Victim or Victor: Guest Post by The Lazy Christian

I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Rachel. Her blog is The Lazy Christian and she reminds us God does the work for us. I know this post will challenge and encourage you!

God’s a hard worker. Yes, he made the universe and everything in it in seven days. But I’m not talking about that.

I’m talking about me.

Keeping up with me is tough.  I’m This Old House plus Extreme Makeover plus Clean Sweep plus Downton Abbey. OK, so I’m nothing like Downton Abbey. I just really like that show. But I’m definitely like all the others. Falling down and falling apart on a daily basis is my specialty. My body likes to fail (I had back surgery during my first pregnancy, and after a rough, sick pregnancy this year, I had to have my gallbladder out a few weeks ago), and I’m the statistics-maker when it comes to any procedure or medication. I, of course, had complications after the aforementioned surgery. I’m the “1 in 500 will get…” or the “1% of people will have…” C’est moi.

Now, there are two ways to live with this reality: As the victim or the victor.

Victims lie down and complain about what life has done to them. Everything is someone else’s fault. Every choice that’s been made, every bad thing that’s happened has been because of some outside influence that has impressed itself upon the victim’s life. Life happens to the victim; the victim claims no responsibility for anything.

Now, are we all true victims at some point? Yes. Things do happen that are out of our control. My doctors think that genetics played a large part in my back problems and in problems with my internal organs. I don’t smoke, drink, do drugs, or do hard labor. My body has not been abused; this is just what was handed to me.

But, regardless of what I’ve been dealt, I have the opportunity to be the victor.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10

I am God’s workmanship. He crafted me. God doesn’t make junk; I’m not broken in the literal sense. I am designed for good works, and these design flaws (that come from sin in the world, not from God), help me to do those good works.

How? I can minister to others in pain because I know how it feels. I can minister to others who are unwell for long periods of time because I know how it feels. I can claim victory over this screwy body by using it for God’s glory. Instead of wallowing in pain and sorrow, I can use these aches and pains and hospital stays to encourage others that, yes, bad days are lousy, but good days can be so good. I’m not defined by my ailments, but I can use my ailments to care for and help others.

The choice to be a victor rather than a victim is not an easy one; it needs to be made on a daily basis. And it needs to be made for God to get the glory.

Which choice are you making each day: victim or victor?

Rachel Snyder lives in Indianapolis with her husband, son, and daughter. After some time as a freelance journalist and an English teacher,she is now a stay-at-home mom and freelance editor. Read Rachel’s blog, The Lazy Christian.