I spend a great deal of time in bed due to my illness & have made some amazing friendships & really feel like God has given me a ministry on the Internet reaching out to other people who are hurting & encouraging them. I am on Facebook, twitter, & other social networks. But my family sees this as an aimless waste of time & tells me that I don’t have real relationships with these people so I can’t truly make a difference. Do you think they are right? And if not, how can I convince them that people online need the Lord too & I may be someone they reach out to? -Renee (real name withheld)
Renee, I disagree with your family. God has given us a wonderful tool to use to glorify Him. I have been a support group leader for people who suffer from dysautonomia, a rare/chronic illness for over a decade. One person in particular I finally got to meet in person after chatting & supporting them on the internet for a whole decade. And I can say that it was not a waste of time, she was & is a real person who God lead me to help time & time again.
I just had a book come out nationwide on living with dysautonomia. There is an article on the book & they interviewed Floy my internet friend. She stated how I was always there for her, when her husb& walked out, when her son went to college, when she had to go to the hospital & when she was depressed. So, yes I made a difference in her life. That is living proof that you can make a huge impact through the internet.
What is important to remember is that we are here on earth for God & not ourselves. So we need to answer to God. I have found that serving other dysautonomia sufferers is what God has called me to do. I actually work for God, & although I suffer greatly from my illness it gives me great joy, hope & love when I help others for our Lord Jesus Christ.
The fact is the only one you need to answer to is God. Your family members are human, the bible clearly says not to lean on men for strength, but on God.
When I first became ill in 1997 I searched daily for someone who suffered from the same illness. One day I signed on the computer & I had a message from a girl who was suffering just like me. I sobbed with joy that there was someone else like me. That is when I knew God wanted me to reach out to others & help them. I feel Renee you are right in Gods path & that by helping others you are working for God & I consider the best job in the whole world.
Lynn Fox Adams, author of “God Needs ME: Living with Dysautonomia,” has been bed ridden for the past 15 years with a rare chronic condition called dysautonomia. When she lost her job, family members, savings & all of her physical abilities she turned to God & has found that He is all she needs. She has had the honor of being featured in a variety of newspaper articles & magazines & has spoken on Capitol Hill in front of house & senate. You can contact Lynn at lynnfoxadams@charter.net .
