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!
I am experiencing one of the biggest miracles in my life. And, I want to share with you a testimony of supernatural freedom from severe incurable pain and opioid pain medication. This is a long post, but I hope this message will bring hope to you and will add some value to your life.
Even though I lost my legs in a car accident, I have a sensation as if I do have legs. For over 10 years I was suffering from pain in my feet, which is called phantom pain. It seemed as if lightning strikes hit into my feet. The shots of pain were so sudden and violent that my body jumped, pierced by sharp pain. It was excruciating.
I have learned to live with daily never-ending pain in my paralyzed arm, but the phantom pain was something I could not tolerate. The doctor said there is no cure for it. I started taking pain medication Vicodin (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) to get temporary relief from pain. Pain medication did help with the pain and it even gave me a little boost of energy (which I liked, I admit) but little did I know what I stepped into…
Over time, my body got used to this medication and it no longer helped with the pain. So I received a prescription for a much stronger pain reliever, Norco. Slowly but surely, medication pulled me into a trap of the addiction to the pain-relievers. From taking one pill a day I ended up taking 6-8 pills a day of 10 mg/325 mg Norco drug just to be able to function. Furthermore, after some time Norco also was no longer strong enough to knock down the pain.
When I realized the horrible effect that medication had in my life and I did a research about this type of medication, I faced a terrifying fact: these were a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin.
After reading online about the experiences of others in this matter, I think for the first time I felt frightened about my life. The opioid medication was the only option for me to handle the pain (alternative medications and acupuncture did not help), but this option had only one direction – to a deeper addiction which led thousands of people to illegal drugs and a life of drug addiction.
What did I get myself into?! How to get out of this?
There was no way out.
This kind of pain is not curable and it actually only intensified over time. Quite frankly, the pain and taking medication became such a usual part of my life that it just became a part of me; I forgot what it looked like to live without pain and without medication. I did not have enough faith that prayer can help. So I did not even pray about it.
One day, as I was going home from work, I took a pill. I realized it was the 8thNorco pill that I just took in one day. It horrified me. I felt drowsy and spaced out. I hated that feeling. And the pain attacks didn’t go anywhere. Since Norco no longer helped with the pain, I had to either increase the daily dosage or go on stronger medication. But I was so afraid of stronger medication…. I felt hopeless. I just didn’t know what to do. In my mind, I began calling out to God… as a drowning person reaches out the hand to grab the last straw.
In a moment, memories came to me of times when I received supernatural healing after the prayer and many other incredible testimonies of the Lord’s help. Jesus was my only hope. After returning home, feeling total despair I cried to Jesus Christ. I just had nowhere to go. I asked Him to break the chains of pain and addiction and to free me from this invisible prison.
The impossible becomes true
Right on the next day, I received my answer. Totally unexpectedly I was invited to join a bible homegroup. There severe pain shots began attacking me, and my fellows began praying for me. And, to my big astonishment, after the prayer, the pain shots stopped, just like in a story when the storm calmed down when Jesus commanded it to be quiet. I couldn’t believe that what I experienced was real!
Since then, after many years of pain and dependency on narcotic medication trap, I began my journey toward my freedom. It was probably one of the hardest things I had to do. When I would not take medication, it seemed like someone was breaking my bones, tearing apart all my organs inside. At times it felt as though someone was pulling my soul out of me. I couldn’t do any work, couldn’t sit still, couldn’t rest, and couldn’t sleep. In addition, returning pain shots made it nearly impossible to stay away from the medication.
At times, after the prayer, the pain would stop, and at times the pain would persist regardless. Often taking the pill was an easy way out. Thus, the stronghold of returning pain and both mental and physical addiction kept me in this endless roller coaster. For the last five years, it’s been an ongoing battle.
In the beginning of June of 2020, I felt so tired of this ongoing battle between bondage and my strive to have freedom… As I was thinking about it, I heard/felt this gentle and yet clear and lousd voice within: if you are going to continue taking medication, you will not be able to fulfill your calling. Now you have a choice: to continue and jeopardize your purpose or by faith completely surrender yourself and this matter to the Lord and trust God to help you with pain and with withdrawals.
I knew that I was at crossroads – the choice that I was going to make would determine the further direction of my path. My future depended on my choice.
Just a thought of withdrawals made me sick. I’ve tried to quit medication multiple times and I was never able to. But I knew this had to stop. So I made the decision to trust God with it all. I already witnessed tremendous power in the name of Jesus Christ, and I decided to fight this battle on my knees.
That night was a sleepless night. Phantom pain like electricity shock relentlessly attacked me throughout the night. I got up feeling exhausted. Overwhelmed. Pain relentlessly continued to the point of me saying I could no longer endure it.
I got angry. The pain attacks suddenly became even more vicious than ever before just when I decided to stop taking medication! My anger fueled a determination to be relentless in my prayer of faith. I went into my office and began praying. When I rebuked the pain in Jesus Christ’s name – the pain stopped. It was just gone right after the prayer.
It was so clear – this battle can be won only in the name of Jesus Christ. The narcotic medication would only lead me to destruction. Freedom will come only through faith and the power of the name of Jesus Christ.
There was one thing though that I was concerned about – agonizing physical withdrawals. I was so tired from going back and forth… I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it all over again.
On the next day, there was a Friday prayer night at Flame of Fire Ministry, and my friend and I decided to join them. I wanted to spend time in prayer. While I was praying in Spirit, I felt the change within me. Instead of concern about withdrawals, I felt growing determination and strength to withstand it, and my faith surrendering to God this matter was getting stronger. I felt total resolve seeing it as being done and over.
At the end of prayer night, leaders asked the attendees if there is someone who would like to be prayed for. At first, I wanted to ask for prayer, but then I stopped myself. I felt shy. “I will just go into my room and continue praying as I did,“ I thought.
After they prayed for others and were about to dismiss the crowd, one of the leaders came up to the front and said “The Holy Spirit says to me that there is someone here in the room who needs freedom from the bondage. Someone, who is really tired from going back and forth. We can pray for you to end this, so you finally can have the freedom that you want.”
Needless to say, my eyes were full of tears! It was me.
Father knew. The Lord heard my cry, and He broke the shackles and delivered me from the invisible prison. Since then, I never went back to medication.
Remember, it’s a battle
First I had to face a battle though, which had a lesson for me. For the next several days, at times the pain did show up. But, instead of medication, I chose to handle it with the prayer of faith and through the power of the name of Jesus Christ. After several days, the pain shots went away.
