking came in the unexpected form of Parkinson’s Disease. It was something that started rearing its ugly head in my mid-thirties to my mid-forties. I just didn’t realize it. No one in my family had it. When I was diagnosed the week my fourth child was becoming a teenager and a few months before I turned 50, the wind was taken out of my sails.
You see, God wanted to chisel away at the gunk buildup of pride hiding in the corners of my heart. My self-sufficiency was traded for dependence on others in a very visual disease that erodes at one’s personal dignity. My fears and anxiety that were covered by the seemingly benign mask of worry that came in the form of “what if…” and “how will I…” was now faced with the reality that only God can do what needs to be done. My following the rules was swapped for a body that wouldn’t work with most medications, and they would often cause bad side effects. The culmination of this was a Deep Brain Stimulation surgery that had excruciatingly painful results of constant headaches 2-6 at a time, 24/ 7.
This, by the world’s standards, is not a happily ever after story, but it is so, so much better. You see, with Parkinson’s Disease, God is inviting me to come closer to Him. I have drawn water from His never-ending wellspring of Living water for 49 years, but now He is calling me to come nearer to the source of the wellspring where the water is gushing out. When fears grip me -as anxiety is part of the disease- He calls me to hold onto His Anchor because it will keep me from going overboard. When my pain is at its worst, He puts His arm around me and tells me to lean on Him. My Captain is stronger than whatever storms come my way.
My healing of the headaches may not come until He calls me Home, where He will also completely heal me from Parkinson’s in the process. But this I know: my Anchor holds. My Captain loves me, and He is preparing me for the day He calls me to sail His peaceful waters. The sanding and painting while being dry-docked is painful, but the finished result will be so worth it!
Prayer written by Tina
Heavenly Father,
I do not understand why my sister-in-Christ must endure so much suffering, but I trust Your plans for her. You are good even in our times of pain. She is such an inspiration to me. Her life shines brightly for You.
Lord, you said we should bring our requests before you, and so I ask that you would bring healing to Nancy. Your will be done. We choose to trust you in sickness and in health. We want to honor you with our lives, even when we are going through difficult circumstances.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
P.S. Nancy, keep writing and sharing your story. God is using you!
Mosaic created by Autumn Krouse and the Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts
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