Hey, Everybody! I was thinking about something early this morning that turned my thoughts toward you. I’d just been going over my memory verses and started reflecting on the whole journey of faith. The ups and downs, the twists and turns. The pain and then sometimes the dullness that scared me twice as much as the pain. Then something would happen and revival would come and back in the saddle I’d go again. His Word would jump back off the page at me and I’d feel fully alive and wonder why I’d doubted. I rewound even further back to the years that I hoped so much that this God I’d been told about was real. I needed Him so badly. I found my heart believing and I deliberately placed my faith in Him. Then I thought about a specific season through which I went from hoping He was real to knowing He was real. Don’t get me wrong. I am still challenged to faith in many other matters and always will be, because “faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” and “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:1,6) But I seldom sit around and wonder if God exists and still speaks and still acts. Like you, I still see as in a mirror darkly and I wonder why some things happen the way they do and how it will all work out and what some things in Scripture really mean. But “I know the One I have believed in.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
We have so many new believers and even a sizable population of seekers in this community. Praise God, we do! We need to question our effectiveness the moment we don’t. So many of them would probably like to ask us how we “know” this God is real. So I ask those of you today to whom this applies to share a season in which you became convinced to the marrow of your bones that this is FOR REAL.
Think it through and be deliberate in your testimony. Please limit your story to one meaty paragraph so that we can read as many as possible. I can hardly wait. Let’s testify, girlfriends.
The LORD has been good to me in so many ways. This is difficult for me to write about I’m not gifted that way. My Father died 5 years ago he was a great Dad I was so blessed. But he was not a believer. He wasn’t the type that you witness to. He was a very science oriented person very bright not one for “religion”. About five years before his death he slowly loss his ability to think, he had some form of Alzheimer’s. The LORD stripped him of most of his intelligent it was heart breaking. Anyway he suffered a massive heart attack which we as a family choose not to treat. I know my time to witness to him was very limited. I was very anxious, I’m not the least bit eloquent but I know I had to try . Satan stopped me at every turn it was almost funny if it wasn’t so tragic. Anyway we took my father home (hospice) he was immediately in a coma I was in despair. My sister and my mother and I never left his side till the very end. My sister all of a sudden got up and said I’ve had it I’m going upstairs to sleep. My mother said that she also was going to lie down. This was the first time in days I was alone with him. I knelt down beside his bed and took my bible and tried to tell him that he had to take Jesus hand. I was sobbing and praying and pleading with my Dad to please take Jesus hand. I knew that he was there with my Dad. I look up and my Dad was gone. I’m not sure what happen that night (I pray that my Dad did take his hand) but I know my LORD was there. I’m sorry this is so long I’ve never wrote about this before.
Don’t apologize. That was beautiful.
Don’t apologize for sure, Liz. I’m being blessed just spending a little time after supper reading through the many amazing testimonies, and yours has touched me deeply. The way God had His hand on your dad through his final five years is itself a tremendous witness to His faithfulness and love for our family members. Thank you for sharing.
Very beautiful sharing.
God is real — how can you not read these or even skim them and NOT want to believe it .
The trick – to have that faith and step out of that boat and believe it.
God is real, I know it – most recently – HE healed me from the pain I have suffered and felt since it was revealed to me that my husband was NO longer in love with me but with another . . and I still believe I love him, cause HE loves him. …I am claiming a miracle and restoration in my family and I can only do that, because HE is real in me.
Amen.
I love you Lord.
Thanks.
Michelle,
Your post touched me so deeply…i am praying in agreement with you today!
Michelle…My heart is heavy and I too can relate! You are in the right place and God is so BIG! Keep believeing and fix your eyes to Him! My post is very similar.
for I know Him whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed, unto him until that day…Today is a very very tough day….thru terrible pain and prolonged suffering, we had some very tough news today…but I proclaim and testify that He is faithful! I KNOW that my redeemer lives and that he cares for me. I cannot see the way out of this place we are in…but thru the pain I can sense his presence…I know he is watching what is happening and by his sovereign will allowing it. so this is my testimony…I will praise my Lord, for He does ALL THINGS WELL…as soon as I finish writing this I will bow on my face before him who holds my life in his hands…may His name be glorified and forever praised!
