• The Story Behind: Strong Enough

    September 14, 2010 - Comments (14)

    Tonia,
    Camby, IN

     

    By the grace of God, I am the mother of 3 awesome children, Haleigh (22), Kelsey (18) and Jordan (16). It has always been me and them against the world. I had my first daughter, Haleigh, at 19. We grew up together. When she turned 19, she had a bad car accident after sliding on black ice and shattered her right leg (high impact pilon fracture). She was in the hospital off and on for months. Her health insurance got cancelled because she couldn’t maintain her full time college status. She got MRSA from the hospital. Ended up having to have 11 surgeries. As a single parent and her Mother, I didn’t leave her side. But when I did, I would go home while she slept long enough to sleep a bit and run through the shower. I remember feeling so alone though. My family was/is great. They were there as much as could be, but at night, when the lights were out, I would lie in my bed and just cry from the loneliness and exhaustion, mentally and physically. That has been 3 years ago and she is still recovering. She was at one hospital that wanted to amputate her leg from the knee down, so I had her transferred to the hospital in our home town where 2 wonderful Doc’s were a God send and took over her care. She is still in a boot, still has an open wound that is still healing due to the blood flow being compromised and has a long road of healing ahead of her as far as surgeries and physical therapy are concerned, but she is beautiful, living her life, going to college, living on her own,being independent and not letting it keep her down. Most importantly, she is still here with us. I have told her all along that God has a reason for everything and she definitely has a purpose. One of the times that we were in the hospital going through this horrific ordeal, I said to her “Haleigh, the Lord doesn’t put anything on us that he doesn’t think we are strong enough to handle” and she said “Well he must think we are pretty freaking strong then!” If it wasn’t for my faith, I would have gone out of my mind. Life is hard, but God is good and I am a firm believer that there is power in prayer. Through all of that, I never felt like he left my side. He guided us to do what was necessary to protect her and sent us the wonderful Doctor’s who took her under their wings and took care of her. On a side note, my daughter Kelsey has pretty much a full ride scholarship for college in the fall and will be Majoring in Pharmacy and is sunshine. My son, Jordan, is getting ready to get his license, which scares me to death. My kids are my life and I thank God for them every single day! God Bless Matthew!

     

    Matthew’s commentary on: Strong Enough

     

    Nineteen year-old, Haleigh, had plans to head off to college in the fall. Those plans changed when she was in a near tragic car accident, that left her leg shattered and her future uncertain. Her mom wrote to me to tell me about the difficult journey her daughter has had. Eleven surgeries in three years, and she is still recovering. This poor girl had all these plans and dreams, and then something comes out of nowhere and everything comes to a screeching halt. Ever been there? Maybe you can relate with how Haleigh felt one night in the hospital when her mom was trying to comfort her. Her mom said, “Haleigh, God won’t let you go through anything you’re not strong enough to handle.” Haleigh responded with all the helplessness of a frustrated teenager, “Well, He must think I’m pretty freakin’ strong!”

     

    I’ve wondered the same thing. I’ve faced a seemingly impossible situation or two in my life, and found myself having candid conversations with God. “God, are you sure you got the right guy here?” “God, I can’t do this on my own.” And therein lies the point of it all. We can’t do it on our own. Nothing is possible without god. But we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Phillipians 4:13 has been a significant piece of scripture in my life, and one that I have to be reminded of time and time again. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, and I don’t have to be strong enough.”

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    • 14 comments

    1. 1. Anna Heppler commented:

      Tue 28/9/10, 10:37 am

      Amen! “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, and I don’t have to be strong enough.” This script has helped me through so many hard times in my life as well. I was in a bad car accident in 1992, I was 15 at the time. My younger sister who was only 12 was killed and others where hurt badly. My right arm was pretty messed up, I had to learn to use my arm all over again. I wanted to give up and I would cry and feel like I should have been the one to die. But then I would pray to God and repeat I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! I would sing it at times! I would always wonder why God made me go through something like that, I finally understand now, we are all on this journy called life, some of us are just futher along then other, so we can help each other out. I have also started a group called remembering car accident victims on Facebook, where people come to share their stories and inspire others. There are many things the Lord has taught me so far in my 33 years of life, but one thing stands out for sure, Forgive others for what they have done! Forgiveness does not make what happened right , it just sets us free…….

      Godbless,

      Anna H

    2. 2. Barb Konrad commented:

      Tue 28/9/10, 3:21 pm

      That is the first bible verse I learned (Phil. 4:13) and live it everyday. Having a child with Down Syndrome has taught me that I can do anything with the strength of Christ because I have been there, am still there and I am sure will need Him in the future. I don’t know where I would go for that strength if I didn’t believe and have faith in Christ.

    3. 3. Helen commented:

      Sun 20/2/11, 9:13 pm

      I just shared this with one of my friends who is in the hospital from an accident facing a fracture pelvis 2 broken ribs and partially collapsed lung. THis song has inspired me more than you will ever know. I have had alot of obstacles in my life with ADHD and other things so this is like MY THEME SONG Thanks

    4. 4. Matthew West, “Strong Enough” | Filipino Songwriter & Blogger Ganns Deen commented:

      Mon 28/3/11, 4:16 am

      [...] read about the story behind Strong Enough here, about how story contributor Tonia of Camby, Indiana, witnessed the difificult journey faced by her [...]

