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Bekah Bowman

Can't Steal My Joy

Home | Can't Steal My Joy Manifesto | What are you looking at: a desperate perspective shift

What are you looking at: a desperate perspective shift

Can't Steal My Joy Manifesto, Finding Joy, Finding Truth

I closed my eyes. Remember, Remember, Remember, echoes in my head.

Who am I? He askes me.

“You are Lord of all, Creator, Abba Father, Savior and Redeemer,” I respond.

What do you see around you? He probes.

“Defeat. Sickness. Disappointment. Frustration. Failure. Grief. Death.” I utter under staggered breaths.

Ah, yes, Daughter. Those things are present and always will be right in front of you telling lies about your worth, your identity. Do this for me, try again. But this time… look up. Now tell me, what do you see?

Learning to see beyond

I look up. Not physically, but mentally, re-posturing not just my thinking, but my heart. I look above the swirling dark clouds of disappointment. I look above the lightning strikes of failure. I look above the quicksand of defeat. I look above the grave of death. It takes a bit because all of that has clouded my vision and it’s hard to see past. But there is something beyond there that I sense an urgency to behold. I must see it. It holds so much more than what my eyes were seeing before.


Photo by Luka Vovk on Unsplash

As my eyes rise to what feels like an expansive sky, they lift up on life-giving winds that hold something more then desperation and fear. Here, in this space, is hope. When I look around, taking it all in, I realize this hope-wind is everywhere. Not only does it exist above the darkness below, but it swirls down throughout the shadows of broken life. It goes behind as far as I can see and carries up and beyond my limited vision in front of me. In this wind, carries a love and joy that cannot be separated from hope. No, there is indeed no way grab the weave of this trio, and unwind one without silencing the entire force. Hope IS love. Love IS joy. Joy IS hope. It strikes me, “This everlasting, intertwined, power is indestructible.” And in my next thought, “How is this possible?”

Why, daughter, why do you suppose is it impossible to silence this hope? This love? This joy? Is it a mere fabrication of your imagination? Is it created of your own positive thinking? Did you think this into being and will it to be just so? He gently shifts my perspective. I see quickly, I am not infinite enough to create such a lasting wind that holds such power in the face of evil and brokenness.


Photo by Daniel Tafjord on Unsplash

Hope existing among the broken

I look down below at the shadowland of brokenness and see this power whirling around grief, fear, disappointment, identity crisis, failure. I see love-gifts offered out of shattered hearts and broken flowers springing forth in full bloom. These offerings, this fresh life bounding out- they do not make sense. They could never happen on their own or by our willpower or positivity. On their own, they are defeated, broken and dying. Someone greater needs to exist to be able to pull such power out through broken vessels. That power floods through and magically takes what is broken and turns it to beauty. That power is our Savior on a cross, taking the scars and marks that should dull us forever and instead giving new life. The marks are still there though. I notice that is part of what makes this flower, that heart, that broken vessel look so beautiful.

I look up again. This is hope. This is a promised future of redemption and all things being made new. This is a promise that He stands with us now, has always been here, always will be here. He is Author of a story greater than any of us could ever pen. I look back down and I realize my perspective has shifted. When I look down, I also see hope. A promise of redemption in the here and now and a turning of hearts to make new and beautiful things in the face of all that threatens to tear away at our souls.

A new gift

My gift? A new set of lenses I call my ‘Jesus eyes’. They hold in focus the upper story, one that arcs across from the beginning of creation to now and holds a guaranteed victory in the future. A story that we all get to be part of, can grab a hold of the promises within it, and can be carried to new heights on hope-winds. No matter the circumstances surrounding us, our powerful Writer of the greatest story ever told is at work weaving hope, love, joy and redemption through our little stories. We no longer have to settle for being lost in darkness, unworthy and dead. No, rather we get to rise up, look up, hold on, breathe in, breathe out, step out, step in, re-focus, rest, move forward. Because all is not lost. And what has been lost is oh so temporarily so. Victory is ours in the upper story, in Jesus. May we choose to move our perspective from our lower story steeped in pity, selfishness, anger, grudges, and empty searching for our identity and move it above the dark clouds to Him, who is holding all of time together in a beautiful mosaic of grace, sacrifice, and redemption.


Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Friends, I discovered one of the manifesto’s of Can’t Steal My Joy is this – a perspective shift. Some wonder how our family continues to thrive after such pain and loss. Because we know it is temporary. And we know God promises a hope that will not disappoint. We know that soon, all that was broken will be made whole again. I get to live brave in that victory Jesus claimed over death now. And so do you.

What are you looking at?

Thanks for listening,

Bekah

PS. I’m constantly in awe at how we get to be part of such a massive, redemptive story. It keeps me on the edge of my seat. Better than any book I’ve ever read, and I’ve read some exhilarating ones. As God continues to write our story, I’m trying to be faithful to put words to them with the goal of sharing hope, encouragement and joy with you. Once a month, I connect with readers through a newsletter (or maybe better defined as simply a letter) full of encouragement, resources and JOY. Would love to connect with you there too. Sign up here and get the Can’t Steal My Joy Connection Guide, a companion piece to Can’t Steal My Joy: The Journey to a Different Kind of Brave, FREE!

