A few days ago, my sister-friend Anzhelika and I went to Safeway for groceries.
We were SHOCKED!
Prices for meat and other items skyrocketed so significantly that they made us speechless.
$80 for a package of beef, which would be enough for one or a maximum of two meals for a family..? To put this into perspective, imagine seeing this price for a person who earns a little over $100 a day. And then, the gas, rent, other food items, and other expenses? My friend, who lives in Antioch, California, received a bill for electricity — $750! It’s impossible to survive on a single income these days.
On the way home, we discussed the rising cost of living, leaving hundreds of dollars at the store and bringing home… nothing much. Where is USA headed?!
We began feeling rising concern.
“The Lord will provide. He is Jehovah Jireh – God who provides,” I felt encouragement from the Holy Spirit.
Instantly, I thought about the power of perspective – how I look at the situation, what I see, and what this means to me. Managing my perspective has greatly empowered me over the years.
A constructive perspective helped me reframe negative situations into learning opportunities, problems, and difficulties into positive challenges to be strong and overcome, heartbreaking mistakes into valuable life wisdom and lessons, and concern during challenging situations into a faith-based mindset that kept me at peace. This allowed me to recognize the beauty of life, even during difficult times. It also empowered me to move forward with courage and confidence, knowing that God is in control.
What do I see in this situation, and what does it mean to me? This is the time when we will witness and experience the Lord’s provision! It is an opportunity to experience God’s care for His people during troubling times. I am not going to allow anxiety and fear to torment me.
Over the past 24 years since the car accident, I have experienced countless times how the Lord provides. So many times, I was in awe, asking, “Lord! How is this possible?” During the most challenging times, especially in the times of hopelessness, I experienced the power of complete trust in the Lord.
It’s been eight years since my sister-friend and I met, and we have experienced how the Lord provides over and over again! We know the Lord provides, and He will not leave those who trust Him in times of trouble. And so, we both agreed that this season would be another opportunity to witness God’s faithfulness and care.
Hearing sermons about it in the Church is one thing, and it is a totally different thing to experience it. If I had heard stories about you, I would know about you, and have an opinion about you based on what I heard. But would I really know you? No. You would probably say, “How can you know me if you haven’t spent time with me? If you want to get to know me, we must spend time together and go through good and tough times together.” It’s the same with knowing the Lord.
We can listen to hundreds of sermons about God’s faithfulness and provision but not have confidence in Him in times of trouble if we don’t have experiential knowledge of Him.
After the accident, I did not go to church for a decade. But throughout these years, I got to know my God better than ever before because I decided to seek Him with all my heart, obey Him in my daily life, and trust Him every step of the way. These were tough years, but I gained priceless – experiential knowledge of the Lord.
I got to know God as ElShaddai – He is God almighty, who has power over everything and makes the impossible possible.
I got to know Him as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. He healed the deepest wounds of my soul and also my physical issues.
I got to know Him as Jehovah Shalom – He gave me an inner peace that surpasses human understanding, even in the most troubling and desperate times.
I got to know Him as Jehovah Jireh—He is God who provides. I have experienced countless testimonies of how the Lord delivered help through people, provided finances, and provided everything that I needed.
I got to know Him as Lord of Hosts, my protector. God protected me from evil people and occurrences, and even when the police refused to help me, the Lord did; He protected me in a way that no human could.
Don’t be afraid. Read the word of God and ask the Holy Spirit to give you revelation in the knowledge of Him and invite the Lord into aspects of your life that concern you. If you submit yourself to the Lord and listen to Him, obey and trust Him, you will gain experiential knowledge of Him. You will see that God is faithful. He doesn’t make mistakes, and He is never late. You will experience His divine care. You will know your God as your shelter and your provider. You will know your God as your Rock. When you know your God, you will be UNSHAKABLE. And if your eyes are set on the Lord whom you know, you will have peace no matter what is happening around you.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
King David was courageous and assured of his victory against Goliath (while other professionally trained and experienced soldiers were terrified of him and acting cowardly) because he knew his God. He already had the experience of the Lord helping him to win against the bear and the lion, and he did not forget about God’s help in the past. How quickly do we forget God’s help in the past and feel concerned and anxious when new challenges arise?