Withdrawals came along as well. They weren’t as bad as they normally were. At times though, I wished somebody would get me out of my own body. Nevertheless, I was determined. In those times, in my mind, the verse kept coming to me “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 And, like never before, I had the endurance to withstand withdrawals. After several more days, they also went away.
For more than 10 years, there has not been a day that I did not feel the lightning strikes of phantom pain, and neither painkillers, nor alternative medicines, nor acupuncture helped – THESE DAILY PAINS ARE GONE! For more than 10 years I could not live a day without opioid drugs, and now almost four months have passed – I HAVE NEVER TAKEN THESE PAINKILLERS!
I want to take the opportunity and thank my church “Hand of Help” in San Francisco and every single person who prayed for me. This was a long and strenuous battle. Especially, I want to thank Aleksandr Kolesnikov, who taught me about faith and the power of prayer and who prayed for me countless times. The first battle is won, Aleksandr!
Lord knows our hearts and true intentions. He knows our hardships and battles. Even if it may seem to us that there is no way out of the situation we are in, God always has a way. And, He hears the cry of those who call out upon His name for help with a sincere heart. He comes to help us and He is never late. So, if you feel trapped in a certain situation, call out to God. Faith in God and prayer is not a ‘religion’ that many views with an ironic mockery. Faith and prayer have great power beyond our comprehension. And it can give you what the world does not have and cannot give.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. (Psalm 50:15)
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3)
If you feel discouraged because you did not receive your answer, keep persisting. Resist the enemy and doubts. Remember that it is the battle. Jesus has already won the battle, we just have to take back what the enemy has stolen.
My best wishes to you, be safe and blessed!
In my book “UNSTOPPABLE. It’s a Choice” you can learn my full story-testimony, which is an inspiring story of overcoming adversity and transforming life in spite of all odds. This book is about a living God who can restore the broken, heal the deepest wounds of a soul, and transform one’s life no matter how desperate the situation is. The story is about resolve and relentless perseverance that can break through the insurmountable stumbling blocks. The story is about the power of resilience that can lift you up and carry you forward no matter how tired you are or how many times you fall. It is about God’s immeasurable mercy and grace even if you make a horrible, unpardonable mistake.
Finally, this book is about THE POWER OF DECISIONS that are made by us, once we stand at the CROSSROADS OF A CHOICE.
“I believe, but I don’t understand why there is no answer to my prayer,” in my thoughts I still heard these words and saw the disappointment in his eyes while I prayed for one person’s need.
While praying, I had an insight that it was necessary for him to change the way of thinking and approach to the prayer. It inspires me to share with you about one important aspect of faith and prayer. It that has brought many answers to my prayers and has greatly strengthened my personal walk of faith.
When we are in this kind of a mindset, disappointment comes. And there is only a step away from the doubt … and, unbelief is right there, like a shadow. In the end, doubt and unbelief jeopardize our prayer. (James 1: 6-7 ” But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”)
Instead of asking why God does not answer, assert your faith in your mind and speech. Say that you believe and trust the Lord regardless of what is actually happening at the moment. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Abraham did not waver in the promises of God. Opposite, he remained firm in the faith and gave glory to God. It’s amazing that he did not even consider realistic facts. Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to fulfill His promise, even if it was physically impossible. Sarah accepted the power to conceive and gave birth to a child because she knew that God was true to his promise. (Romans 4: 18-22, Hebrews 11:11)
In prayer, ask God for revelation for you and His word of direction for your situation. Instead of frustration and anxiety, proclaim who your God is. Assert your faith: “You are Jehovah-Rapha – God who heals body and soul. You are El Shaddai – God Almighty, You have absolute power over everything. You are powerful and true to Your word. I know that with You everything is possible and there comes a day when my answer will be here physically. Father, I know that my situation is in Your hands and You will take care of everything. Lead me unto the path that I must walk in, direct everything in my life according to Your will. I trust You. I know that I will not be ashamed because You say in Your word that those who wait on You will not be ashamed.”
In your conversations with others, instead of talking about how big the problem is and how you do not understand where God is and why there is no answer, speak the words that affirm your faith. “The problem is big, BUT I know that my God is greater than any problem. God has an answer and there is nothing impossible for Him. Circumstances are subject to Him, and He can change any situation. People’s hearts are in the hands of the Lord, like rivers of water: He turns it wherever He wishes. He has times and seasons for everything. God never sleeps and He is never late. I know that my Lord will take care of everything and I live in expectation of the answer from Him.“
Now I remember, that’s exactly how I was thinking and praying in the darkest situations and hopeless circumstances. Instead of anxiety and doubt, I was asserting my faith and confidence in the Lord. I approached the problem from the side of total conviction that God could do anything and He would help me. My faith became confidence/knowledge that with the help of the Lord I would overcome everything and troubles were going to be resolved. And, I stated this both in my mind and in words.
The answers did not come immediately. But, I continued to assert that God, in whom I believe, is omnipotent, and I wait upon Him. I expect help from Him. Now, when I look back, I see that every need, which I confidently believed that God would help with, has been answered. I received answers despite the fact that those were the times of total hopelessness. Realistically, it seemed impossible to improve them. Moreover, the more difficult the situation was, the more amazing the testimony is of how the Lord brought me out of difficulties.
The Lord put desires in my heart to achieve certain goals, encouraged me to take some measures and initiate action for change. He created new opportunities and opened a way out where there was none. The Lord put me in favor of many people I’ve met and inspired many to help me. He gave me the ability, strength, endurance and perseverance to achieve goals. God blessed everything I did. He took care of me and provided everything that I needed. And He was never late. Never.
If you catch yourself dwelling on disappointment and questioning why God doesn’t answer and whether prayer can help at all – start changing your approach to the problem and to the prayer. Build your faith not on your own understanding of whether it is possible to solve your problem, but on who your God is – He is almighty and He is faithful to His word/promise. (Romans 4:18-22, Hebrews 11:11)
Instead of doubts and endless questions “God why …”, ASSERT the FAITH that you believe and completely trust God no matter what. PROCLAIM who your God is. Proclaim the word from the Holy Scriptures, your victory over problems and diseases, and you will see the power of the prayer of faith.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 (ESV)
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” Proverbs 21:1 (ESV)
“‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV)
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14 (ESV)
“…Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.” Isaiah 49:23 (ESV)
Be steadfast in faith. Be unstoppable.
