“I don’t remember a whole lot of fear … and I don’t remember … often I get asked the question, ‘Were you angry?’ and I don’t remember that at all. I think my biggest emotion was, ‘What do I do now?'”
Wendy Wallace spoke these words in a recent interview on the Rooted by the Stream podcast about her first days after becoming a quadruple amputee.
Having become infected with flesh-eating bacteria and experiencing organ shutdown, Wendy went through a long and arduous fight for her life in the hospital.
Doctors told her husband, Mike, to prepare for her death, and to “prepare to see how big His God is and exactly what His God could do.” Wendy’s life was saved, but she spent months in the hospital and then considerable time in rehab until she began to learn how to navigate this life without hands and feet.
What do we do when the worst thing happens? There is a local pastor in my town who says, “The worst thing is not the last thing.” He says it in reference to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as he talks to Easter crowds.
Jesus, the “beloved leader” whose full identity no one yet fully understood, was tortured and killed and placed in the tomb. How frightened and full of grief His followers were. It was the worst thing, but it was not the last thing. On the third day, Jesus rose again from the grave, vindicated, demonstrating His victory over sin and death.
Because He lives, when we trust Him, we can be assured of overcoming too, in this life and in the life to come. Holy Spirit fills us with strength, power, love and knowledge of the Lord, among so many other gifts.
Wendy’s message is that we can have victory over affliction, every affliction. And she wants to show people how through her witness and testimony.
In fact, she has an e-book by that name, Victory Over Affliction, offered on her website, oneexceptionallife.com, along with many other resources. The thing that brought such severe harm to her, God has transformed into tremendous good as Wendy ministers to thousands through her website and through her presence on many social media platforms.
Jokingly she says, “whether you’re suffering from a hangnail,” or more seriously, “if you have cancer or even if you, too, endure amputation, I have advice and experience to show you the path to overcoming.”
Her articles on spiritual growth, overcoming challenges, gratitude and positivity are full of encouragement. Wendy is an adventuresome soul and has lots to say about all her plans and goals for the years ahead. She inspires others to think big, and with joy, in the same way she does.
For more about Wendy’s story and how you, too, can overcome adversity, you can listen to episode of Rooted by the Stream on the Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}
Dr. Pam Morrison is a pastor who has both led churches and also ministered in the inner city and elsewhere with recovering addicts as a pastoral counselor and as part of a healing rooms ministry. She has seen much physical and inner healing. Pam loves ministering overseas and has had a special relationship with people in Cuba for many years. She is the author of Jesus and the Addict: Twelve Bible Studies for People Getting Free from Drugs, available in English and Spanish. Her website is pammorrisonministries.com. Her podcast with Charisma Podcast Network is called Rooted by the Stream. You can email her at [email protected].
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