    5. 5. Lynnette Thomas commented:

      Wed 13/4/11, 8:36 pm

      My daughter, Chancey, was injured in a similar car accident, hitting black ice on February 10, 2011. She was in a vehicle with two others. The day after the wreck, I was walking the halls in Oklahoma City at OU Medical Center praying, when the Holy Spirit spoke to me. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this” I immediately turned my worries over to Him. She was the only one injured. She is now at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Co. Chancey is paralyzed, for now. Her favorite scripture, since childhood has been Phillipians 4:13. Everyday she wakes up with the greatest attitude and strength. We know that she only has the strength because our heavenly Father gives it to her. She has become an inspiration to so many. And we Know that our God is a healer. He brought us here, where I think she is receiving the best and most positive care available. She is able to move both arms and is working on getting her fine motor skills tuned in again. She is also starting to use a standing chair. Yes, she has had to endure much pain, but God sees her through each day. Thank you Matthew West for such a wonderful song.

    6. 6. AD commented:

      Sun 24/4/11, 7:06 pm

      Five months ago, I found out I was pregnant. Not being in a relationship, this is very much unplanned. Thought the father is a wonderful man and wanting to be involved, we are not looking to be in a relationship with each other. That being said, I have pretty much been going through this on my own…alone. My mom and I had a similar conversation as Tonia and Haleigh just a few short months ago. During one of my moments of feeling like I couldn’t do this, I said, “I know God doesn’t give us more than we can handle but he must think I am pretty freaking strong to handle this.” I like to consider myself a strong person but compared to what I am going through now, nothing in my life compares. I have been described as strong and brave. I’ve held on to those 2 words to remind myself that God has a plan for me and he knows I am strong enough and brave enough to handle this even if it is on my own. A few weeks ago, I was feeling completely worthless. I was having a difficult time understanding why my life is going the way that it is. That is when I heard Matthew West’s “Strong Enough” on the radio. This has been a song that I have played on repeat during my darkest times to remind myself that I am strong enough and that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I was reminded of that yet again when I saw the movie Soul Surfer over the weekend. Bethany Hamilton never felt sorry for herself. She was positive, even on her darkest days. The same scripture was quoted in the movie.
      Thank you Matthew West for reminding us all that we don’t have to be strong enough – that is why God is there with us through it all.

    7. 7. Strong Enough « Our Family Journey commented:

      Wed 25/5/11, 6:56 pm

      [...] this morning, a song by Matthew West came on that was the “a-ha” moment for me — Strong Enough. It isn’t so much that God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle so much as it [...]

    8. 8. Beth Clay commented:

      Wed 27/7/11, 2:25 pm

      The first time I heard Strong Enough, I felt it was written just for me. In 2008, my grandmother died. She was my biggest fan. While cleaning out her apartment, I found something that said I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me….Phillipians 4:13. Ever since that day, this has been my favorite verse. In 2010 I got divorced, and then later that year my other grandma died and 18 days later my grandfather died. By the end of the year, I was ready to start 2011….then in February, my brother was diagnosed with brain cancer. He was 37 years old and had a wife and 3 children under the age of 6. This was very hard, but he reminded me that God was in control. My brother went to be with the Lord at the end of May. This was the hardest thing I have had to go through, but God keeps continuing to give me and the rest of my family the strength to go on.

    9. 9. Jan Werntz commented:

      Wed 3/8/11, 8:36 pm

      On July 5th my grandaughter, Paige Toelke was in a terrible car accident near Raleigh, NC. A man who was drunk was driving down the wrong side of the interstate going in excess of 90 miles an hour and hit her car head on. Her best friend was killed and the passenger in the front seat sustained multiple injuries. Paige has been in intensive care until today (8/3/11). She has finally made it to rehab. She sustained a punctured lung, 4 cracked ribs, a lacerated intestine, broken arm, broken collarbone, tailbone, pelvis, both right and left leg femors, knees, and crushed heels and multiple breaks in her feet. The doctors have performed operations on all areas pinning and using plates and rods. Her story is on Caring Bridge. We have claimed “Stong Enough” as her song. She is only 17 and has been such an inspiration for all who know her. She knows her life has changed as she knows it, but she is encouraged knowing that God will give her the strength to keep going and has a purpose for her that even we can’t imagine how big it may be. Please keep her in prayer.

    10. 10. Crystal commented:

      Wed 21/9/11, 8:37 pm

      I’ve always been an advocate for telling people that God will never give you anything that you can’t handle.
      And then something happened, and I changed my tune. I’ve spent the last week trying to wrap my mind around something. If God doesn’t give you more than you can handle, why do people commit suicide?
      Today while I was driving, I turned the radio on and the first thing that came on was you telling this story… and I knew that it was God answering my question.