~Inga
In my book “Unstoppable. It’s a Choice” you can learn my full story-testimony, which is an inspiring story of overcoming adversity and transforming life in spite of all odds. This book is about a living God who can restore the broken, heal the deepest wounds of a soul, and transform one’s life no matter how desperate the situation is. The story is about resolve and relentless perseverance that can break through the insurmountable stumbling blocks. The story is about the power of resilience that can lift you up and carry you forward no matter how tired you are or how many times you fall. It is about God’s immeasurable mercy and grace even if you make a horrible, unpardonable mistake. Finally, this book is about the power of decisions that are made by us, once we stand at the crossroads of a choice.
I want to share a quick testimony with you; maybe someone needs to hear it at this time.
On July 4th weekend, my friends and I went to Santa Cruz for a short getaway at the ocean. On the way back, one of the girls wanted to buy some locally grown fruits. When we drove closer to the stands where fruits were sold, I saw a written sign that there was Honeycomb available to purchase. I was SO EXCITED!! I LOVE honeycomb! It’s been such a loooong time since I had it. “I want honeycomb,” I said to my friends as we were getting ready to get out of the car.
Once we came up to the stands we saw a wide variety of fruits and berries, and there was honey in a glass jar, and right next to it there it was – local raw honeycomb in a jar. But it seemed quite overpriced… ugh!
We decided to skip it. Maybe we will find it in another place. I was sad for a moment. I so missed raw honeycomb..
But then I pushed my disappointment away and quickly zipped further away to take some photos of the ocean coast while Victoria was choosing fruits that she wanted to buy. I was just grateful I could see with my own eyes the beauty of the Pacific and breathtaking views of its coastline.
Upon my return to the car, there I saw a man coming up to me and he said, “I am sorry, but I had to say this – you inspired me so much! I saw how quickly you zipped around with this wheelchair and how well you handle it, and just watching you I was so inspired. I want to give you this as my gift to you.”
And, he reaches his hand holding… a jar with raw honeycomb – exactly the one I wanted! I was so astonished! I couldn’t even say anything except Thank you.
Think about it… There were peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, blackberries, and many other fruits, and there was another kind of honey BUT the owner gave me particularly what I so desired. ☺
The verse came to my mind “He fulfills the desire of those who fear him” I have quite a few stories like that. My meeting with Dolphins in Jamaica was exactly the same story, which literally brought me to tears of joy. I will share it with you another time.
And for now, I share this experience to pass it on to you.
He knows EXACTLY what you need and what you want. He knows every single detail and the deep desires of your heart. He listens to the prayer of those who love the Lord and walk before Him in reverence, and He fulfills their desire. And, the Lord is never late. Always remember that.
“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” Psalm 145:17-19 ESV
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
In my last post, I talked about how our beliefs have a
tremendous impact in our lives. So many
people hold limiting beliefs of what they’re capable of and what’s possible, which
robs people of their full potential and the lives that they could live. I shared
my personal experience of how changing my limiting beliefs and my way of
thinking empowered me tremendously to transform my life after losing both of my
legs and the function of my left arm.
When I began mastering my beliefs and my way of thinking, the restoration of my independence and my life has taken to a whole new level. Through the experience, I have learned that as long as you are convinced that you cannot do something, or that something is impossible, it really is true. But it remains true only as long as you hold on to that belief.
In this post, I want to continue: How to Change the Beliefs That Limit Us? How can we do that which we thought we couldn’t do?
What is a belief? A belief is nothing but what we consider to be true, what we feel certain about.
For the most part, beliefs are unconscious, and they come
from the culture where we grew up, the philosophy of life, faith / spiritual
beliefs, our life experiences or the opinions and experiences of those whom we
trust and respect.
Essentially, beliefs are only assumptions we make about
ourselves and others, about our circumstances and our destiny, about success
and failure, and, other aspects of life. But are our beliefs really true? Unfortunately,
the beliefs that we hold may be absolutely not true and they can jeopardize us.
How can I change my beliefs?
When you think you aren’t able to do something, answer to yourself:
How can you absolutely know that to be true? According to whom you are not capable of it?
Has there ever been a time when you thought you couldn’t do something and then it turned out it has not been the case?
What evidence do you have today which is the opposite of what you believe in?
If you would try to do what you thought you could not do, where would you begin?
2. When you face a situation that seems very difficult to resolve, something is impossible, instead of considering how big is the problem consider how mighty your God is.
Usually, when we encounter a problem, we first analyze what is happening, how difficult and how bad everything is, and we check if we can resolve it. And If the problem is beyond our ability to resolve it or it is out of our control we turn to God asking for His help.
BUT if we focus on how big the problem is and build our expectation of the result after the prayer based on our own understanding and viewpoint of what is possible, then it is hard to believe that we will receive help from the Lord after the prayer. “Well… I hope, but this problem is so big, I just can’t see how this can be resolved; I am too weak/too old/not educated/not capable and I don’t know if I can receive a job; he/she are way too stubborn and never going to change,” does it sound familiar?
And then doubt comes, fear and unbelief (and then we get the answer according to our faith). But this is a belief that is based on our assumptions, on our understanding, and not on the word of God. It is faith in our faith, not faith in God.
To me, one of the most prominent examples of what faith is – Abraham and Sarah.
Romans 4:18-22 says that Abraham, even though it seemed hopeless, he still in hope believed. It’s amazing that He did not even consider the realistic factors (that his body and Sarah’s body were way too old to give birth to a child and physically it was simply impossible). Abraham did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God and being fully convinced that what God has promised He was also able to perform. Sarah – accepted strength to conceive and gave birth to a child because she judged Him faithful who had promised (Hebrews 11:11)
Few details got my attention:
For Abraham and Sarah it was a decision to believe God. It’s a conscious decision.
They built their faith not based on whether it was realistic or believable to them what God has promised but based on WHO GOD IS – God is MIGHTY AND ABLE to do it and He is FAITHFUL to His word.
I personally experienced incredible evidence of the power of faith when I trusted God in hopeless situations and expected an answer, even if it was simply unrealistic to get the answer I wanted. So many times I was advised to think realistically and adapt to circumstances, but I did not want to live as circumstances allowed me. But there was no way to change these circumstances.
