Overview of Video
In this video, Gretchen Norlund, talks about her doubts of God while struggling with Cystic Fibrosis. How could God love her and create her so beautifully and delight in her while giving her this disease that she would have to battle her entire life and control so much of what she could and couldn’t do? How come God hasn’t healed her of this disease? Is her faith too small? Is her sin too big? Doubt and skeptic moods creep on sparingly and Gretchen has to decide what to do (or believe) next.
Gretchen enlightens us by reminding us that our ability to trust God isn’t based on what He gives us rather on His love. She also phrases so beautifully a comparison to our dictating circumstances and love for God with those hard times with Job. What if our circumstances are a testament of our love of God?
In Job, a man who follows and delights in God is tested. Satan tells God it’s easy to love and be faithful when life is good, so God hands Job to Satan to show Satan that Job’s faith and love isn’t depicted on his life or the blessings he receives. Gretchen highlights what that interaction could have looked like in her own life in a way that challenges the audience in their own perspective with their life.
Reason for Choosing
Gretchen’s faith and joy for life was instrumental in my walk with Christ and as I watched this video my perspective of how to view my struggles was changed from this is standing in the way of Christ in my life to this is how I show Satan that Jesus is my rock.
Gretchen lived her whole life with Cystic Fibrosis and never let it concur her. She was a worship artist and musician despite having a disease that attacked her lungs, she sung so beautifully and glorified God all the more just as she tells about through out her life.
On April 10, 2015 Gretchen passed away from complications with her Cystic Fibrosis. I wanted to give all of you a glimpse of the Sister in Christ we lost, one that God formed and delighted in all the days of her life. She is now, singing songs without pain worshipping and lifting up the One who saved her in His presence.
Lesson
Life is hard. We face challenges every day of our lives whether through our illness, financial problems, health issues within our family, loss of job, or whatever it may be. I hope that you can come to think of these not as a punishment, but instead you can picture the exchange God and Satan had with Job in your own life.
“She wouldn’t love you if she didn’t have everything. Fire her from her job then they’ll lose faith. Let that child’s life be rocked by a divorce then he’ll turn away from you. Give their child a disease and see if they still worship you, I bet they won’t, I bet they turn from you.” – Satan
“Try them. I believe their faith and love will still shine.” – God
Morningside lutheran childrens ministry 