55 and Still Standing: Why My Messy Medical Chart is a "But God" Mandate
The Miracle with a Messy Medical Chart
At 55 years old, if you were to look at my medical records, you might think you were reading a survival manual rather than a patient history. The list is staggering: an active sickle cell trait that doctors missed for years, fibromyalgia, stage 1 kidney disease, sciatica, migraine clusters, gastroparesis, and the physical aftermath of endometriosis.
For decades, I lived in a body that felt like a battlefield. I almost died several times as a young person because no one understood why my blood was failing me. It wasn't until a doctor at Brookwood Medical Center finally caught the "active" nature of the trait that I received the treatment I needed to survive. But let’s be clear: that wasn't just a clinical breakthrough. It was a divine intervention.
On paper, this is a "messy medical chart." In reality, it is 55 years of God issuing a "Not Yet" mandate against the grave. You are not standing today because of luck or "good enough" genetics. You are standing because the Almighty has looked at every storm, every crash, and every diagnosis and declared that your work is not finished. When you hit 55, "still standing" isn't a suggestion—it’s a divine decree.
Your Scars are Your Credentials
There is a massive temptation in our digital age to hide behind a polished Instagram filter, presenting only the versions of ourselves that look unbroken. I’m here as your coach to tell you: Stop editing out the parts God wants to use.
Your raw, unedited story is your highest-converting asset. Your history of childhood molestation, the scars of domestic violence, and the unspeakable grief of burying your youngest daughter are not marks of defeat. They are your credentials. They qualify you to speak with an authority that a "perfect" life never could. The world doesn't need more polished influencers; it needs more witnesses who have been through the fire and don't even smell like smoke.
"Your scars are your credentials. And at 55 years old, you have more credentials than most preachers I know."
Shifting the Focus from the Storm to the Storm-Calmer
To maintain your mental and spiritual health while navigating chronic hardship, you must execute a fundamental "pivot." You have to stop focusing on the mechanics of how you are surviving and start acknowledging Who is doing the keeping.
The "But God" philosophy is the bedrock of resilience. It isn’t about human endurance or pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. It’s about divine faithfulness. This shift is essential because it moves you from the exhaustion of self-preservation to the rest of divine protection. When you realize that the Storm-Calmer is in the boat, the intensity of the wind no longer dictates your peace. Survival is not your job; being a witness to His keeping power is.
The "Receipts" of Scriptural Authority
If you want to move from a "survivor" to a "voice of authority," you have to back up your testimony with the Word. In the world of digital ministry, we call this "showing the receipts." Your personal story is the evidence, but Scripture is the law that validates it.
The Human Struggle | The Scriptural Receipt |
Active Sickle Cell Trait & Stage 1 Kidney Disease | Psalm 103:3: "...Who heals all your diseases." |
Car Accidents & Near-Death Scenarios | Psalm 66:9: "...Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved." |
Childbirth Complications & Domestic Violence | Psalm 116:8: "For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling." |
Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, & Migraine Clusters | 2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." |
Executing Vision Through the "Brain Fog"
I know what it’s like to have a vision in your heart but a body that won't cooperate. Between the "mini hot summers" of post-hysterectomy night sweats, the crushing brain fog of autoimmune issues, and the daily battle with dyslexia, "perfect" execution is an illusion.
Here is how you lead when you’re hurting: Lean into the easy way.
Audio-First Strategy: When sciatica makes sitting impossible or migraines make screens unbearable, hit record on your phone and just talk. Your testimony doesn't need a desk; it needs a voice.
Embrace the "Daily Pulse": Use tools to transcribe and edit your thoughts. Don’t let dyslexia stop you.
Prioritize Vitality: Take your multi-vitamins, manage your meds, and listen to your body, but don't let the "mini hot summers" stop your momentum.
Remember: the Holy Spirit doesn't need perfect grammar or a pain-free day to move. He needs your availability.
The Geography of Gratitude (Psalm 103)
If you want a map for the next 55 years, look at Psalm 103:1-5. This isn't just a poem; it’s a clinical breakdown of God’s benefits. Every line connects to a hurdle I have cleared.
Forgiveness: He healed the invisible wounds of childhood trauma.
Healing: He sustained my body through kidney failure and a blood trait that should have ended me.
Redemption: He pulled me out of the "destruction" of car accidents and domestic violence.
Satisfaction: He took a life that should have been bitter and made it grateful.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." (Psalm 103:2-5)
Conclusion: The Invitation to Count Your Own Benefits
At 55, your life isn't defined by what you’ve been through, but by what you’ve been kept through. You are the architect of a new narrative—one where your "messy medical chart" is actually a ledger of divine goodness. Even after a lifetime of hardship, there is a promise for you: your youth can and will be renewed like the eagle’s.
It is time to look at your history and stop seeing a list of grievances. Start seeing a list of benefits.
What destruction has God redeemed YOU from, and are you ready to show the world your receipts?
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