Reading all these stories of what God has been doing your lives has been so uplifting, thank you Beth for this topic today. 6 Months ago I lost a dear friend to me from church she was very much like a mother figure to me at church as my own mother is many thousands of miles across the ocean from me. I have been really blessed by this church family. Anyway She died very suddenly and it was not expected at all and I was very upset by it all. Her family asked if I would read the old testament lesson at the funeral and I agreed to do it but it scared me as I do not like speaking in public. On the morning of the funeral I woke up very early and was unable to go back to sleep and ended up getting up and doing chores. After which I went back to bed and picked up my Bible and devotional. I opened up to the reading for that day and the reading was John 14 vs 1 which said “let not your hearts be troubled…” I felt as if God Himself was standing front of me and I audibly heard Him say those words to me and felt Him reach down and touch me and His peace just flowed over me. I experienced such love and comfort from God that morning I did not have to read the devotion and I know that of all days that that was the morning I needed to be reading that reading from John, it was no accident. I went to the funeral and was able to read the lesson with such strength, I know it was God holding me and giving me the strength to do it.
I had been brought to church all my life, but my parents weren’t Christians and Jesus wasn’t talked about at home. When I was 12, I started having bad headaches. The doctors couldn’t figure out why. I was taking half a pill of pain meds and they said a whole one would kill me. Even that didn’t always help. I was desperate. Somehow, I discovered that the only time my head didn’t hurt was when I would read my Bible or pray. I started doing that almost constantly. That was the beginning of me truly placing my trust in God. He showed me He was real in such a tangible way, I could not deny it. (BTW, they figured out what caused the headaches and they are no more!)
All I can say is that I’m one of those who needed this. Even though I’ve heard the whispers (and shouts) of God. Even though I’ve experienced “God encounters”. Even though I’ve had seasons where Jesus seems to be pursuing me like crazy – I still have times (many of them) where I doubt it all. Where I question everything. Where the skeptic in me wins. While this whole doubt thing can be a terrible torment in my life… it can also be a blessing, I suppose. It keeps me in the Word and seeking and searching.
I was having one of those days…one of those ‘Thomas’ days….and this post blessed me today, Beth.
For all the doubters out there: In my heart of hearts tonight I can tell you….HE’S REAL. Remember…. the woman typing this has walked doubts dark road more than a few times and I can sit here and tell you….Jesus is real and He has compassion on you. Also know, I just said a prayer that He would reveal Himself to you in the Word, of course, but also in some in-your-face, tangible, miraculous ways. I know He will. Be encouraged by that.
Love to you,
Kate 🙂
Very encouraging. I echo all your words:)
I knew HE was FOR REAL on December 1, 1997 when I survived a school shooting. We had just finished praying in our school lobby and said “Amen” when the shooting began. Somehow in the spray of bullets swirling around my head the shooter missed me. I was standing just a few feet in front of him the entire time. My dear friend, Nicole, was shot and killed right next to me. On that day 8 students were shot…3 of whom were killed…and 1 who still remains paralyzed from the waist down.
While Satan intended this for harm….God has been the
one to get the glory. I am making sure that Satan knows he messed with the wrong girl. I am stronger know in my faith than ever before….For I KNOW the one whom I have believed in!
Wow, what an amazing testimony! Thank you for sharing.
What an amazing story!! Your faith is inspiring :o)
I’m so glad you shared that here girl! 🙂
“Victory in Jesus” forever:) kickline and all.
xoxo Angie
This is an amazing testimony!
