Turning Disappointment into His Appointment

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”
Isaiah 40:31

Let me tell you the story of a guy by the name of Dr. Glenn Cunningham. When he was eight years old, the school where he was studying got burned and he was trapped inside. When they got him out of the school, he was almost dead. Half of his body was scorched. The doctors said, “It will be a miracle if you will survive.” but He survived! Then the doctor told his mom, “We need to amputate his legs. He can never walk again. The muscles were burned. It’s too bad. We cannot salvage the legs.” The boy said, “Don’t cut my legs. Please don’t.” So the mom did not consent. When he was released from the hospital, this boy was on a wheelchair and the mom patiently massaged his legs for two years. One sunny day while getting some fresh air outside their house, he decided to get out of the wheelchair. Of course, he fell on the grass. And he began to crawl. He crawled to the edge of the fence. He got up on the fence. He grabbed the fence and he began to walk, pulling his body with his hand near the fence. So he dragged himself. He did this every day. And he began to walk. And then he began to run. Then the most amazing thing happened. He broke the world record for the one-mile run.

His favorite verse is Isaiah chapter forty, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” Here was a man who was willing to turn disappointment into His appointment for blessing. He didn’t give up. He waited on the Lord. He kept his faith. He fixed his eyes on Jesus.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Horatio G. Spafford

Click here to read the full story of Dr. Glenn Cunningham.