If I Told You My Story

There’s a focus this month on autism. Are you aware? It touches many families in our society, some we may not even realize. My sweet friend and fellow Jesus lover, Kim Stewart, understands autism. And here’s her story….

Do you ever find yourself waiting on God to finally answer those prayers you’ve prayed over and over?

Griping and complaining while you wait.

That was my story.

Those were the early years after my son was diagnosed with autism. Not-so-patiently waiting for a cure. Griping that my friends didn’t understand. Complaining that my son wasn’t getting the “quick fix” other children with autism were.

Not that those feelings weren’t valid. Autism. Is. Hard. But I quickly learned that all that complaining was getting me nowhere fast.

So I stuffed those feelings and hid behind the mask of “I’m good” and “He’s doing good.”

Luckily, God didn’t allow that to last too long.

When I was hiding, God knew I needed encouragement. He provided just what I needed through our special needs ministry at church.

I met other moms walking similar paths as mine with their own children with special needs.

I met other women, older and wiser than me, to speak truth into my struggles.

They spoke joyful words. Thoughtful words. Positive words.

They prayed with me and for me. Healing prayers. Not only for my son, but for my heart as well.

They prayed thankful prayers.

No, we don’t have to be happy in our circumstances. It’s okay to grieve for what “we don’t have”. But let’s not forget to be thankful for what we do have.

...let's not forget to be thankful for what we do have. ~ Kim Stewart facing autism Click To Tweet

They encouraged me to seek not hide while I waited.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14 NIV

This is my story.

I’m still waiting. Waiting for a cure for autism. Waiting for that “quick fix” for my son. And now waiting for the answer of what comes after high school?

But in my waiting, God is teaching me to be strong and take heart:

to celebrate my son’s ongoing progress, whether big or small.
to nurture my younger son’s heart for serving children with special needs.
to appreciate my strong marriage, despite the odds when raising a child with special needs.
to be patient, with both my sons and with His timing.

In God we can be strong and take heart. Are you willing and ready? Click To Tweet

Waiting is hard. Autism is hard. I don’t know what the future holds for my son, but I trust the One who holds it.

Do you know someone with autism? There are so many ways to reach out and help:

April is Autism Awareness Month. Click here to learn more about autism: https://www.autismspeaks.org/wordpress-tags/autism-awareness-month

Does your church have a Special Needs Ministry? Some children with autism just need a little extra help in their classrooms. Our ministry has been a God-send to us in so many ways. We wouldn’t be able to attend church without them. They also provide a parent small group experience that allows us to study together while volunteers serve with both our children with special needs and siblings.

Some churches also offer a monthly respite night giving parents a much-needed break for a dinner out while their children (both with special needs and siblings) have a blast with volunteers.

If your church is in need, Joni and Friends is a wonderful international organization that supports churches and their ministries: http://www.joniandfriends.org/church-relations/.

Best Buddies is an international organization that pairs up children with disabilities with peers in their school to be buddies in and out of school. This organization has helped my son so much with his social skills: https://bestbuddies.org

Special Olympics is an international organization that provides sports opportunities for people with disabilities: http://www.specialolympics.org. My son has enjoyed swimming, bowling, track, and basketball with Special Olympics. They are always in need of volunteers!

About Kim ~

Kim Stewart lives in Texas and is wife to Paul, and mom to their two teenage sons. Her favorite things include reading, messy crafts and milk chocolate with caramel.

She writes to inspire women to seek not hide at www.kimstewartinspired.com. While she dreams of writing her own book, you can find her tweeting words from her favorite authors at https://twitter.com/KimStewInspired.

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Did you enjoy this #YourStory? More God-honoring, encouraging, real-life testimonies can be found here.

What are you waiting for, my friend? Let’s hide God’s word in our heart. Join us at #ScriptureBank2016!

Linking up with Intentionally Pursuing, Purposeful Faith, Testimony Tuesday, Jennifer Dukes Lee, & 3D Lessons 4 Life.

