An Answer

I was sitting here, Skyping with a concerned friend who had heard that I was struggling. And I started crying as I relayed to him the frustration I've been feeling from the past week. I explained how this society revolved around food, and how it had always been my dream to travel to Italy and indulge in the best of the best, and now I couldn't. I apologized for my endless rants and complaints, and said how much I hoped he didn't think I was just being a whiny baby about this. 

I cried and said, "I just wish I knew. I wish I knew if this was God giving me a challenge for my personal journey, or if this is just an unfortunate diagnosis I received at a really bad time. I just wish I knew if He had something to do with this or if it's something He didn't plan."

Literally, as I said these words, my phone signaled that I received a Facebook message. I picked it up, read it, and my heart stuttered. It was from a good friend in my school Christian organization. It read as follows: 

"I love you and you're in my thoughts and prayers. I know you're having a rough time, but God wouldn't be having you go through it if it weren't for a good reason and purpose." 

The message continued for a few sentences, wishing me well and encouraging me to find a good church, ending with more "I love you"'s. 

I have never felt God telling me something as much as I have in these past few days. I have never felt His presence as much as I do now.

Never again will I think that this is not a part of His plan. 

Sure, I will still get frustrated time and time again. But this new knowledge--that this is in God's plan and that this is to strengthen me--will carry me through all trials associated with having Celiac. Especially having Celiac in Italy. I am overwhelmed with the abundance of His love and mercy, and hope to share with others what has happened and will continue to happen for me. 


Nothing is going to happen to me that the Lord and I together can't handle.