I am a writer with dyslexia.
Even typing those eight words feels like a paradox. It’s taken me years since the diagnosis to claim both titles — writer and dyslexic — without feeling a pressing need to spout off a list of achievements faster than the words “a writer with dyslexia” landed on a hearer.
I had hoped my accomplishments could outrun the words that sometimes elude me.
It was during my first year working as a digital managing editor at a publishing house, helping to shape the words of some of the most gifted writers, when I learned I had dyslexia. This reality stirred a well of insecurities, adding another layer of vulnerability to my already overflowing desire to prove that I was enough.
I often doubted how the very tool of words could, on the one hand, be instruments gifted by God to create sentences that sing of His grace and truth and yet, on the other hand, be the source of my greatest struggles. It’s a paradox that I still wrestle with. But it has become a sacred wrestling, one where my weakness collides with God’s immense strength. It’s in the quiet spaces between the stumbles with words that His truth whispers most profoundly. Here, in this very tension, lies an encounter, a holy ground where my limitations bow to God’s boundless power and glory.
For many of us, we have spent years seeing inadequacies and limitations as only weakness adjacent. And we’re not the first to know this struggle. During His day, Jesus’ disciples (despite witnessing His many miracles firsthand) didn’t always see how God’s power and glory could and would work through, not apart from, their imperfections and limitations.
In John 9:1-3, Jesus encounters a man who was born blind. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Just as it was with Jesus’ disciples, this story of the blind man challenges our conventional understanding and approach to limitations. Jesus’ intention? That, through this encounter, we might gain better sight.
Take a brief moment to consider the areas where you are experiencing lack or limitation. Could it be that what you see as a perceived lack is leading you toward greater dependence on God? Is this lack or limitation posturing you to receive His provision and not your own?
There’s no denying that our limitations are hard, and our lack is inconvenient. Surely, this fallen world is not the way God originally intended it to be (Genesis 3:16-19). Still, He’s not left us without hope nor without the ability to still give Him glory.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
It’s now been four years of working in publishing, and I can bear witness to God’s grace being sufficient, as He uses my weaknesses to qualify His call on my life. I am a writer who wrestles with dyslexia but, more than anything, I am a child of God whose identity is found in Christ — the Word who became flesh.
Could it be that God permitted this paradoxical path for me that I may, all the more, embody the power of His grace? If so, it’s a paradox I am willing to live out until He heals me . . . or calls me home.
Madeline says
Oghosa, thank you. I am always inspired to hear how others surpass the struggles with God’s help. I need constant reminders that with God all things are possible.
Oghosa Iyamu says
Amen.
Thank you, Madeline! I appreciate your encouragement.
Mary says
Read this. Identify with this. Struggle with this. Praise Jesus for this. Thank you! My limitations don’t end with dyslexia, but He turns every disability into His ability in His time, not mine.
Oghosa Iyamu says
Amen, Mary! Grateful for your testimony!
Mary says
Oghosa,
Your shared experiences really encourages me to really attempt to practice patience being humbly, & trust God’s Perfect Plan.
Thank you Oghosa !
Oghosa Iyamu says
Thank you, Mary, for that encouragement!
I’m praying for you today. Grateful for your story.
KathleenB says
Oghosa,
Your transparency about your challenge of dyslexia is inspiring. Having taught children of all ages with dyslexia for many years, I can share the common trait I’ve seen they share is grit…true grit. That level of strength can’t be taught.
It’s birthed from experience. God bless you as you approach your days with deep faith, great purpose, and grit.
You’ll move mountains!
Oghosa Iyamu says
Thank you, Kathleen B! That means so much to me.
AnnaR says
Oghosa,
Let me echo KathleenB’s reply. I too have taught children of all ages with dyslexia for many years. Not only have I also observed true grit with my students, but they all have a special talent/strength of some kind that doesn’t necessarily land in a defined category. Don’t consider your dyslexia as something from which to be healed–it is the very thing that allows that talent/strength. You are uniquely gifted for the good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do.
Oghosa Iyamu says
Amen!! That’s a good word. Thank you for that encouragement sister!
Dawn says
Very moving and faith building. Thank you for your candid and inspiring testimony!
Oghosa Iyamu says
Thank you, Dawn, for that encouragement!
Jessica LM Jenkins says
Amen! Thank you so much for this encouraging word! God has been teaching me similar things as I wrestle with my own limitations and weaknesses.
Oghosa Iyamu says
Thank you, Jessica!! He is so faithful to use us! To Him be the glory.
Becky Keife says
Oghosa, isn’t that just like our good, kind, creative, faithful God. To use cracked vessels to hold the fullness of His glory. Your words are a beacon of hope and light. Thank you for sharing your story. It’s a joy to have your words here at (in)courage.
Oghosa Iyamu says
So true, Becky! Thank you for that encouragement and reminder. Our God is so gracious to use cracked vessels to hold the fullness of His glory! Amen!
Rachel Marie Kang says
Beautiful words and beautiful testimony from a beautiful woman—inside and out. Such a joy to share these words and to be connected to you, Oghosa. Trusting for good things to flow from your pen and into your life, always.
Oghosa Iyamu says
Amen.
