Character Armor

Published by Corey Diggins on August 19, 2025 January 2, 2026

My journey navigating a post TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) has been heavily reliant on my relationship with God. I find my mental strength, peace and joy by giving it up to the big guy. My thought process is written here;

Let someone bigger than you handle all the details in an unpredictable and unknown way, that’s the adventure of life.

The adventure of life here on earth is way more palatable with a protecting force like that of the Holy Spirit. I’ve always seen life as an adventure with its tests along the way, however lately my relationship with God has fostered to a new level. This has allowed me to embrace my situation and rise to new heights on this adventure. 

As the novelist Anaïs Nin says, We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. I’ve rewritten my present reality to reflect exactly who I was created to be in Gods eyes, not my personal inner dialog which was shaped in part by society’s interpretation of a post TBI life.

I heard a parable years ago by my pastor that illustrates Gods intent at our relationship.

God gave a person 10 oranges but immediately asked for one back. Unsure and hesitant the person is reluctant but then see’s the truth. He really wants to reach out and touch you.

Then God gave the person a basket to hold the 10 oranges, that’s the wisdom he can impart as we open our hearts and allow him to pour into us. He says now you can handle even more, and go out and share with the people.

It’s not what you can give, it’s what he can give through you! It’s a partnership. My unique experiences have a lesson not only for me to learn from but also to share my learned knowledge with others who may benefit.  

I’ve come to an inflection in my reality where I see the greatest tragedy not as death, but life without purpose.  Finding purpose has added meaning, significance and most importantly, hope to my life. Hope is as essential to our life as air and water. I have filled purpose and love in my heart so much that my mouth will not transcend anything in opposition to my love filled heart. 

When I’m feeling hopeless or question my significance I’m reminded as to what God said,

“For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

I do have thoughts pop into my mind of my perceived unfairness of life, I don’t dwell on them and allow them to pass like clouds on a sunny day. I’ve built up a strong mental callous, a shield, to let negative unwanted thoughts bounce off me. 

The troubles I’ve faced these past few years have transformed my mindset. I look at it as a character building opportunity with the problems I face building my spiritual muscle. These troubles have produced a supernatural level of patience that I now enjoy. I’ve learned what happens outwardly in life is not as important as what happens inside you. Our circumstances are temporary, but our character will last forever.

I’ve recently read that Corrie ten Boom, who suffered in a Nazi death camp, explained the power of focus as: “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest!” Imagine that, your focus will determine your feelings.

A favorite thought process is, 

“Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn’t matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. Work as hard and as much as you want to on the things you like to do the best. Don’t think about what you want to be, but what you want to do.”

— Richard Feynman

I’ve accepted my course correction in life and have a purposeful patience for my God given assignment. 

I am grateful for the Grace that has been provided to me regardless of my actions. My current understanding of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it. ABBA, I belong to you.

Keep the faith,