And I, feeling complete despair, decided to have a child-like faith that God is the one who is able to change my circumstances. I decided to rise above the realistic thinking and to believe that everything was possible for the Lord, because He created the Universe, and so He is able to change any circumstances. Every day in my prayer I continued telling Him that I knew He is able to do the impossible, and that I trusted Him. I was convinced of this and in hope expected for the answer.
And, you know, the Lord really did the impossible every time. No matter how unrealistic it was to fix those situations, change circumstances and get out of hopelessness, every time I witnessed inexplicable changes in my circumstances. I saw how circumstances changed in an absolutely incredible way, and I just cannot explain it in any logical way, except to tell you: “It was God’s miracle.”
Break your limiting beliefs by deciding to have faith, based not on your understanding of what’s possible, not on what you think how ‘realistic it is’, but having faith in God based on Who God Is and what He says in His Word – HE IS ABLE and HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD. No matter what in actuality is going on, you stand on God’s word and proclaim it. You proclaim your faith not based on what you see or what you think is possible, but based on what the word of God says.
3. While holding on to the belief that you can do all things with God and all things are possible with Him, shift your focus from dwelling on how complicated your situation is to seeking for a solution.
Our mind is like a computer – it will give the answer according to our command, which is it will give the answers to the questions we ask ourselves. So it’s critical to ask yourself the question that will lead you to the solution:
Where is the solution to this?
What would you advise your best friend to do if they were in your situation?
If you could do anything, what would you do to fix and improve this situation?
If you could do one thing to resolve this situation, what would that be?
How could you make it happen, what are the ways?
And then, while holding on to your belief that it is possible and you will have a victory, focus on what you need to do to improve your situation and take action.
Blessings in your journey and until next time! ~ Inga
P.s. I share my personal experience of my life’s transformation in my book “UNSTOPPABLE. It’s a Choice”. Grab your copy to be inspired and empowered to be unstoppable in your pursuits.
Many people are not disabled physically, but I see how many of them disable themselves by living in the limiting beliefs of what’s possible, and what they’re capable of. 19 years ago, while I was in a recovery process after the life-altering car accident, I realized one thing that totally transformed the way I began seeing my physical limitations and, and that was the beginning of claiming back my independence and life’s recovery. I want to pass it on to you, so you too, could take a deep breath and spread your wings to the life that you meant to live.
When I fully realized that I no longer had my legs and my left arm was paralyzed with no chance to recover, I was devastated beyond my ability to describe it. It was pure unspeakable anguish and hopelessness. I just couldn’t see how I would be able to live without legs and only one arm. I had many questions about how I was going to take care of myself on a daily basis and live fully. There was one answer – I can’t do it anymore. My mom was helping me to get up, dress up, make a meal and basically, she had to help with everything. I can’t even describe how much I hated to be dependent on another person! But it seemed like this would be my reality for the rest of my life. There was no other way.
Six months after the crash, my mom and I stayed in the Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center to obtain artificial legs for me. I was told that it was impossible for me to walk due to my complicated physical condition. But I believed I would. In fact, I was confident without a doubt that I would. To the astonishment of those who considered it to be impossible I did walk, indeed. One day, as I was resting after my training, I suddenly realized, “Wait a minute. Why am I still asking mom to help me get up? It’s ridiculous – I can do such a difficult thing like walking with prostheses, but I still have my mom helping me with simple daily activities!”
See, in my mind (as well as my mom’s), there was a mindset that without legs and only one arm I was no longer able to do things, so I had to be helped. Now that I had achieved something that professional specialists stated to be impossible, there was a big question mark in my mind about what I was really capable of. Suddenly I realized that my limitations were only in my mind, in my beliefs. I was fully aware that I could do much more than what it seemed at first and I decided to push my limits. That day I declared my independence stating, “Yes, I can do it. I will figure out how to do everything on my own and will become fully self-sufficient.”
From then on, I started looking for ways to do everything on my own. First of all, the goal was to find a way to sit up by myself from a lying position, and with the help of a physical therapist, we found a way. I began figuring out ways of dressing up independently and performing various daily activities by myself. I didn’t allow myself to think whether I could or could not. My new mindset was – I can without a doubt, I only need to find a way how to do it. Instead of saying to myself, “I am disabled and I can’t do this anymore,” I would say, “Yes, I can and I will find a way to do this.” I began changing how I speak by eliminating phrases – “I can’t” or “IF I can”. I began refusing to receive any help from my mom (which was not easy for her to accept J ), and I gave myself no other option but to get it done without any help. When I needed to do something with one hand, holding on to the belief – I can and I will – I asked myself, “HOW can I do this? What is the way? What possible options are there to resolve this?” As simple as it seems, this is the key to how I am able to do things independently. Changing my mindset and asking myself the right questions are the keys to how I managed many of my difficulties in life and overcame all obstacles.
As I look back, changing my way of thinking was one of my biggest breakthroughs which empowered me tremendously and opened the doors to new opportunities.
Since that time, when my limiting beliefs of what I could do and what I thought was possible was replaced by new beliefs, and I began mastering my way of thinking, the restoration of my independence and my life has taken to a whole new level. A few years later, I traveled by myself from Lithuania to the United States to pursue my dream. Now it’s been 14 years that I live across the globe from my family, fully independently (I can take care of all my personal needs, take care of the household matters, laundry, shopping, cooking, going to work, etc.) My physical limitations are still the same BUT BREAKING LIMITATIONS IN MY MIND, IN MY BELIEFS totally transformed what I was able to achieve, and ultimately directed my destiny in a way that is beyond I could ever even dream of.
And what about you? I urge you to look inside yourself and test your deep beliefs. What do you believe and what are you convinced about that it may not be true at all, and this only stops you from trying, from achieving what your heart desires? What belief is holding you back from fulfilling your purpose? As long as you are convinced that something is impossible or that things will not work out for you, it really will be true. But this remains true only as long as you hold on to this belief.
Break through the beliefs that keep you locked in a cage. Do not allow your limiting beliefs to steal the life from you that you are called to live. In your life, there is much more that you can do, fulfill and enjoy!
How to change your beliefs and to do what you thought you couldn’t do? I will share in the next post. Blessings to you, until next time!
We all love Psalm 91. And these verses sound so promising and encouraging.
But you know, I looked deeper into who this person is, to whom there is this promise. (I began studying the Bible by looking into the meaning of the text in the original language. What a difference! I receive so much insight and depth in understanding the word of God)
The person to whom this promise belongs:
This person doesn’t live with a superficial belief that God exists or has positive feelings toward God.