The first thing I thought of when I read this post was how the summer after I graduated from Auburn…I had eight friends (close friends!!) get married…so I was a professional bridesmaid. The first month of the summer I went back to one of my favorite places on earth for a missions trip – Uganda. I encountered so many people that didn’t have much but the ones that knew the Lord had everything they could possibly need. It was a reminder when I went back home to TN that even though I didn’t have the answers for the three recurring questions (1-Where was I gonna work?, 2-Which city was I going to live?, 3-Do I have a boyfriend)…I did have Jesus in my heart, and I knew that He was all I needed. NO joke…after the last wedding was over at the end of August…my resume had been sent all over the world…from Charlotte to Atlanta to San Diego to Zimbabwe…and after the last wedding, I got a call from a company in Nashville offering me a job. The place I had done an internship before I graduated was Nashville – so my stuff was literally still in a storage unit there. 5 months after I moved to Nashville and started working, I went on my first date with now…my husband!! We had been introduced at the Passion 07 conference in Atlanta the January prior to our first date in January 08…and I honestly thought at the time we met that the Lord had introduced him to me as “hope” for that is the kind of guy I would LOVE to marry. So I had prayed and asked God to clone him. Well, turns out that God showed me that his best for me was not the clone…his best for me was the real thing!! I could not even believe it the first time my now husband called me…it felt too good to be true. After a few months of dating, he proposed and we were married that September. Looking back, I still can’t believe how perfect God’s plan is. The fact that I had no idea how those three things would turn out but kept believing God to be right on time and thanking Him in the advance for how I knew He had the perfect plan for me – still amazes me. Be encouraged that God is into the big and small details of your life. Living in Nashville, working at a dream job, and being married to someone better than I could have ever imagined is truly a testament to God’s faithfulness.
I’m also an Auburn grad, many years ago. So happy our Lord has blessed you in so many ways.
Over the past three years as I have recovered from a severe head trauma, I have studied my way through the Bible and many books by some very familiar names such as Beth, Priscilla, and Anne just to name a few. Daily quiet times when my brain refused to focus have been replaced with an new secure understanding of the Lord’s love for me. Doubts that often flooded my mind seldom occur any more. As my
personal relationship with the Lord and my understanding of His love for me have grown, the doubts have stopped. I think it’s that peace that passes all understanding. His Word is my shield.
Wow. Great question. Sometimes it’s hard when you have been a Christian for 40 years to pin down when you finally got to the point that ‘you know that you know’. I can look back at my whole life and see the reality of who He is all over it. I see His fingerprints in hundreds of instances in my life. But like so many, there gets to be that lingering of doubt … ‘is He real and am I saved?’ that just won’t go away. But over the past several years, as my hunger for Him and His Word has grown by leaps and bounds, I have felt His presence in my life like never before. I see Him everywhere I look. He is so real to me and the more I study His Word, the closer I get to Him and the more evident His existence. He is so good!
How do I know God is real? As I look out my window today I see blue sky, white fluffy clouds, small piles of snow scattered over grass that’s desperately wanting to o “green up”. I see a fluffy,black squirrel hanging upsidedown at my corn feeder and many different types of birds flying in & out of a pine tree. WHO ELSE could’ve created all of what I see today? Do people really think that this all just happened on its own? Or from a teeny, tiny spec of something or other? Romans 1:20 tells us that creation proves there is a Creator and so even though God didn’t have to “prove” it to us, He did! Simply look at His mighty works and you’ll be conviced that no mortal man could’ve done what He’s done. Praise you God!!!!!!
I realized that God is real through my illnesses. God has gotten me through each day, and even on the days where I cannot and do not want to get out of bed.
I have to be in the Word, though. On the days where I am not in the Word, it seems as though he is far away, even though He is near–always remember that He will not push Himself on you, so you have to ask for His hand to guide you. But the minute I pick up my Bible and read, it is like I can feel His presence.
It saddens me, though, that God loved us so much that he gave us a book as a roadmap on how to live our lives, and not everyone has the sense or knows any better to pick it up and read it. So, pick up the Bible, read it thoroughly each day–before you read your Bible, pray and ask God to help you focus while you read–and apply it to your life. You will be amazed at how He will work in your life!
Romans 15:13 inspires me everytime I read it.