Let’s not forget what the Lord has done and put our trust in Him. Those who trust the Lord and have confidence in Him will not be ashamed.
And remember, be mindful of the thoughts that you dwell on. It’s a conscious, intentional choice. We choose to look at it as a time when we get to experience Jehovah Jireh – how the Lord provides.
Here is another perspective that greatly helped me when I arrived in the USA to see how to establish my life here. Obstacles were everywhere, and the unknown was very difficult to bear.
At some point, instead of being concerned and worried about things not working out in my favor, I began being curious. Instead of nervously thinking, “What if?” my mindset was, “I am curious how the Lord will help me in this matter, what the Lord has prepared for me.”
The uneasy feeling of concern no longer bothered me. The Lord provided answers to all questions, created opportunities, and the unknown became a beautiful testimony of Jehovah Jireh — the Lord provides.
I hope this was helpful to you. Blessings to you!
You can learn more by reading mybook, “UNSTOPPABLE. It’s a Choice,” which reveals my story and my journey of faith getting to know God and as well as valuable lessons learned while aiming to restore my life after the tragedy.
“Unstoppable: It’s a Choice” is a compelling autobiography and personal development book that draws from the author’s unwavering Christian faith. Inga Lizdenyte’s remarkable journey from a tragic car accident to reclaiming her life and defying all odds is a testament to God’s power and faithfulness.
Inga’s story is one of unyielding determination in the face of devastating adversity. Inga chose to reclaim her life, only to encounter further setbacks and devastating losses. However, with the intervention of the Lord, Inga found the strength to persevere and rise above the overwhelming challenges.
“Unstoppable” transcends mere storytelling; it aims to inspire and instill faith, equipping readers with the resilience and knowledge of how to overcome their obstacles and pursue the life they are destined to live.
Check out my YouTube channel, where I will post videos about my journey of life’s transformation after the tragic car accident, lessons learned, and practical advice and coaching to inspire and empower you to overcome and be unstoppable.
It’s not unusual that fear of disappointment stops people from taking action to achieve something they desire. Many do not allow themselves even to expect something better because they don’t want to be disappointed.
People commonly tend to shield themselves from the possibility of experiencing the pain of disappointment, rejection, or failure by adopting a mindset of unbelief. To avoid pain, they don’t even try to pursue their dreams, convincing themselves that, for whatever reason, nothing is going to work out anyway. They choose to stay in a comfort zone, and to justify their fears and negative attitude, they call it a “realistic perspective.” In some ways, it is understandable because disappointment is hurtful indeed. However, while one side of the coin might be the comfort, the other side – missing the extraordinary life that you could have but didn’t pursue.
Also, by trying to avoid disappointment, we might miss the opportunity given to us. We wish, desire, dream and ask God to answer our prayers, but when the answer comes in the form of an opportunity, out of fear of making a mistake or getting disappointed, we might decide not to use that opportunity, and in that way we might reject our answer from the Lord. I was very close to that.
It is hard to imagine what would have happened if, out of fear of disappointment, I would have rejected the prosthetic specialist’s Michael’s offer to come to Istanbul to meet him for his evaluation of my prosthetic legs. His response to my email was like a breath of fresh air. Finally, someone heard my cry for help! Having suffered excruciating pain and emotional anguish for two years, I felt hope, joy, and excitement at the prospect of moving forward.
But there was also a caution and a wish to protect myself from disappointment. While preparing for the trip to Turkey, I heard opinions that I was making a big mistake, that I should “think realistically” because this specialist lives on the other side of the globe from us and he won’t be able to work with me anyway. This meeting will only stir up hope that cannot be realistically fulfilled. Traveling to Turkey to meet him would be a waste of money and efforts.
