Taking up Your Crown

“Are you ignorant!?” Suddenly the man’s voice seemed to be louder than it was just moments ago. As my face went warm I felt every eye in the store turn my way. Being an employee, leaving was not an option.

Instantly my mind went back to other days where similar insults were thrown at me. Some people are very gracious, patient, and understanding with me concerning the auditory processing disorder that impacts my ability to process and understand sound. Unfortunately, this man in the store was not so understanding with my asking him to repeat himself, and his frustration with me was contagious. It was not long before I went from being disheartened, to being frustrated with myself as well. I had to remind myself:

• He does not know my story.

•  He does not know how hard I have to work to understand him.

•  He does not know that what he is expecting of me is something that is physically challenging for me.

In the midst of his comments and frustrations with me I had forgotten that for me to be standing in that place was a victory.

I got so caught up in the moment and one person’s opinion that I had forgotten my victories.

You can’t wear both, a victim’s clothes and a victor’s crown.

I was reminded that day that the sufficiency of Christ is more than enough for me. I cannot get through a day without Him. That weak place in me – the place where my ears are ringing, and the world is spinning, where sound cannot be processed, and where I literally have passed out trying to process it all – that place is where my strength is.

This is the place that I find myself daily praying for the Lord to open my ears to hear what I need to hear, my eyes to see the things I need to see, and my mind to understand what I need to understand.

And daily, He answers me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

What area in your life do you need to trade your victim’s clothes for a victor’s crown?