He loves God. He has a profound, relational knowledge of the Lord.
“He has set his love” — in the original language means a very close relationship and a deep feeling of affection or love. The Hebrew verb “chashaq” primarily conveys a sense of deep affection, attachment, or love. It often implies a strong emotional bond or desire, whether between individuals or between God and His people. The term can denote both human and divine love, emphasizing a committed and intentional choice to love or be attached to someone or something.
“He has known My name” — God has many names, each reflecting His character, an attribute. The Hebrew word “shem” primarily means “name.” It is used to denote a person’s identity, reputation, or character. “Shem” can also refer to the fame or renown of a person, as well as the authority or power associated with a name.
The word “knows” implies deep, personal, and relational knowledge. The Hebrew verb “yada” encompasses a range of meanings related to knowledge and understanding. It is used to describe intellectual awareness, experiential knowledge, and intimate familiarity. In the biblical context, “yada” often implies a deep, personal, and relational knowledge, such as the intimate relationship between God and His people or between individuals.
Knowing the Lord means knowing His character and attributes and having a close experiential knowledge of Him.
We get to know a person very well when we spend time together and share many experiences in various situations. We can know God and grow in faith by studying the Scriptures and inviting Him into our daily lives instead of thinking about God only on Sundays when we are at Church.
By reading God’s word, we learn about Him. The Holy Spirit gives revelation, and the Lord speaks to us through His rhéma word and sows seeds of faith in us. The more we put His word and our faith into practice in our daily lives, the more we experience the Lord in various circumstances, and the more we get to know Him.
Life becomes truly incredible when you walk your life journey with the Lord.
I speak from my experience. And I wish you the same.
You see, this relationship with God is not just merely going to Church. It is not just about believing that God exists. Also, it is not living life acting according to religious rules and traditions. Doing many things for the Church while your heart is far from the Lord is a mere religion that makes you look godly, but there it ends. It is possible to do many things for God and go to Church and yet… not know the Lord.
It is about a genuine and deep relationship with the Lord, as we read in Psalm 91.
It’s when your heart belongs to the Lord, and you delight in Him. It’s life in faith having a two-way communication with the Lord through His Word and the Holy Spirit.
It’s about diving deep into His Word and allowing His truth to renew your mind and transform your soul.
It’s about knowing who your God is and learning what He wants, learning His will for you, and aligning your aspirations with His will.
It’s when your God becomes your guide, comforter, provider, shelter, and purpose. It’s when Jesus Christ becomes your shepherd, who cares for you, protects you, and leads you to good pastures.
When Jesus becomes truly the Lord of your life and the reason you live.
Imagine experiencing His presence in the chaos of life, feeling His peace in times of trouble and the unknown, and discovering His guidance in your daily decisions or when you feel lost.
Imagine when the impossible becomes possible.
How would your life look like if you received freedom from depression, fear, and anxiety?
You can have this life when you love the Lord and know His name.
As you embark on this journey, I encourage you to open your heart and invite God into your life in a more profound way. Seek Him in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His Word and speak to you. Begin practicing His word and putting your faith into action.
If you seek Him with a genuine heart, you will find Him.
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV
This promise isn’t just for a select few; it’s for anyone who chooses to know their Lord. After the car accident, I no longer could go to the Church. But I desperately desired to know Him and what He wanted from me. So, I eagerly began searching for Him with all my essence.
There I was… alone. In my room, in my bed. My body was still aching from my traumatic injuries and severed legs. My life was destroyed without hope to restore it. The future seemed ruined. I prayed to the Lord. Simply talking to Him from my heart. Every day, I sought the Lord and waited to hear from Him.
And you know, I found Him. Since then, I have surrendered my life to the Lord and embarked on a beautiful, incredible journey with Jesus. The life that seemed to be destroyed by a tragedy was transformed beyond what I could imagine.
Remember, it’s about building that personal relationship. So take a deep breath, and in faith, start this journey of knowing Him the way He wants you to know Him.
I genuinely believe that once you do, you’ll join me in declaring how incredible life can be when you walk with the Lord.
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 my book “Unstoppable. It’s a Choice,” you can learn my full story-testimony, an inspiring story of overcoming adversity and 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.
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.
Many want to change their lives, beginning with changing their circumstances. If this is not possible, they lose hope. Have you ever considered that life changes often originate from within?
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT
What we believe in, focus on, and allow to dominate our hearts determines how we feel, shapes our decisions and actions, and ultimately determines the course of our lives.
Therefore, we must guard our hearts carefully and focus on our inner man first.
The transformation of my life began within me – from my faith and mind. The results that followed were life-changing.
When a tragic car accident destroyed my life and left me with severe physical injuries, it was IMPOSSIBLE to change my circumstances. The pain of a tremendous loss and hopelessness about the future were always there by my side.
At times, it was unbearable.
Still, I believed that all things were possible with God. I chose to seek the Lord and hold onto faith No Matter How Hopeless my situation was.
When I realized I was deeply depressed due to the accident’s consequences, I resolved to get out of that pit and create the life I desired. I knew I must protect my mind from depressive thoughts, and instead of focusing on my loss, pain, and discouragement, I focused on blessings and hope through faith. With God’s help, I overcame the pain and found the determination and courage to move forward with my life.
My mindset, rooted in faith, empowered me to see the possibilities in the impossible situation, and I began taking action. It required relentless effort and hard work.
Unwavering faith and determination inspired me to persevere and be unstoppable as I pursued life’s restoration.
That’s when the change began happening.
Experiencing incredible testimonies of God’s help and victories as I achieved my goals, I was in awe – my life started changing! My daily emotional agony and hopelessness about the future transformed into a victorious, beautiful life journey.
Today, my life is beyond what I even dreamed of.
The course of my life was changed because I protected my heart from negative thoughts, discouragement, and unbelief. I know it would not have changed if I sat and waited for life to change one day “somehow, “some way.”
God will help you, but you must do your part. Don’t wait for circumstances to change; begin making changes with yourself.
Check your beliefs and mindset. What do you focus on most of the time?
Also, check your attitude and intentions.
What fills your heart?
What do you – really – believe when it comes to your destiny?
What is your outlook on the future? What does your future depend on?
What are the three most important things that would make a difference in your life?
What’s holding you back from making the changes you want?
What limiting beliefs do you need to let go of?
What possibilities do you see when you look at your present reality and where you want to be?
What do you think about obstacles ahead of you? How can you overcome them?
