Why do I deal with Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes and Deafness?

It is God's way of arousing me from spiritual lethargy. My problems were not really punishment (in a way, they were); they are wake-up calls from my loving God. God is not mad at me; He was mad about me, and He did whatever it took and brought me back into fellowship with Him. (I was a prodigal Christian) God is aware of my suffering and sometimes allow me to go through very difficult things so I can get my priorities straight. God has me here to become more like Him, fellowship with other believers. There are many disabled people like me who continue to suffer both chronic physical distress and misunderstanding from our Christian brothers and sisters. My suffering is masked by my healthy appearance. I may not be in a wheelchair and I can hear pretty normal with the help of hearing-aids. My pain and disability are real and chronic. This is called "invisible disabilities." People like me encountered the impatience and defeatism that often characterize the community's (especially Christian) attitude toward those whose ailments are not obvious, invisible, and usually non-terminal. Those with invisible disabilities are often expected to do what is beyond them. Suffering is the Will of God, which purifies our faith, to the glory of God (1 Peter, verses 6-9). (Also read 2 Cor. 1:3-7 and James 1:3). The core of God's plan is to rescue us from sin. Joni Tada: "Sometimes God will use suffering and affliction to sandblast us to the core and get us seriously thinking about larger than life issues of heaven and hell, I just don't know that we would think about these issues were it not for an ice-cold splash of suffering waking us out of our spiritual slumber. God's purpose in redeeming us is not to make our lives happy, healthy, and free of trouble. It is not an escape from our physical pains. His purpose is to make us more like Christ. He will chose to allow spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis or blindness or stroke or Alzheimer's or whatever to not only teach us, but also our loved ones, about what it means to become more like him." 1. Suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. Romans 5: 1-5 (NIV)"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." 2. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 3. Suffering produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." 4. Righteousness and peace through holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices. I Peter 2:5 (NIV)"you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 5. Spiritual sacrifices in knowing what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Summary: What is God's Will in my life? God's purpose in redeeming me is not to make my life happy, healthy, and free of trouble. It is not an escape from my physical pains. God's purpose is to make me more like Christ. He will chose to allow my deafness, multiple sclerosis and other trials not only teach me, but also my loved ones around me, about what it means to become more like Jesus.