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April 2, 2019 · 8 Comments

Previous Post: « Can we just get back to grief
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Comments

  1. Brandi Strickland says

    May 28, 2019 at 3:46 pm

    Love this. Powerful truth beautifully written. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Bethany kimsey says

    April 3, 2019 at 8:51 am

    I love your writing and the truth in this post. When we have Jesus eyes as you speak about, the world becomes incredibly clear, His hand becomes so much more evident, and we can see the next step. Our scars are a part of our testimony, our brokenness pointing to His healing. Hope does not disappoint – Love this!

    Reply
    • bbowman says

      April 6, 2019 at 3:05 pm

      Amen! Thank you so much for your words, Bethany! Thankful to have connected here with you. Your site is beautiful. I love the hope words you share in each of your posts too! So great to “meet” a fellow hope*writer.

      Reply
  3. Teddie Hill says

    April 3, 2019 at 4:51 am

    I cannot express to you how deeply and profoundly your words speak to my spirit, Bekah. I can hardly wait for your book to come out. I have a feeling it will become a best-seller!

    Reply
    • bbowman says

      April 6, 2019 at 3:06 pm

      Teddie, you are such an encourager and I am so thankful God uses these words to speak to your spirit. What an honor to participate in His Big Story in this way. Love ya!

      Reply
  4. Steve Phillips says

    April 2, 2019 at 11:12 pm

    Once again your writing takes me across the line into luminal space. Transcendent. Thank you, and I’m so glad you’re book is on the way, Pastor Bekah.

    Reply
    • bbowman says

      April 6, 2019 at 3:09 pm

      Wow! Thank you, Steve. So thankful for you, for your words of affirmation and for the way God connects with you through these blogs. I would grow tired of sharing if it was just always about this little Bowman family. So thankful for the way God takes my experiences, pours out through them in writing and shares His hope for all through them. That makes it worth it every single time I hit that “publish” button. Love you guys!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Where are we now? - Can't Steal My Joy The Book says:
    September 17, 2019 at 7:08 am

    […] Story. There is a story to be told right now. It’s full of plot twists, broken bridges, and perspective shifts. And we get to find the beauty-nuggets of hope, redemption and joy in it […]

    Reply

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Bekah Bowman

Hey, I’m Bekah and I’m so glad you’re here! It’s my mission to help you find joy, belonging, and hope in Jesus. I wear many hats, but some of my favorite hats are being a coach’s wife and a mom to boys. Read more…

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I gave up on sleep around 4:30 this morning. Ely h I gave up on sleep around 4:30 this morning. Ely had been up since 1:30 and it was clear his body was struggling to settle down and sleep. I had fits of horrible nightmares. At 4:30, I waved the white flag. We got up and I googled a good baked donut recipe.
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Waking up from such darkness made me even more aware of the light and hope today holds. As I mixed the batter and prepped the pan, I was filled with gratitude for Jesus. For who He is. For what He has done to this darkness. Friends, if you haven't yet--consider Jesus.
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He's the one who drew a line in the dirt between a woman labeled a prostitute and the rest of the crowd ready to kill her and he stood on her side and offered her love and hope.
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He's the one who reached out to touch a man who hadn't been so much as touched on the arm by someone for who knows how long because of his diseased body--a man who had been marginalized, oppressed, shunned. His touch gave value and love to this man.
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He's the one who saw an odd short man up in a tree and invited him into friendship. A man who was hated because he was a cheat. Jesus's friendship offered him a new start and love to guide him.
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He's the one who broke the news of who He was to a woman. And not just any woman, but one who was thought of as second-rate filth to the culture of that day. In His proclamation, He reminded her of who she really was-- chosen, beloved, and yes, loved.
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He's the one who went through what could perhaps be described as the most gruesome, torturous death. And in the midst of it, reached out to the criminal next to him and stole this man away from darkness and death and offered him victory and life.
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He's the one who held this mom as she held her son during his last breath. And in her grief and desperate wails, He grieved too, and promised Redemption and overwhelming Joy. Love shown through victory over death.
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I can't explain how central this is to everything. Absolutely everything. If you haven't yet, please--consider Jesus. Not religion, not a list of rules, not hurtful expectations "christians" have perhaps put on you or wounded you with.... not those things. Jesus. Please consider Jesus. 💛
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He is Risen. 🙌
Loving this beautiful 75° day out on the back pat Loving this beautiful 75° day out on the back patio with one of our sensory bins full of sea creatures. Sunshine was just what we both needed!
For all you special needs moms (and dads too), I l For all you special needs moms (and dads too), I love this podcast, Embracing Holland. 

If you haven't heard the poem Holland, give it a Google. Chances are, if you're in this world of disabilities, you know that poem well. 