What steps can you take to begin making changes in your life?
Last but not least, bring your plans before the Lord. Ask Him to guide you, order your steps according to His will, lead you where you need to go, and bless your efforts. This made a monumental and even life-changing difference in my life.
“Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established.”Proverbs 16:3 NASB1995
My Book, “UNSTOPPABLE. It’s a Choice,” reveals my story and 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.
Jet ski ride without legs? With no way to sit firmly on the seat and only one arm to hold myself? That’s wild. It can not be done.
But it was a dream of mine for many years… Whenever I would come to some lake and see people enjoying crazy speed drives on jet skis, I would think, “Oh, I wish I could do this!!” But because I don’t have legs and only one functioning arm, I looked at it from the perspective of unattainable desire. You know how we have wishful thinking at times, similar to, “Oh, I wish I could now appear on the beach on a Caribbean island?”
Since the car accident, as I aimed to become self-sufficient again and live a full life, I have found a way to do things, even if they initially seemed impossible. So, here I was, watching how the jet ski was waiting for the next person, I imagined how I could possibly ride on it and not slide off the seat. But I was afraid I could not keep myself from sliding off the jet ski.
So, while enjoying nature and fellowship, I kept looking at the jet ski before me, deeply wanting to speed on it. At some point, a brother in Christ from our fellowship group approached me, and during our conversation, I mentioned how greatly I wished I could ride on this jet ski.
To my surprise, he immediately said that this could be easily arranged. But I was still holding on to my fear and concerns. Considering my physical limitations this was not a wise decision after all. After hearing my objection, Omar looked at me with a piercing, profound look and said, “Inga. This might be your only chance to do it. “
His look and words did something inexplicable. It’s as though his words unlocked the cage of fear where I was locked up for so long, and now I was free to get out of it. Now it was up to my choice. My decision to get out of that stronghold of fear burst out of me in an instant, “Let’s do it!”
Omar immediately jumped up, rejoicing, and went to speak with others to make that happen.
At that moment, I knew the Lord was doing it again—He was fulfilling the desire of my heart! (Psalm 145:19, Psalm 37:4) I did not even pray about it because I did not even consider it a possibility, but the Lord knew my heart, and He made an unexpected surprise for me.
It was absolutely amazing! Thanks to strong men, in a moment I was already sitting on the jet ski. The driver did not make sharp turns to avoid the danger, but we rode at a very high speed. It was a breathtaking experience to ride at high speed on water while surrounded by forests and mountains. I had never experienced anything like that before!
There is so much joy and fulfillment when you dare to step out of the zone of fear and comfort! And you know, it turned out that my fear was based on a false perception and imagination of what might happen, but not even once was I in danger of sliding off the jet ski. Something I was afraid of was not even there—it was all in my mind!
Having faced continuous obstacles and challenges after the car accident, leaving my family and my home country to move to California without any idea how I would make it, have taught me that we have two options when facing challenges or fear: either overcome them and enjoy what we achieve, or succumb to them and remain where we are.
Ultimately, our choices in life will determine the outcome.
One of the main reasons I live a fulfilling life despite the tragic event and physical limitations is that I overcame fear by faith and action. Fear has a grip on you only if you allow it.
What fears hold you back? What if they are also based only on your imagination and are robbing you of your blessings?
What would change in your life if you pushed fear away and stepped forward?
You will experience the answer only if you dare to do it.
Enjoy the blessing on the other side of the fear!
My book “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.
Predicting or planning anything is difficult in these uncertain times. It becomes increasingly difficult to find peace in these challenging times. There is a lot of unknown, and often, we feel stress, anxiety, and fear of What If.
In this video, I share my personal way how I had peace in the most challenging times after I lost my legs in a car accident or when the Lord directed me to travel to California to establish my life while I had no place to live, not a lot of money, no potential job and not even the right to live and work in the Country. If that’s not enough, I have no legs, and my left arm is paralyzed.
Lord, how am I going to make it happen??
But I decided to trust the Lord and this is how I had peace in challenging times. And this is how I have peace in these times as well.
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. The book can be your personal daily coach! I also coach readers and share practical tools to empower them to be strong and unstoppable in their personal journey. You can connect with me via Inga@BecomingUnstoppable.org.
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.
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.
The first three years since the tragedy, my life was filled with anguish and the ongoing questions of how to continue living my life. Unspeakable grief for the loss. And hopelessness for the future. Yet, deep within, I knew I would not allow the accident to dictate how I would live my life. I was not going to give up. My decision to not give up and continuous perseverance delivered its fruit; Everything in my life has changed so beautifully!
So many times, I felt I couldn’t go on pursuing my goal. It was like an endless desert. The only thing that carried me through that lifeless desert was my FAITH and PERSISTENT EFFORT TO MOVE FORWARD.
It was a struggle to go against the circumstances and pursue my vision. Watching my persistence through pain, exhaustion, and disappointment, people advised me not to pursue those goals because they seemed impossible to achieve and instead make it easy on myself and work around my circumstances.
I understood; they loved me and didn’t want to see me struggle so much. But that was not my vision!!! My vision was the opposite of life in a cage that the car accident locked me into! Of course, it would have been much easier not to go against the circumstances and not to fight for my life and leave everything as it was.
But what would be the cost of my choice?
Oh, how grateful I am that I decided to hold on to my hope that the Lord is more powerful than any circumstances and that He would help me to overcome it all, and I never gave up on pursuing my goals! After running the race and overcoming barriers, my vision of a vibrant, full-value, purposeful life despite my physical challenges met me with open arms… Thanks to my family and good people and the Lord’s blessing, today, my life is indeed the opposite of life in a cage that I escaped.
Whatever situation you face at this point in your life, you, too, don’t give up. Hold on to hope; trust in the Lord unconditionally. And fight for your future. It’s worth fighting for your destiny, no matter how bad it seems. When we experience a hard blow and wonder about the future, the answer is in our choice of what we do about everything that happens in our lives. My experience has shown me that no matter what struggles and hardships you face or how terrible and desperate your situation may be, the decision never to give up always wins in the end.
Life is not a rehearsal. So don’t waste your time blaming and complaining. Make your life worth living; make your existence worthy of the Lord and your calling. Make your life story a masterpiece.
Be strong. Be determined and relentless. Be unstoppable.
P.S. 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.
UNSTOPPABLE is an inspirational memoir and personal development book grounded in the author’s Christian faith. It follows the story of Inga Lizdenytė, 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.
