That was such an encouragement to me. Thank you for sharing. I’ve been a Christian from my youth, but late diagnosed Autistic. Much like your zebra, I’ve been calling myself a unicorn 🦄, because of how rare I feel. I love who I am, and I thank God for how He made me. I wouldn’t want to be anyone else. And I’m thankful for His friendship all these years when human friendships have been so challenging.

I love this video. Feeling safe and secure is a big deal for our heightened nervous systems.

40 yr old Christian "neurodivergent" woman here. Not diagnosed, don't need to be. Neurodivergent just meaning, what appears to be the whole of society says you have to be one way, but you are not. Why is it that those who don't fit this fake mold that was decided by a handful of humans, then passed down over centuries, accepted by everyone as "the way we should be" (which changes over time, by the way) are the ones who have something wrong with them? More often than not, it is those who fit in without trying that have something wrong with them. And most are trying very hard, using lots of thought, time and energy trying to fit in, which is telling. Maybe we are not the minority in reality, on the inside .. Just as you said, Jesus is your friend, loves you and accepts you for who you are, gives you grace for everything, etc. So why doesn't the world? Because they are not like Him. God made us all unique. We are not all supposed to be the same. Also, when someone's feelings are hurt, when you didn't mean something to hurt them, they are the ones not understanding YOU. A person being offended or their feelings being hurt means they have an insecurity inside of them. That means THEY are the one who has something to work on (We of course can show them love anyway). You are secure in your relationship with God and most who are easily offended do not in actuality have a good secure relationship with God, no matter how it appears on the outside. It is what's really going on in the heart, mind, subconscious, etc. that counts. People can mask that with behaviors that say otherwise. Just like neurodivergent people sometimes have the ability to look normal on the outside. But it is death on the inside. Death of the true soul to have to hide your true natural way of being. There is nothing wrong with "neurodivergent" people. Rest in God, allow other people to have their feelings. Take responsibility for actual wrong behaviors, not other people's feelings when you didn't actually do anything wrong. Forgive those who don't understand you. Guess what, we don't understand them either! Lol! Don't take life too seriously. Follow your heart and live in His love. God bless you! ❤❤❤

I wonder what He really wants for my ASD life. Obviously not being married.

Very insightful and honest.

I ask for forgiveness all the time so much because I get so confused and upset and don't know what to do or say 😢

That's a great list you have put together. I can put this knowledge and these tips into practice for myself. Thank you for your video and God bless.

Hello. You kindly spoke to me in the café today. Just to say I have found your channel and am enjoying listening to your experiences. Thank you.

Hey, I have not been diagnosed but I truly believe I am autistic (just learned about the spectrum this year) I'm 22. Everything you said about God is the only reason why I am here today. I asked Him why I even believed I am autistic (of course everyone says i don't look autistic) and I asked why it has been so hard for me to find someone to get assessed by...God told me that even if I received a diagnosis I would still need to TRUST HIM completely anddddd (as if that wasn't enough ) I would need to give myself grace. Realizing so much of my life has been dedicated to me feeling alone and separate from my family and society made me feel the same way about God (unconsciously - our relationship with God is often reflected in how to relate with people ....until I learned that God is always listening, God gives us strength when we are weak, God continuously responds to my prayers and he will never leave me. So now I am learning to pray when anxious with no diagnosis, to move even though I do not have the answer right now. Your video has given me even more faith in the path I know God is taking me. God bless you and thank you for your presence and spirit!

EmJ, What I'm hearing is that you have great friends and a loving husband and that you are very much an inspiring person.

I'm glad that your sharing of your autism diagnoses went well for you. It doesn't always go well for everyone who learns they are autistic. Just being yourself is the best thing that you can do for your friends and family and for yourself.

Hi EmJ, I just found your channel and as I was looking over your videos this one really got my attention as I am an autistic Christian as you are. I've listened to your video twice and it is easy to see how God is working in your life. This is a beautiful video. You shared your story using the right words and you said them in the right way and in the right Spirit. God is love at all times and under all circumstances with no exceptions. Thank you for this special video. God bless.

Thank you. I had a shutdown as my son had a meltdown at church last week and now I am struggling with showing my face there again

Thank you so much for your vulnerability & your beautiful heart. That was such an encouragement to me. I'm waiting on an assessment in May & have been diagnosed already with ADHD. Life has been a struggle a lot of my 63 years and it's only Jesus that has got me through. God bless you & may your faith remain strong.

Thanks for sharing this, MJ. x

When were you professionally diagnosed? I think we're pretty close there! Mine was in Nov. '23.

We're rewatching The Walking Dead right now! I'm like that too with binge watching - I can get *really* obsessed with good shows and the mini-serieses that have like 4 or 8 episodes doesn't feel like enough.😂

Yes! Anthropology is a special interest of mine. I spent I think 2 years in therapy working on my anxiety, but autism was never brought up. Turns out, anxiety is a huge pillar of my autism - makes so much more sense post-diagnosis!

I love the real you EmJ! Always have and always will ❤ your hair is super cute in this video! Xx

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God bless you 🙏🏾❤❤ . I was led to this video right on time!☺️

How would you encourage an 8 year old autistic boy who regularly insults his siblings when he feels threatened or mistreated (even if he wasn't threatened or mistreated that was just his perception)? Clearly it is sin to call someone stupid and have contempt for another person...but how much of that behavior is sin and how much of it is autism making things confusing and difficult?

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EmJ this is such a brave video to make - thank you, thank you, thank you! This is really going to help non-autistics understand what we go through, and it'll help other autistic people to understand that we are not alone ❤

I love this, EmJ! Beautifully summarised. I also really love your zebra / horse analogy 🥰

Thank you so much for being real with us and sharing your experience with a meltdown. It is really eye opening to hear even just a little bit about what an autistic person faces when they experience sensory overload. 😊

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