God bless!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I fell upon this blog by what would seem an accident-of course we know God has no accidents, just divine appointments…I don’t know anyone on the site, or even where this ministry has its roots. I only recognized Beth Moore, of whom I am deeply in love…my hero. With wide and bright young eyes I am amazed that I can type on here for everyone to read. I don’t have a story to share really, but rather I was looking tonite for something that would help me understand how real Jesus is. I am learning how to seek Him in on the mountains and in the valleys of my life. Lately he seems a bit quiet. Once I become silent I know He will speak the Truth and wisdom that I long to hear…To be still and know is so tough! Thank you for your encouragement.
“for now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face:now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.” I Cor 13.
Welcome to the party, Siesta Jackie!! You are loved here girlfriend!!
You know, I’d been a church gal all my life. From my earliest memories, I remember sitting on the pew beside my Granny and Papa. But not until I almost lost my Daddy did I experience this “Real God” so many spoke of. Alone in Ohio working, my sweet Daddy had a heart attack, so the hospital reported. Come to find out, not only had he had a heart attack, but he also had a blood clot in one lung. So in critical but stable condition, the hospital calls to report they will be performing an angiogram. At that time, my oldest daughter, who was 3, was the apple of her Papa’s eye. They had formed such a special bond and my heart broke not only for me, but for her as well because she wanted her Papa well. I called every person I knew that was associated with a church and had my Daddy added to their prayer list. A couple hours later, the cardiologist called to report the angiogram was successful and he couldn’t believe what he had seen. He said, “Your Daddy’s heart looks like that of a 20 year old!”. I immediately asked about the blood clot and he said there was no clot to be found. “And just how do you explain that,” I asked and the doctor replied, “do you believe in prayer?”. Well, as a matter of fact I do but now I REALLY DO! That’s been about 7 years ago and I cannot imagine my life without His presence now!
My Lord has saved my life twice. Years ago I was addicted to street drugs and living a very bad life, after being raised in the church and accepting Christ as my Savior as a student. I was going downhill fast, and would either be dead or in jail now without the love of my Lord. I prayed for help and He gave it. I kicked crack cocaine cold turkey and made a major move back home, away from the people and places I was hanging around. Then, in April of 2006, I mysteriously got an infection called Necrotizing Fascitis, commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria.” They said when I got to the ER I was about 2 hours from death. Many people prayed. They put me on a respirator and took me straight to surgery. I was told I would never walk again. My husband and I separated while I was in the hospital. I went out-of-state to my sons home to finish my recovery after recovering enough to leave the hospital after a month and a half and prayed and prayed for support from God and to get my marriage back. I healed, was able to walk, and we are back together and stronger than ever, and I can only attribute it to God. I believe in Him because He has done so much for me, saving me from myself and from this horrible infection that took such a toll on my life and mind. I also have a mental disorder, bipolar disorder and an anxiety problem, as well as post traumatic stress disorder from the illness, and God supports me and carries me every day so that I am able to function. There are just so many, many instances that He is there and He does care for me!
Okay, I am going to just jump in!!
1 week before my husband deployed to Iraq, he told me that he thinks he want’s a divorce, but does not want to make this decision based on a one month feeling. Explaining, he will let me know his decision when he returns. My heart was broken. Shortly after he left, I uncovered his affair…. yet, Christ was tendering my heart so strongly, burdening me to look to Him, desiring to be obedient and look to Him for direction and healing, all the while still loving my husband so. God was revealing Himself so strong, I knew it could only be because of Him! My faith was strong during this whole season, Thank you Jesus. My husband has returned, filed for divorce, which was final last month…but my God is good and is worthy of my praise and love! I kept repeating… “If my husband leaves me…then God”. So thankful for Esther..For such a time as this.
Melissa, I remember those points from Esther and have leaned into them. “…then God” is a great way to end any number of crazy rabbit trail thoughts my mind takes me on and a great way to end the real questions that come out of my daily situations. Thank you for sharing.