“Unstoppable. It’s a Choice” aims to inspire, coach, ignite faith and equip the reader with knowledge on how to overcome hardships and trust God.
Which is of greater significance: personal actions or having faith in God? This is a deeply personal question, and the answer will differ from person to person. For many, their belief in God is a vital part of their lives. I’ve noticed that some people focus solely on the spiritual aspect of life while neglecting important aspects of personal development such as mindset management, discipline, or making an effort to have what they want in life. They think all they need to do is go to church, pray, and believe, and make no effort about the situation they pray about, thinking everything will work out by itself, somehow. “God will make it happen,” they say.
Others place greater emphasis on personal responsibility and accountability. They are focused solely on personal development and efforts, rejecting even considering God. They think they don’t need God. “God will not do the work for me; I can count only on myself,” I often hear.
This is the twenty-third year I’ve been walking with the Lord through life after, by His grace, I survived a harrowing tragic car accident. Many said my destiny was broken, but I transformed it into a fulfilling, meaningful, and purposeful life journey. First, I thank God for changing my tragedy into an extraordinary life. Still, as I worked on restoring my life after the accident, through my experience, I have learned that BOTH aspects are essential. I experienced many testimonies of answered prayers in the name of Jesus Christ and incredible help from the Lord. I also made a relentless effort to achieve what I envisioned and prayed for, sometimes working beyond what I thought I could do.
I don’t think I would have achieved my aspirations If I had only prayed and believed. I think I’d still be depressed if I didn’t work on managing my mindset and my thoughts and if I didn’t change what caused the depression. I’d still exist imprisoned by the walls of my room if I did not take the initiative to break through the circumstances and barriers and if I didn’t work as hard as I did to bring a change in my life.
Being in charge, managing your inner state and thoughts, and taking action is just as necessary as relying on God and prayer. We live in a physical world that requires effort to have whatever we value and desire.
Would I have life’s transformation as I do today if I did not act on inspiration and if I did not initiate the change in my circumstances? No. Nobody came into my life and said, “Inga, pack your bags, I will bring you to America, and I will ensure everything you need for a comfortable life.” The change began with me leaving my family and home in Lithuania and traveling to the USA without knowing where I would live or how I would survive there alone, with no legs and only one functioning arm. I stepped out in faith after receiving inspiration from reading a book and reading my Bible after the prayer. If I didn’t act on inspiration, most likely, everything would have stayed as it was… Most of my goals, which are incredible testimonies today, required my unshakable faith and relentless perseverance.
Would I have these testimonies if I stopped believing when everything seemed hopeless, and I did not receive the answer from God soon, and I would say: “Faith in God and prayers do not work for me”? No. I would have jeopardized my prayer and myself. Countless days and nights, I kept reaffirming my faith, waiting upon the Lord, and did not waver. And in the end, I saw the incredible power of faith and was persuaded more than once that God has his own time for all answers and He is never late.
What would happen if I stopped pursuing my vision when my efforts seemed fruitless or when unshakable obstacles emerged before me? And if I did the work without diligence and carelessly..? I would have ruined everything myself. Would I live today the life that the Lord promised me through His Holy Scriptures after the accident if I had given up when my journey seemed too difficult to bear? No, no way.
A story came to my mind in Exodus when the Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt. God did not guide them through the land of the Philistines; although it was closer, God led the people around along a desert road to the Red Sea. And when the Israelites came to the Red Sea, Pharaoh, and the Egyptians went to kill them. The Israelites were terrified when they saw that the Egyptians were pursuing them. They had nowhere to go, and the Israelites, in fright, began to cry out to the Lord and grumble.
In Exodus 14:15-16 we read: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.”
First, God says, “Why do you cry out to me?” Israelites were in a challenging situation and cried out to God in fear. But God told them to move forward! See, the Lord did not take the obstacle out of the way nor place them miraculously on the other side of the sea. Israelites had to face the challenge and move forward, following God’s direction (raise the staff and stretch out his hand over the sea), hoping the Lord would help them get through this sea! God intended to show His glory through this situation, which man himself cannot overcome. Indeed, at the end of the story, we know that the Lord enabled them to pass through the sea as through dry land, destroying their enemies.
What if that’s precisely what needs to happen in your situation, and yet you wait until the Lord somehow miraculously will place you on the other side of your problem or obstacle?
Of course, when the Lord says not to move – we need not to move. But if you did not receive this message, then consider taking action and initiating the change. Do something about that situation that you’ve been praying about.
You can’t lead a passive effortless life and blame God for a miserable and unfruitful life. God gave us freedom of choice, and our choices will bring us blissful results or regretful consequences. The Lord will help you feel better, but still, you have a choice to focus on the negativity and the goodness; your inner state will depend on your choice. The Lord will open the opportunity and create circumstances in your favor, but then you must pay attention, notice that opportunity and use it. Achieving your desired outcome requires putting in the necessary effort. Hesitation, fear, and laziness will cause you to miss those opportunities given to you by the Lord. No goal, no dream can come true without our diligent actions. And if we believe that we have a purpose from the Lord, this will only happen if we dare to step in faith and apply the right actions to fulfill it. Our outcome will depend on your choices.
I also fully acknowledge that my life’s transformation would not have been possible without God’s divine intervention. Many say that I am a strong person, and that’s why I overcame adversity and attained my goals. The actual reason for my inner strength and endurance is my faith. Jesus Christ is who I get the strength and the blessing from. There were numerous times when the hope that I might see God’s help was the only thing that kept me from giving up and gave me the will to keep moving forward in life. There were times when I felt so tired that even all my knowledge about personal development and success principles did not help. I got fiercely knocked down not once and was so deeply disappointed that I didn’t have the strength to pick myself up. And when nobody and nothing could help me, Christ was the one who always did. He got me back up on my feet after each time I fell. He healed my soul’s wounds and encouraged me to take the next step. He always gave me inner strength, inspiration, courage, and endurance to persevere.
God opened up opportunities and created circumstances in my favor, which was inexplicable and incredible. God gave me grace when I was working on my goals. I successfully achieved them all, even if they initially seemed impossible. If not for God, my life would have gone very differently.
I don’t know which direction your life will take, but I want to pass on my experiential knowledge – one of the greatest gems I have found. Trust the Lord, no matter how hopeless it may seem. It is imperative to maintain unwavering faith in the Lord during difficult times. However, it is equally crucial to put dedicated effort towards achieving desired outcomes in life. The results you have today and will experience in the future are inextricably linked to God’s grace and your beliefs, choices, and actions.
