Juany Lara’s Story of Hope
Reposted from bethanyhamilton.com:
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Psalm 91:4
Coming home from work one day, Juany’s life changed in a moment as her car flipped several times when she lost control due to catching gravel. As she pulled herself out of her car she noticed that her left arm was gone. Receiving help from a family behind her to call 911, she was rushed to the hospital where a reattachment was attempted. A few days later, she had to make one of the hardest decisions of her life: undergo several surgeries over the next four to six months, or instead, to amputate her left arm. She chose to amputate.
While attending my Beautifully Flawed Retreat Juany shared, “I knew that if I was able to get myself out of the vehicle that day that I would be able to survive anything that God put in my life.” Knowing that she was in God’s care gave her comfort and incredible courage. Psalm 91:4 became her life verse. Juany’s journey is a witness to how God is establishing her as an overcomer in Christ.
Two symbols, a phoenix and lotus flower, serve as visual reminders to Juany of what God has done in her life. She says, “A Phoenix rises up from its own ashes and is born again. I feel that the Phoenix represents the life I made when I became an amputee. Many young adults would think that becoming an amputee is the worst thing that could happen to anyone. Yes, it has been a difficult and challenging road that I have faced and will continue to face, but I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world.”
“Just like a lotus flower we have the ability to rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness, and radiate into this world. Meaning that no matter where we first started growing from we are beautiful, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made! God made us who we are for a reason, so we could grow and blossom and go out into the world showing everyone his love for each and every one of us!”
God made us who we are for a reason, so we could grow and blossom and go out into the world showing everyone his love for each and every one of us!”
– Juany Lara
Just as God was present and faithful to Juany when she was most vulnerable, He promises the same to us as well. Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” God is never far from us when we need Him. May you in Him no matter what you face today. He is with you, loves you and has plans of good for you!
-Bethany Hamilton
The application for our 2020 Beautifully Flawed Retreat is now open! If you or anyone you know is a 14-25 young woman with limb difference, please apply here!
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