Because He Gives Me Strength

~Originally Posted April 23, 2018 at 8:50 PM

This is from our youngest daughter, Rhiannah. Besides being part of the Gallaghers, she is also part of a musical theatre group that is in the midst of a production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." And she is awaiting surgery...a bit of her testimony - 

"I can do all things through Christ because He gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

These past couple of weeks have been very difficult for me. With Hunchback shows starting and school in full swing, I have had many opportunities for anxiety and/or pain to take hold of my life. Some people may not be aware, but I was born with a deformity in my knees that makes my kneecaps not track properly. This causes my knee to pop in and out of place very easily, which is excruciatingly painful.

I am part of the dance troupe for Hunchback, which I love with a passion, but is very painful for me. Before the start of every show, I spend a few minutes alone with God. I give him my pain, my insecurities, my anxieties as I PHADYB (our family acronym for Pray Hard And Do Your Best). And without a doubt, God constantly reminds me of Philippians 4:13.  As soon as He puts the verse in my head, I am calm and ready to go because I know that God is the only reason I am still able to dance without crippling pain.

I have also been struggling in Math this semester. Battling sickness and test anxiety, my average has fallen much lower than where I want it. On Friday, I was writing my Math midterm, and as I picked up my pencil to begin, I couldn't hold it. My hand was shaking so badly! I was distraught; how was I supposed to write a midterm without a pencil in my hand. I called out to God and again, He brought to mind Philippians 4:13. It became my mantra. I held onto Him and I was able to write the midterm.

These two examples are only glimpses into how God has been working in me. I have learned that God gives me strength to do everything I need to, plus some. He is my rock; He takes pain away, anxiety away. He is the reason I shine on stage, why I will be able to become a vet. I am blessed beyond measure, I would not be where I am without God and I am thankful for that.