Act on inspiration! Be assertive and persistent! Keep striving and pushing forward until you achieve the vision that is within you. Don’t let anything hold you back! And don’t let anything stop you. But don’t do it alone. Only with God all things are possible.
Be strong. Be determined and relentless. Be unstoppable.
Unstoppable is an inspirational autobiography and personal development book grounded in the authors 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.
Visit my channel on YouTube where I share more testimonies and tips on how to overcome.
Also, visit my website Becoming Unstoppable, where you will find more articles, and information about my services.
Usually, we feel like we are opening a new page at the beginning of the year. What stories do you want your new chapter to carry?
It’s important to know where you are headed. Otherwise, you will go nowhere, and your life will be organized and managed by other people and outside events that randomly happen.
So, what is your vision for this year?
What would make this year a success for you?
What specifically do you want to accomplish?
What would be the impact of achieving this vision on your life?
How does your vision align with your highest values?
And how does your vision align with God’s will for your life?
When we create our vision, we often think about ourselves: our comfort, things we want to accomplish, experiences we want to enjoy. But, have you thought, “Lord, what do YOU want? What is YOUR will for me this year? How can I be of service to You and other people?”
Not that long ago, I realized that we contradict ourselves: we say, “I want to fulfill God’s will. I want to do what He wants me to do.” But when we think about a vision for our future, a new year, or plan our week, we become the center of it all, not God’s will.
I had a pretty interesting experience with this seven years ago and a fantastic testimony. For many years I have lived in faith. I would say, “Lord, may Your will be done in my life!” but then, when I planned my life, my goals were all about me. My comfort, my ambitions of what I wanted to achieve. Since my focus was to restore my life after the car accident, I concentrated on achieving what I wanted my life to be. First, it was about my ability to be self-sufficient living with my traumatic injuries, establish my life in a foreign country in a way that I would not have to depend on anybody. This put me in a mindset and lifestyle of constantly achieving my goals.
I was very passionate about the personal development and success industry for many years, and I had a great desire to go into that industry. My ambitions were relatively high, and I was thrilled just thinking about it. I did not have the means to make it happen, though. My book was written and ready to be published, BUT I did not have the editor nor did I have the money to publish it. I wanted to be a speaker in the personal development industry and record videos, BUT my home did not work well for recording, and I did not have the equipment to record videos and edit them. I did not have the car or someone to drive me where I would need to go for my business.
An enormous challenge was ahead of me. But I’ve been in this kind of situation not once, and the Lord, being faithful as always, provided His help every time. So, I believed that with His help, I would be able to accomplish it just as I achieved all other goals.
However, I couldn’t publish the book that I wrote. Nothing worked out for the vision I had. I was confused. It seemed like I was doing the right thing, and I couldn’t understand why I did not have a blessing to fulfill my vision.
I was perplexed. Then, through the Holy Scriptures, the Lord began working with my motives and my heart. One day I realized I had to make a choice: to go in the direction of aiming to achieve my selfish ambitions or surrender to God’s will and do what He wants me to do.
I had an understanding that this choice would direct my future and, ultimately, my destiny. Following the Lord’s will was a different path than a career in the success/personal development industry. I knew I was standing at a crossroads, and I had a choice.
What choice you will make?
I was pondering on that thought. My ideas were going back and forth because I knew it would be tough to juggle between the two worlds. I was eager and committed to bringing the Lord’s glory and making a difference in people’s lives. And I was thrilled about the Success industry, which is a high-paid career and an uplifting world to be engaged in. But from my observations, there is no place for Jesus there; the spiritual aspect of life is all about meditation. For some reason, prayer and Jesus Christ is automatically rejected by many, calling it a “religion,” while mediation is a practice of Buddhism and Hinduism religion, but nobody rejects it. So I was juggling with it and was not sure what to do.
It was early morning; while waiting for my bus to work. One moment a thought came to me, a few words from a Bible verse. I found that verse on my Bible app and began reading.
“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38 NLT
I knew the Lord was speaking to me. He knew what was going on in my heart and talked to me. The word of God settled it. I knew without hesitation which path I would choose: fulfill my promise to the Lord.
After I surrendered my path to God’s will for my life, I had an understanding in my spirit as though someone was explaining to me the upcoming change: the Lord and I were driving in the car. I was in a driver’s seat, and Jesus was by my side, in the passenger’s seat. Jesus said, “All this time you were stirring the wheel of your life, going in life where you wanted to go, and I was right here with you, helping you to get where you want to arrive. Now, we will change places. Now I will be in a driver’s seat, and you will go with me where I will drive you, and you will help me fulfill My will here.”
“Yes, Lord. I give up all my ambitions; I don’t want any of that if You are not there. Show me what I need to do and where to go, and I will,” in my spirit, I agreed.
That moment, I felt how peace filled me. With that, there was a great sense of security, safety. I knew I had made the right choice.
When I aligned my vision with God’s will for my life
Since then, my life has changed quite radically. When I surrendered my path to the Lord, I had a new vision built on different motives and did not have selfish ambitions. So I began asking myself a different question: Lord, what do YOU want me to do?
And then, the Lord began showering me with His gifts. First, he provided the editor (one of the best copywriters/editors who came to my workplace to work with me on a project). Then, the Lord inspired a person to make a gift of $10,000 as funds to publish my book. Then, He provided the new home where I have multiple places proper for videos, professional video equipment for recording videos, and a professional editing program (which I am learning how to use and love it!). Fourth, He provided a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
And most of all, the Lord connected me with a friend who became like my sister and is my partner in purpose, supporting me in my mission. With that, with my new friend, the Lord gave me her family, who loves me and accepted me into their circle, and now I have a new family here in the USA, while my real family is in Lithuania.
When you are on the right path, all things come together. I am not saying there won’t be any challenges. What I am saying – when your vision and your intentions are aligned with God’s will for your life – God works with you and provides everything you need. Even if challenges and obstacles arise – the Lord will provide help. When you appear in a situation without a way out – the Lord will make the way.
The critical question is – when you set your vision and your goals, who is at the center of it all?
The best and the safest place to be – it is God’s will! Be there.
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 and share practical tools to empower you to be strong and unstoppable in your personal journey. The book can be your personal daily coach!
UNSTOPPABLE 