Thank you so much, Rachel, for that beautiful encouragement.
I am so grateful for you, your voice, and your story. What an honor to partner!!
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Love this reading Oghosa. Your truth and honestly. That you found it hard when you were told you had dyslexia.That God could use you to be a witness for him. You might find it harder than thoes with no problems with words find easy. Especially in the job of publishing you have. God has you there in that job for a reason I believe. Because he knows that he can use you to be a witness for him that as you say through that verse in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that through your weaknesses. God grace is sufficient for you. Plus his strength is made perfect in weakness. How true. Especially with the dyslexia. God is also using it to have you shine for him in your publishing job. Giving you the strength do it. Even though it might take you longer to do your job than others in it with no problems with. words like you have.You know God is with you saying yes Oghosa you can do this just take your time you will get it done. A old saying that comes to my mind. That people use “Rome was not built in a day.” How true that is. So we that have a something wrong with us. Like you and your dyslexia. We will with God’s help get there in the end as God is with us. We are not to get annoyed that others even though saved as well can do the same job as us in a quicker time frame. As that can happen Satan the old Devil would want that we have something wrong with us like you and me. To think that why and say say why us. We are all perfect in God eyes even with our weaknesses we have. I suffer seizures and have a learning disability too. I do things that I don’t know I am doing things that I shouldn’t do. Like for example I be at a till in a shop. I wouldn’t mean any wrong in this. I just stand to close to the person in front of me that is paying for their goods. That who I am with would have to say Dawn stand back not as close to them. As they could think your being nosey and looking at what they bought or how much money they have etc. I don’t see I am doing this. I just stand in the queue. I find it hard to remember next time I go into a shop not to stand too near people at the til paying for their goods. I can’t take information in that is meant for the next day. I will say to anyone I know. Just tell me what you want to for this day not for tomorrow. Tomorrow thing’s are the problems for tomorrow I say to them as my brain can’t take it in. So the next day you can tell me the problems that are for tomorrow and what is happening. One day at time for my we brain I say to you. Then another thing I find hard with my disability is. If you have to go one way round a shop and not that long ago you could have gone round it anyway you wanted. Especially when COVID was very bad. I used to go into shops they have arrows down on the floor saying go this way. That threw me. I couldn’t cope with it. Unless I really needed to go into that shop I didn’t go into it again. So things like that get to me. Then I can worry about it. That I can have a seizure. But most times my seizures just happen not because I let things like this get too me with my disability. To look at me you think there’s nothing wrong with me. My Husband says you have to live with Dawn to see it as well as know me. I did a job as Registered Childminder for 19 years until took seizures and had to stop. So I was good with kids that it my disability didn’t affect it. I could do my job as Childminder with ease. God gave me the strength to do it. Like he now gives me the strength to do my Dad’s Home for him Monday to Friday now my Dad elderly and needs my help. I don’t let what I have wrong with me stop me doing it. I look at things this way. I what I have I might never be healed of it this side of earth. But I will when I get to Glory one day. That there are alot of people worse of than me. So I am very thankful God give me the strength to do my Dad’s and keeps me that I don’t take any seizures when doing my Dad’s especially when he is elderly. As he not know how to deal with it. Thank you again for your reading and being so truthful loved it. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
Oghosa Iyamu says
Wow, Dawn! Thank you for sharing your story—I read every word, and it deeply moved me. Your reminder that “Rome wasn’t built in a day” resonated with what God has been speaking to me. Your story is a beautiful testimony that God is able. Thank you for taking the time to read, write, and encourage. I’m praying that God continues to use every part of your story for His glory. As we know He is able and already is.
Grateful!
Lisa Wilt says
Oghosa,
I am a child of God whose identity is found in Christ!
And I’m so grateful for our Savior!
Sending you Autumn Joy,
Lisa Wilt
Oghosa Iyamu says
Amen! Thank you Lisa for your encouragement.
Courtney Humble says
I think I needed this reminder today. Sometimes, I feel limited because of my cerebral palsy, but I know that His grace and hope and healing and strength are there to cover me.
Oghosa Iyamu says
Amen, Courtney! His grace, hope, healing, and strength are sufficient. Praying for you today!
Judyc says
Oghosa, sometimes your letters and words may move or flip, but the words coming out of your heart indeed sing God’s grace and truth! You are a very gifted writer and your insight of His hand on you indeed shows God’s grace and you have shared His grace with all of us. Thank you for writing this.
Oghosa Iyamu says
Thank you, JudyC, for your encouragement and reminder. I appreciate it!
Jenny says
Thank you for sharing these beautiful words with us. My daughter was recently diagnosed with dyslexia and it has shaped so much of what we do in this season to help her grapple with words, especially coming from overseas. Reading about what God is doing in and through you is so wonderful to behold and so encouraging. Thank you!
Jennifer Sakata says
What a beautiful expression. Thank you for sharing. Our older son was diagnosed with Dyslexia five years ago now. Having served as his Barton Reading and Spelling tutor for 3 of them, I am amazed at the advocate he has become for himself, as I read in your story too. It is life-long journey, relying on our gracious God and I love the way you demonstrate that here. Thank you.