This past Sunday I had the opportunity to share my testimony with my home church. One of the key parts of God's work in my life was my diagnosis of having type 1 diabetes. As I described last week, it caused me to rethink many things in my life, particularly in regards to food and health but in other areas as well.
There have actually been many people over the years who have asked me variations on the same question: "Don't you wish there was some way you could just take off your insulin pump and no longer be a diabetic?" There are certainly some appealing aspects of such a possibility. I wouldn't have to worry about regulating my blood sugar, monitoring everything I eat. I would have back some freedom.
But at the same time, there are a lot of cons about potentially being liberated from diabetes. I wouldn't be nearly as self-controlled as I am (and trust me, I have a LONG way to go), and I wouldn't care about my weight or my health nearly as much. If even those two things kept developing over time, I would end up being so lazy, wasting my time and not caring for my body in the way that I ought to be. My guess is that my girlfriend and I would not be together, or else she would have to drill self-control and diligence into me on a regular basis.
More than that, this is what the Lord has put in front of me as I strive to serve Him with my life. Clearly I am able to handle everything that comes with diabetes, or God wouldn't have given it to me (1 Corinthians 10:13). This is a way that I am able to grow in my sanctification and maturity in Christ; who am I to pass that up?
When I first was diagnosed, I thought that this would be a great opportunity to share with others who may be going through the same things as I am. Certainly there have been opportunities where I've shared what the Lord has taught me through this. Little did I realize, however, how much I would grow personally from all that has come with diabetes. This is the way the Lord has made me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.