A cab ride crossed our paths, complete strangers heading to She Speaks 2015. At weekend’s finale, our friendship was in full blossom. I’m honored to call Joanna Teigen friend and fellow race-runner in faith. Her kind and gentle spirit draw folks, and her words are powerhouses for the Kingdom. She is the author of a book I HIGHLY recommend. (See my review for this wonderful prayer book here.) In the meantime, enjoy her testimony today as she brings God the glory.

Releasing and Receiving

We sat white-knuckled in family court that Good Friday, listening to the judge making plans for our foster son’s future. “Max” had been with us for over two years. He was knitted as closely into our hearts as if he’d been born to us. The decision that day? Caseworkers were ordered to explore placement with unknown relatives several states away. We died on the inside as we faced the possibility of never seeing Max again.

Later that day my daughters and I stepped into our church’s prayer garden. Crying and devastated, we begged God to keep Max safe and bring peace to our fears. The girls left toy cars at the foot of the wooden cross as a symbol of their prayers. When my husband saw those little cars during his own visit to the prayer garden, he broke down.

God’s answer was not what I expected. He didn’t make Max’s journey simple or smooth—the road held many months of twists and turns before it was over. But what He did say was, Give him to Me. On the day we remembered the Father giving up His only Son, we were asked to lay our precious child down.

Releasing Max to the Lord began a transformation in my walk of faith.

It taught me to pray like never before.

In this situation where I was so helpless, I could fall on God’s strength in prayer. I sang songs of blessing over Max as I tucked him into his crib. I’d plead for the Lord to grant him safety, salvation, and security. As I held him in my arms I would beg for strength to give him up. I needed the Spirit to give me a willing heart to obey whatever the Lord required.

**It exposed my attitude that our other four children were mine.**

Holding on so tightly to my kids created anxiety, thinking their well-being and futures rested on my shoulders. The stress kept me frustrated and controlling much of the time. Putting them back in God’s hands set me free to enjoy them more fully and accept them as the unique individuals they are.

It revealed my pride.

I was so sure I was the best mother Max could have. Of course I knew what was best for him—he’d been in our home his entire life. I thought I could do a better job of loving him than God could. Placing Max in God’s hands forced me to trust Him completely and take Him at His Word:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 WEB

The judge couldn’t separate Max from God’s perfect love, even if he was separated from ours.

It opened my eyes to see God’s power.

Our journey became even more difficult as time moved on. Obstacles to adoption piled one upon another, building a wall only the Lord could break through. Moving through the prayers and efforts of friends, dedicated caseworkers, loved ones, and our church family, God gave Max a permanent place in our home.

We gave Max a new name at his adoption hearing. His middle name is now “Isaac”, since the Lord asked us to lay him down again and again. When I speak his name today I remember that God is faithful. He never asks us to give something up without promising blessings in return. Even if we had needed to say goodbye to Max forever, I received more of the Lord in that season than I knew was possible. He truly is enough to comfort any pain, soothe any worry, and surpass any joy this world may hold.

Meet Joanna ~

Joanna Teigen has been married for over 20 years to her husband, Rob, and is mom to two sons and three daughters. She and Rob are co-authors of 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates, A Dad’s Prayers for His Daughter, and A Mom’s Prayers for Her Son. She enjoys homeschooling, marriage mentoring, and life and laughter with her family in West Michigan. Joanna would love to connect with you at www.facebook.com/JoannaBTeigen.

Come join us for more encouragement here: #intentionalTuesday, Purposeful Faith, #testimonyTuesday, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Holley Gerth, Dance with Jesus, and Counting My Blessings.

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For previous #YourStory testimonies, go here. (You won’t be sorry!)

Not sure what to pray? I’d love to have you come alongside me, joining virtual hands in prayer. Check out these #Lordtoday prayers I post regularly on Facebook.

#YourStory: Kim Stewart