PERSONAL TESTIMONY                                                            Jonathan Spoerl

            My testimony is the simple story of how Christ's love became known to me in a personal way through my physical
circumstances.  My present physical situation is the result of a brain injury and a neuro-metabolic illness. It was not the result of an accident, as many brain injuries are. Living life with a disability assumes that there will be limitations that come with it, and it is imperative to my walk with the Lord that I grasp on to the sustaining truths of God's word. The pillar's of encouragement are plentiful in the Bible and have been a Godsend through the trials that I have experienced following my brain injury. 

                    One of the most influential scriptures in the Bible to me is "All things shall work together for good to those that Love God and are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28)   This verse gives assurance that all things, whether seemingly good or bad will work according to the will of God, and that is what the goal of each Christian should be.  God has a different purpose for every circumstance that enters the believers life.  It is our responsibility to have faith that God is at work.  It is this that I draw upon as my strength in times of weakness.  For Christ's work in my life has proven in me an example of Christ's "strengthening power" through weakness. 

          When I was just beginning high school I came down with a metabolic illness which in turn affected other areas of  my neurophysical ability, and changed all aspects of my life.  Before this illness touched my life I was like any active athletic teenager without a care in the world.  Unfortunately, like many young people, I was unaware that my circumstances could change so quickly.  Before my brain injury I had every hope of doing the things other people my age do without thinking twice.  Because my circumstances are somewhat different than they once were it is imperative that I compensate for my limitations.  In so doing, I have succeeded in finding other activities that I enjoy and are accommodating to my limitations.  

           It is through my physical weakness and iniquities that Christ has taught me to rest in him, and he will provide all my needs. "My Grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12).   Through the feelings of inadequacies I have often felt, I am encouraged by the truth that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13) It is this very truth of God that Christians can dwell upon when difficult circumstances occur in their live's.   

           Unlike many peoples' history of brain injury, mine was acquired through many months of oxygen deprivation to my brain as the result of central sleep apnea, which developed in the aftermath of my illness.  Central sleep apnea is a condition where the center in the brain that controls the autonomic process of breathing at night does not work properly.  As a result of having prolonged apnea my brain chemistry was altered in the areas that control sleep breathing.  Since my parents were puzzled for some time regarding the cause of physical problems I was having there was permanent damage done to my brain.  Accompanied with my acquired brain injury were other autonomic functions including walking, talking, and swallowing which were hindered.  My difficulty swallowing made verbal communication, eating, and drinking extremely difficult.  Along with the language processing disability I was born with, my ABI made school and everyday life all that much more difficult.           

          As these circumstances occurred in my life the Lord has led me to draw upon his undying love and the security that I have through faith in him.  I believe and have been encouraged by scripture that by "Being confident in this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:6)  I have become so very confident in His love for me that "I can press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
(Phil. 3:14) 

          One of the most significant aspects of accepting that I am Created in Christ's image has been the challenge of accepting myself for who I am and not what I can do physically.  Becoming aware of the reality that living with a disability is going to be challenging, and at times frustrating is one of the hardest things that I dealt with when I was introduced to disability.  When I lost my own sense of control and individuality is when I realized my need for the savior, Christ Jesus.  "By the grace of God I am what I am." This scripture reminds us that we are indeed created by God and by his perfect Love and Grace, therefore I can have faith that Christ is in control of all things and of every circumstance of life.   

          Developing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ has given me a knowledge base to understand and to meet the challenges caused by my disability.  Then, with God's help I will be better prepared to understand and conquer the challenges ahead.  Once I began to trust in the Lord for my future I became better aware and better able to help others gain a sense of peace regarding their own healing and sense of confidence.  The bridge between life with a physical disability and life without is similar in many ways to living every day with a positive attitude, instead of living life with one of contempt and bitterness towards life and those around you.   Living life by the spirit of God, by faith allows the Christian to rest in the precious gift of salvation, and the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary, to those who believe.  "Therefore do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  While we do not look at the thing which are seen but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."(2 Cor. 4:16-18)

          Christ Jesus, through the finished work of his death on Calvary has given us all freedom from the condemnation of sin and death that we would otherwise be the recipients of.  We, as citizens of this fallen world are given the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  The Gospel, “ For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten so, that whosoever, believes in him should have everlasting life.” (John 3:16")  The message of the Gospel gives everyone the possibility to spend eternal life with the Lord Jesus in Heaven.  All that is required of us is that we believe that he paid the ultimate price of sin and death, and ask him to become the Lord and Savior of your life.  By doing this, we who become children of the living God are freed from all condemnation of sin and guilt.  Those who become children of God will spend eternity in paradise, experiencing all the glory of our heavenly father the Lord Jesus Christ.
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