Indeed, the fear of disappointment was like my shadow, whispering to me, “What if your meeting with Michael will not give you any good results? The new hope that lit up within you will come crashing down again. Are you sure you’re ready to take another hit?”
I knew this was the answer to my prayers, and I was ready to use this opportunity despite anyone’s opinions. Today, when I look back, the fact is if I had listened to the fear of disappointment, I would not have met Michael, come to America, or realized my dream to walk again. Furthermore, I would not live in California today and would not have implemented my vision of being able to live an independent and fulfilling life.
Can you imagine? One time, one choice would have directed my destiny entirely differently!
If I had followed my fear of disappointment at that time, my story would have developed in a very different way.
As I write this, once again, I realize that my wish to avoid the pain of disappointment could have easily rejected God’s created opportunity. I would have shut the door, which opened up for me to realize my dream to walk and live a fulfilling, beautiful life.
It may seem wise to run away from disappointment or to avoid making a mistake. It is easier to listen to the fear of failure and not take that risky step to be safe. However, it can be a big mistake, one that could determine our future.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that we should take every opportunity that comes our way, that we shouldn’t consider any facts before making a decision, or that we shouldn’t be careful.
I am saying this: think carefully about your decision before you say “No” to the opportunity because maybe it has come to bring you exactly what you desire, what you have been praying for.
Surrendering to fear will cost you your opportunity.
I remembered the words of an author that compelled me to use the opportunity that came my way, to not listen to the fear of “What if…”, step out of my comfort zone, and in faith, step into the unknown in order to create the kind of life I’ve dreamed of since the accident.
“Four things never come back: the spoken word, the fired arrow, the past life and the missed opportunity.” ~ O Mandino
This was one of the best decisions that I have made. It transformed my life.
I sincerely wish you the same.
My book UNSTOPPABLE is an inspirational autobiography and personal development book grounded in the author’s Christian faith. It follows the story of Inga Lizdenyte, a woman who transformed her life after a tragic car accident, where the chances stacked against her proved all but insurmountable. From being incapable of speaking or moving or doing anything independently, to traveling from Europe and moving to the United States, the book emerges as a valuable testimony to the power of God.
After her accident, Inga landed in a world she never knew could exist. Her destiny had been crushed and she stood at the crossroads: to give in or to fight. Inga chose to reclaim her life. Yet the lesson learned was that even when matters seem on the way to redemption, the worst can occur. With only steps away from achieving the impossible, everything for Inga had been destroyed all over again. The fruits of her hard work and her continuous efforts were ruined.
Realizing that its not events or the choices of others that can break her, with the Lords intervention, Inga picked herself up and continued her journey in spite of the odds. Intended to inspire and ignite faith, Unstoppable becomes more than a harrowing account, it is a book that reveals; it inescapably touches the heart, but delves as well into the secrets that kept Inga going, equipping readers with the knowledge to break through their own hardships, overcome their obstacles, and to achieve the goals most important to the life they’ve been chosen to live.
My YouTube Channel:
Check out my YouTube channel, where I will post videos about my journey of life’s transformation after the tragic car accident, lessons learned, and practical advice and coaching to inspire and empower you to overcome and be unstoppable.
In this video, I share things that will empower you to become independent if you have a physical disability. I have no legs and can use only my right arm; nevertheless, overcoming ongoing challenges, I became self-sufficient, and now my passion is empowering others. I believe what I share in the video will empower you whether you have a disability or not because I use it to overcome any challenges and obstacles in life, not only physical limitations.
After losing my legs and the function of my left arm (fully paralyzed), I depended on other people for the simplest daily things. It seemed I could no longer take care of myself. I thought having a disability meant being dependent on others, and only the thought of it was unbearable. So I decided to break that and become independent again.
Steps To Overcome Disability
Even if you have a disability, you can become self-sufficient. For that to happen, you need:
The environment must be as accessible/adapted as possible to a person with a disability.
Change your mindset – change your results. Our mindset has tremendous power and impact on our decisions, actions, and, finally, the results we attain.
