This article is reprinted from
Nick Vujicic, Life Without Limbs
You may have thank God for your many blessings, but what if God seems to be unfair to you in some ways? What if He dealt you an overwhelming impediment for life? It wasn’t until I saw Nick Vujicic's story that such thoughts ever entered my mind. He is an amazing inspiration.
Nick is a young man of 22 years of age. He is a resident of suburban Brisbane, Queensland. He has a positive approach to life and is outgoing and friendly, with a happy and cheerful personality. He has a smile that makes anyone feel comforted and at ease. But life hasn’t been easy for him.
His parents, both lifelong Christians, had eagerly anticipated the birth of Nick Vujicic, their first child.Nick Vujicic was on the morning of the 4th of December 1982 in Melbourne, Australia. However, the last two words on the minds of his parents was "Praise God!". That is because their firstborn son had been born without limbs! All his mother could say was, “Please, take him away!”
There were no warnings or time to prepare themselves for it. The doctors were shocked and had no answers at all! There is still no medical reason why this had happened.
The whole church mourned over his birth and Nick Vujicic parents were absolutely devastated. Everyone asked, "If God is a God of Love, then why would God let something this bad happen to not just anyone, but dedicated Christians?" Nick’s father thought the baby wouldn't survive for very long, but tests proved that Nick Vujicic was a healthy baby boy just with a few limbs missing i.e. no legs, no arms.
Understandably, Nick’s parents had strong concern and evident fears of what kind of life he would be able to lead. The first biggest hurdle was for his parents to be at peace and trusting that God was in control. It took them a number of months of tears, questions and grief before that complete trust overtook their hearts. God provided them strength, wisdom and courage through those early years and soon after that Nick was old enough to go to school.There are a few people who assume that because of Nick’s physical disability that it meant that Nick Vujicic would also be mentally disabled. The law in Australia didn't allow Nick to be integrated into a main-stream school because of his physical disability. God did miracles and gave his mother the strength to fight for the law to be changed. Nick Vujicic was one of the first disabled students to be integrated into a main-stream school.
Nick liked going to school, and just try to live life like everyone else. But it was in his early years of school where he encountered uncomfortable times of feeling rejected, weird and bullied because of his physical difference. It was very hard for him to get used to, but with the support of his parents, he started to develop attitudes and values which helped him overcome these challenging times. He knew that he was different but on the inside he was just like everyone else.
There were many times when Nick felt so low that he wouldn't go to school just so he didn't have to face all the negative attention. Nick was encouraged by his parents to ignore them and to try start making friends by just talking with some kids. Soon the students realized that Nick Vujicic was just like them, and starting there God kept on blessing him with new friends.
There were times when Nick felt depressed and angry because he couldn't change the way he was, or blame anyone for that matter. Nick went to Sunday School and learnt that God loves us all and that He cares for you. Nick understood that love to a point as a child, but he didn't understand that if God loved him why did He make Nick Vujicic like this? Is it because he did something wrong? Nick felt like he was a burden to those around him and the sooner he go, the better it'd be for everyone. Nick Vujicic actually wanted to end his pain and end his life at a young age, but he is thankful once again, for his parents and family who were always there to comfort him and give him strength.
Due to his emotional struggles, he had experienced bullying, self esteem problems and loneliness, God has implanted a passion of sharing his story and experiences to help others cope with whatever challenge they have in their life and let God turn it into a blessing. To encourage and inspire others to live to their fullest potential and not let anything gets in the way of accomplishing their hopes and dreams.
One of the first lessons that he learnt was not to take things for granted. Nick Vujicic had that wake up call around the age of twelve and realized just how much he was blessed with. He took his foot for granted, his family and the fact that he wasn't born in a third world country, with all the blessings that God had freely given.
And we know that in all things God works for the best for those who love Him.
--Romans 8:28
--Romans 8:28
There is no such thing as luck, chance or coincidence that these "bad" things happen in our life.
Nick had complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all. Nick Vujicic completely gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was "so that the works of God may be revealed through Him." Nick truly believed that God would heal him so that Nick could be a great testimony of His Awesome Power. Later on Nick was given the wisdom to understand that if we pray for something, if it's God's will, it'll happen in His time. If it's not God's will for it to happen, then He has something better.
Nick had complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all. Nick Vujicic completely gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was "so that the works of God may be revealed through Him." Nick truly believed that God would heal him so that Nick could be a great testimony of His Awesome Power. Later on Nick was given the wisdom to understand that if we pray for something, if it's God's will, it'll happen in His time. If it's not God's will for it to happen, then He has something better.
Nick Vujicic is now 21 years old and have completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. Nick is also a motivational speaker and love to go out and share his story and testimony wherever opportunities become available. Nick Vujicic had developed talks to relate to and encourage students through topics that challenge today's teenagers. He is also a speaker in the corporate sector. In recent years, Nick has learnt to become independent and can now take care of all his personal needs. He can do everything from brushing his teeth, combing his hair, dressing up, taking care of my personal hygiene and even shaving. He get around the house by jumping around. Outside the house, Nick get around in an electric wheelchair. Nick love to swim, fish and play soccer. Nick has a passion for reaching out to youth and to keep himself available for whatever God wants him to do.
Nick Vujicic has many dreams and goals that he has set to achieve in his life. He wanted to be a witness for God, to become an international inspirational speaker and be used as a vessel in both Christian and non-Christian venues. He also wanted to become financially independent by the age of 25, through real estate investments, to modify a car for him to drive and to be interviewed and share his story on the "Oprah Winfrey Show". Writing several best-selling books has been one of his dreams and he hope to finish writing his first by the end of the year. It will be called "No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!"
Nick Vujicic also finds time for such normal pursuits as swimming, music and fishing. How do you fish if you don’t have arms? He has a fishing rod with an electronic reel.
You might think these goals are too far-fetched. However, Nick Vujicic believed that if you have the desire and passion to do something, and if it's God's will, you will achieve it in good time. As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all! What's worse is putting limits on God who can do all things. We put God in a "box". The awesome thing about the Power of God, is that if we want to do something for God, instead of focusing on our capability, concentrate on our availability for we know that it is God through us and we can't do anything without Him. Once we make ourselves available for God's work, guess whose capabilities we rely on? God's!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
God has a Great Purpose for your life! As far as your unanswered prayers, remember that God is Faithful. What are we to do when we are seeking but not finding?
Take courage my friend for the Battle is the Lord's and I urge you to keep striving for the truth. For it is the truth that will set you free and the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding will reign in your heart. May the Lord Bless you as you diligently seek Him and grant you Godly Wisdom and Strength through your journey.
-END-
Video of Nick's Day in Jesus' Joy
Courtesy of YouTube
“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
--Nehemiah 8:10 [New Living Translation]
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