God has proved Himself more times than I could count, but when I read the blog one specific moment came to mind. My parents were out of town and being the oldest I was the first to learn the horrible news of my cousins’ death. She was 34 and was in a wonderful place in her life – finally. I knew my responsibility when I hung up the phone, but I was stunned and heartbroken finding it hard to take the next step. That’s when I looked at the perpetual calendar in our kitchen that has a bible verse on it for each day. I felt compelled to walk over and turn the page to that date. I found the words of Isaiah 66:13 “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” I knew immediately that God was there, reaching to me in the midst of the pain and that I needed to share that verse with the news that came before it. God is so good and so faithful. Even when life doesn’t make sense, He’s right there and He cares. Of this I have no doubt!
Watching two of my dearest loves in life slip from this life into eternity has been my “Yes, this is for real” moments. Seeing the peace in thier faces was all it takes for me to realise my happiest day is when I slip from the valleys of this life into the blazing Son shine of the life beyond. Nothing here will ever come remotely close to that day I see Him whom I have believed in. With my own eyes I will behold Him who died for me. Praise be to our creator and King who conquered death for us so we can look forward to the day of His appearing with great anticipation! Hugs from the Heatland, Betty M
I meant heartland! We are under a blizzard watch it is not hot!!!!!
This question comes at an interesting time for me. 8 months after the death of my husband and I thought the children and I were getting some semblance of our lives back. Suddenly we were thrown into fits of grief that cannot be described. It is going on a full week now of regular meltdowns, tears and cries for “Daddy” in the night… and in the morning, and in the afternoon. Somewhere between the three kids (5yrs to 13 yrs) someone always seems in crisis. I am no better than the children rolling over and reaching for him at 2:00 am and crying myself back to sleep because he is not there, and missing him during the day to the core of my being. In the midst all of this, my 10 year old began asking spiritual questions and I had the privilege of leading him to a decision for Christ last week. He was baptized (yesterday) Sunday. What should have been the happiest day of our lives was mixed with tears of another kind of longing. “I wish Daddy were here. He’d be proud of me wouldn’t he.”
Maybe I can answer your question the same way my son answered me when I asked him why he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart. “I just want Jesus to give me comfort and strength when I am sad and scared”. Me too buddy. And that is how I know he is real. I can’t do this. I am a terribly dysfunctional person. I’ve proved that over and over again. I can’t possibly survive widowhood, and raising grammar school aged kids into adulthood by myself. I can’t pay the bills on nothing but the kids social security, and no possibility of a job anytime soon in this economy. I can’t be strong and sane and able. But God can. And in the last 8 months He has been and He has covered it all from heartache down to the cable bill. In the last week, despite our emotional crises here at home, He still is. He gives me comfort and strength when I am sad and scared.
Bless you and your family, Lin. My heart goes out to you. May God be “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows” (Ps 68:5) for you. Thank you for sharing your story. I pray that God will be so very real to your and your children.
OH LIN,thank you for your honest post!! I will be praying for you and your family. My mother died when I was young with 3 older siblings AND the Lord saw fit to have me marry a widower with 3 small children. SO, I do understand some aspects of your ACUTE grief and will PRAY for God’s comfort, presence and provision for you and your children!! May He be ever so REAL to you!
I started to say, my name and city/state because I have become so accustomed to do so with SSMT.