      Thank you so much for doing God’s work, because had you not written that song… you wouldn’t have given that exact message on the radio, and they wouldn’t have played it right when they did,

      and God couldn’t have used you to help me.

    11. 11. Stephanie commented:

      Thu 13/10/11, 7:14 pm

      On March 6, 2011 our sweet Caleb was born. Caleb was the picture of perfection the day he was born. He was the silliest, happiest little one you could have ever hoped to meet. Even at 3 months old he would laugh just to get us to laugh, over and over. His big brother loved him so much and was so proud to tell people “That’s my Caleb”. We were such a happy family of four. On June 17, 2011 the unthinkable happened. Caleb went down for a nap and never woke up. To this day, no one can tell us exactly why. While born almost a month prematurely, he never skipped a beat. He was ready to be in the world, never spent a day in the NICU and was growing quickly. I think every mother has those moments of worry pass over them and to have your worst fear realized is incomprehensible. We will probably never understand the purpose of Caleb’s passing at the very beginning of his life but God has been present through this. We know that He has a plan. We are thankful to have a God that is with us at the most difficult of times. It is only with His strength that we are able to get out of bed each day and continue to live any semblance of a “normal” life. This song is a wonderful reminder that I don’t have to do this alone.

    12. 12. Jodi commented:

      Wed 14/12/11, 9:54 pm

      I feel I have been tested since I was young but God always gave me a “miracle”. Something to speak of His great power and how HE is in control. I was born with a disability, had surgery yet wasn’t ever going to walk “right”. My minister prayed with me when I still had the body cast on and six long pins through my hips. I wasn’t to have the cast off for months yet I had an x-ray and the doctors said it was as if I healed over night. When the cast came off and they pulled the pins out? My legs were perfect. I was 8 then. I have had many tests since and I always held on to that one experience. Now? I am sick. After raising my son alone, going to school, working full time, active in church.. I finally got a promotion and saw the light at the end of the tunnel financially when i woke up one morning with a rare autoimmune disease. Couldn’t talk or walk. Haven’t worked since. But.. I know when the bills come in, I am physically alone, my son has to do everything for me as he tries to go to school and work and we are down to our last loaf of bread? God ALWAYS gets us through and this is building our soul.. getting us ready for the Day the Lord comes. Isn’t that what it is all about? And these experiences we go through? Helps others!! And that also is what it is all about! Read 1 peter 1-7 a bible verse that always helps many. God is in control and through him we are strong!

    13. 13. Phillip commented:

      Mon 19/3/12, 4:35 pm

      I have heard this song many times and have read this story over and over again and have been amazed at the outlook on life Haleigh has. However, it wasn’t until this past week that I was really impacted by it. While my dad was in ICU I learned of a 16 year old girl who was hit by a truck while picking up pieces of her phone out of the road. Her story was so similar to this that I felt God leading me to share this story. They had heard this song many times before but had never read the story. During visiting hours the grandmother took her laptop back to the room and showed the video to Samantha. As I was leaving my dad’s room, I was motioned by her grandmother saying she wanted to meet the guy who told her about this story. After talking to a her a brief moment she said something that will stick with me rest of my life. She said ” My only wish is that one person be impacted my this.” At 16 years old this girl ministered to me right then. Both legs are crushed and her colon ruptured earlier in the week. I couldn’t honestly say that if I were in her position that anyone other than myself would be my concern yet everyone else was hers. I shared her story that night with the youth in my church (I hate talking in Sunday School much less in front of anyone.)We bought her the book and cd as well as made a poster to take to Dallas where she is going to a specialist for her legs. I was also able to take it to her and tell her that her wish came true because she has impacted me in a way only God could by using her. In this I have made a special friend and have really evaluated my relationship with God. Thank you Tonia for writing this letter that God has used to touch so many people in so many ways. Haleigh is truly an inspiration to a lot of people. May her recovery be swift and life be blessed beyond belief.

    14. 14. Donna commented:

      Tue 20/3/12, 5:48 pm

      For the past 5 1/2 years I’ve had a brain disorder that causes me excruciating pain on a daily basis. For the majority of last year (my junior year in high school, of all years), I literally never slept more than 30 minutes at a time because of the pain. I cried myself to sleep every single night and spent most of the night crying to God to please take the pain away, or to at least let me sleep through it. It seemed impossible to wake up every morning knowing that I was just going to face “unfixable” pain, and I couldn’t take it. I could sometimes handle a day. But if I thought any farther into the future it just wasn’t happening. I planned countless suicide attempts, came close to trying a few, and downright fantasized about killing myself to end the pain I was in. One day I heard this song and all I could think was, God is overestimating how much I can handle. I’ve been leaning on Him this entire time and I still am not strong enough. But that day I decided to let God COMPLETELY handle my situation, and from that point on I’ve not thought about suicide a single time, and I’m even strong enough now to talk about my ordeal without breaking down crying, and I’ve spoken about my trust in God at school and church and life is wonderful. I’m so glad to serve such a loving, powerful God!

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