I got to chat with hosts Meg and Angie and we got into one of the topics I'm super passionate about--bridging the gap between churches and people impacted by disabilities. 💛 

If you are a parent of a child with special needs, I encourage you to subscribe to their podcast and join their Facebook group Embracing Holland Podcast Community.
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#Repost @embracingholland
• • • • • •
Attending church as a family is complicated when you are raising a child with a disability, for many, many reasons. So when we talked to @bekahsbowman about her experience, and what she is doing to build a bridge between ministry and disabilities, it was such an encouraging and inspiring conversation.

If you are connected to church ministry in any way, please listen to this episode, and check out Joni and Friends an organization dedicated to equipping people and churches to serve and include the disability community. 

Bekah has a podcast ministry she's starting called Room for More where she says all are not just welcome and invited, they are needed. @roomformoreministry 

She also has a book you can check out called Can't Steal My Joy: The Journey to a Different Kind of Brave, available on Amazon.
I took Ely to the park the other day. There were a I took Ely to the park the other day. There were a couple of kids out on the playground. Trepidation grew in my heart as we got closer.
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"Will he be accepted this time?"
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"Will they see past his odd mannerisms and learn that's he a really cool kid?"
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Once again, the answer was no, they would not. Ely was only worthy of a few side-glances, and with every step closer, a step was taken to put distance between him and them. Ely didn't know what was happening, but it broke my heart.
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I thought, "will he ever get to call someone 'friend'"?
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And then my next thought, "how many people with disabilities have grown up without someone outside their family and care team who they could call friend?"
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The answer is: far too many. And it's a shame this world is missing out on the gift of their friendships.
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Before any of us call these kids on the playground jerks or blame their parents for their insensitive behaviors, can we take a moment to look inward?
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Was there a time you side-stepped, switched directions, smiled politely and walked quickly by when you were near someone different than you? I know I have. And it's not okay. I know those kids on the playground are probably also really cool kids. They were uncomfortable and didn't know how to handle it.
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This past Sunday was Ely's first Sunday back to church since the pandemic. A little girl about 3 years old asked if Ely "would like a warm hug?" I smiled. She moved toward Ely and gave value to his presence.The expansiveness of her comfort zone challenged mine. And may it also challenge yours. It only takes extending a gift of friendship.
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#DisabilityAwareness #differentlyabled #differentnotless #friendshipgoals #beafriend #notthathard #warmhugs #lessonsfromFrozen #handsandfeetofJesus #bettertogether #roomformore #allbelong #indispensABLE
Guess what today is?! Today marks TWO WHOLE YEARS Guess what today is?! Today marks TWO WHOLE YEARS with Ely's chest-to-brain port infusion system!!
🎉
This first-of-its-kind-ever-in-the-world system has worked flawlessly for two years now. 52 infusions under our belt and this system is gaining legitimacy and attention.
🎉
I'm grateful for the creativity of our neurosurgeon to think of this different delivery system. We made the switch to avoid potential brain surgery every few years and to allow the skin on his head to heal as it was getting thin and breaking open easily. But we've found more benefits than that in the process.
🎉
Since switching over, Ely has not struggled once with nausea (which was a common side effect for him before) nor have we had any bacterial infections or possibilities of one. He has so much more freedom to move around and we never have to worry about the needle accidentally dislodging as it's very secure.
🎉
I know this system won't be for everyone, and I realize we are still early in this journey and may have some bumps down the road that are yet unseen, but we're grateful to have been given the choice. Today, as we infuse #116 here at #stlukeschildrens I'm full of gratitude.
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#adayinthelifeofEly #rarediseaselife #infusionday #cln2 #battendisease #rarediseasefamily #RareDiseaseAwareness #DisabilityAwareness #differentlyabled #differentnotless #rarediseasemom #specialneedsmom #cantstealmyjoy #gratitude
This guy swiped his daddy's hat and thought he was This guy swiped his daddy's hat and thought he was pretty hilarious.
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He was. 💛
Part two released today on the Joni and Friends Po Part two released today on the Joni and Friends Podcast... I pray as you journey your own path of grief or unexpected circumstances, this brings you hope. 💛
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Also, super fun for me--getting to put our amazing community on display in this podcast episode, from Columbus, Ohio to Irvine, CA and all the places in between--thank YOU for helping me carry my grief. You are a true reflection of Jesus.
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#Repost @joniandfriends
• • • • • •
On a recent episode of the podcast, @bekahsbowman shared about finding beauty and goodness in the middle of unthinkable loss. This week, she is back to talk about carrying grief as she has navigated the diagnosis of a fatal disease for both of her young sons.

If your life has taken an unexpected turn or you are traveling with grief as a constant companion, listen to the podcast today and be encouraged by Bekah’s journey.

Click the link in our bio to subscribe!
...
#Podcast #RareDisease #Loss #Hope #CantStealMyJoy #Disability #DisabilityAwareness #Heartbreak #Grief #RareDiseaseAwareness #Jesus #Encourage #Encouraging #Inspiration #Inspirational

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