Challenge yourself, and push the limits by finding a way to do what you need to do in your physical condition.
It’s what you make out of what you have that will make your life either fulfilling or miserable.
See the video below where I coach, share my personal story of how I overcame, and share some practical advice from personal experience.
In my book “UNSTOPPABLE. It’s a Choice,” you can learn my full story-testimony, which is an inspiring story of overcoming adversity and a story of the journey of faith trusting God in difficult times. I also coach readers and share practical tools to empower them to be strong and unstoppable in their personal journey. The book can be your personal daily coach!
Oh these uncertain times…it’s very easy to feel depressed, stressed, and anxious. I want to share with you one thing that might help you, as it helped me. I understood it a few months after the car accident and it greatly empowered me in the years ahead. At first, it might seem too simple to take it seriously, but it is one of the most powerful self-management aspects. It makes a tremendous impact on us and on our lives.
What makes a huge impact on how we feel and how we experience life is what we focus on. For example, here are two sets of facts from my life. How different would I feel and experience my life if I chose to focus on either of them? I could focus on the fact that:
I don’t have legs and cannot walk, my left arm is paralyzed and I can’t do things as I could before; it’s been 20 years when there is not even one second that I would not feel severe pain in my body; I live across the globe from my family and I cannot see them or spend time with them; I am alone in this country; I can’t walk, can’t run, and can’t do many things I wish I could do. Furthermore, in these uncertain times many bad things can happen and what if.. what if… what if… and I cannot do anything about it.
2. I can move at all; I can think clearly and express myself even though other people cannot do that with the injury that I had; I still have my right hand which I use to do whatever needs to be done and I find ways to be self-sufficient; I get to live in a beautiful land of sunshine that gave me the opportunity to live a full value life despite my physical limitations; my family is far away but I stay in touch with them via the internet; I am surrounded by wonderful people and therefore, I am not alone and I am not lonely; I have so many blessings and I choose to focus on what I have and what I can do; and in these uncertain times, instead of fear I focus on my faith – the Lord has shown His providence and provision over many years and, will He leave me trouble now? No, of course not. So I put my trust in Him who is faithful and with whom all things are possible.
The facts I wrote in #1 and #2 are all true realistic facts as we speak. Which ones should I focus on?
What if I would dwell on facts #1 daily, constantly focusing on things I don’t have and cannot do? My life would be total misery, anxiety, and depression, wouldn’t it?
Even though all of these facts are true, I choose to focus on different facts of my life, the ones I wrote in #2. As a result, I have no misery or depression, but gratitude, joy, hope, peace.
It’s as simple as that, but what a tremendous difference it makes when you intentionally choose to focus on what’s good. And, what I will focus on is a choice. We can live on auto-pilot, so to speak, but we can choose a conscious living, being aware of our thoughts and feelings, and we can intentionally choose how we want to think and feel.
Begin paying attention daily on where your mind goes. Notice what you pay attention to and what you focus on: problem or solution; fear or what gives you confidence and certainty; what you are annoyed about or what you appreciate and feel grateful for; what you don’t have or what you do have; what you can’t do or what you can do; obstacles or your aspiration; how difficult it is or the reason why it’s important for you to achieve your goal; reasons why it cannot be done or possible opportunities? Train yourself to focus on things that uplift you and empower you. It’s just a matter of your habitual thinking. It can be changed if you don’t like it.
It’s not easy to do. But, once you train yourself (yes, you can control your mind and thoughts) you will see how dramatically it will change the way you experience life and how much easier it will be to deal with difficulties.
When you see that you focus on negative sides of life, change it. Begin intentionally stopping yourself from thoughts of what’s not good in your life and direct your thoughts unto things that are good. It might not be easy at first, but with practice, it will get easier and easier. I had to do it myself at some point. Once you begin changing your thought pattern, you will see an amazing shift in your life – you will feel better and you will see more good things around you and your life experience will change. Trust me.
Be safe and healthy, all is going to be well, Inga
UNSTOPPABLE 