Let me preface this by saying, that while I am certain of God’s existance, the devil sure knows how to get me down and work doubt in my mind. It is in these times of doubt that I cling to the experiences I have had that prove (Ha! Like God has to prove himself! He is God! Awesome and sovereign!) to me that He is very, very real, and loves me very, very much. One such experience: A few days after my 18th birthday, I broke my foot. I was in the middle of my sport’s season at which I wasn’t great but I was good. Breaking my foot clearly pulled me out of that sport which was hard enough as it was one of my passions. I was in a soft splint for a week while the swelling went down, a cast for 3 weeks, a fracture shoe for 6 weeks and then in early March went back to the doctor for what I thought would be the official removal of the awful and ugly fracture shoe. Instead the nurse practitioner walked into the room, sat down, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. He said, “Emily, has your foot been hurting you?” Well, actually for the past two days it had. He said, “The x-ray shows what looks like a fresh break in your bone. It does not appear to have healed at all.” Ultimately it became known to me that I would need surgery. I was so very upset because not only did this mean that I would have my first surgery, I could be on crutches at my senior prom, at graduation, and at so many other major events that were important to me. That poor man had to see me boo-hoo and was so wonderful to schedule my surgery ASAP. This appointment was on a Thursday. My surgery was scheduled for the following Monday. Friday, I didn’t tell any of my friends at school what I was doing. Saturday, I attended a youth meeting where the youth and leaders layed hands on me and prayed for me. Sunday, my dad asked the church for prayer on my behalf. Monday, after my surgery, my surgeon nudged me into reality in the recovery room and said words I will never forget, “Emily, I opened up your foot expecting to see a broken bone and instead found a bone that appears to have never been broken.” THAT IS GOD! Nothing could have taken my “fresh break” from Thursday and turned it into a brand new bone by Monday except for God. He hears prayers and answers them! He moves in mighty ways! He is my Healer, my Strength, my God! He is making all things new… even my little foot.
Although I grew up as a PK, and even attended a seminary and did youth ministry, I did not have a personal relationship with God. I didn’t trust Him. Too much terror, violence, and hypocrisy perverted my perception of Jesus. Then, when I was challenged to give the Lord my untouched soil and trust Him with all my pain, I decided to give it a try. I had tried all the “good things” I knew to try. I never partied, did drugs, slept around, or drank. I did church. I had a social life…mostly with other doctors’ wives. I shopped. But I was in complete despair.
When I gave Jesus a chance and asked Him to show me who He really is and who I really am…Jesus showed up. I saw that I was a complete sinner with nothing to boast in and He was the perfect love I had been looking for all my life. He heals my wounds. He gives me hope. A reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to laugh. I think about Him all the time and I’m consumed by His love for me. All I can tell you is that I am not the same woman. He has transformed me and my family testifies to that. And because of that, He has transformed my whole family. I love Him more than I love my next breath and I cannot wait to be with Him for eternity.
God’s “realness” became clear to me shortly after my mom was diagnosed with cancer. He did not answer my prayers for her healing the way I wanted Him to answer; I was 17 when she died. It was a deep, painful loss. I grieved and felt like my whole family was falling apart. I did not understand why God would take away someone I loved and needed so much. Why would He do that at such a pivotal time in my life? Those dark days overflowed with pain and uncertainty. I had to learn to trust God in ways I had never before trusted Him. But I had the peace of God, and it guarded my heart and my mind through those very heartbreaking circumstances. It went beyond my understanding. Today that peace continues through my relationship with Jesus. I still worry some, yes. I’m a mom now and there’s an endless list of “what-ifs” I could fret about! But I am learning to take those concerns to Jesus in prayer and to be thankful for all that He gives. No matter what my circumstances are in life – good or bad – I can trust Him. He will always care for me and provide for my needs, no matter what. And no matter what, I will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
It was last summer (call me a teacher’ pet, but it was also while I was going through the study Believing God, in which Beth wrote a paragraph stating that she prayed that God would do something in the course of the study to chane my belief system). At 19 years I was watching my best friend and ministry comrade deterierate from a mental illness; one morning I heard a song on the radio that triggered MAJOR depression. I’m talking standing in the bottom of a hole while demons shovelled heaps of self-pity on my head in route to burying me alive. I was standing outside on the porch bawling like a baby and just the darkness and the emptiness and the bleakness of life’s futility weighed in. Then it was like a voice said to my heart “Jordan, this is what life would be like without Me.” I realized on that porch how (and I can’t say this word literally enough) HOPELESS I’d be without Yahweh. God became REAL to me that instant, and I felt the darkness lift; I began laughing,with joy inexpressible and filled with glory. My promised land has thus been a sweet dwelling place.
I am just sitting here…reading these precious testimonies, makes me love Jesus even more! I grew up in a Christian home, but I walked away from the Lord for several years…as a college student, Jesus really revealed himself to me one day at a Vineyard Church service that a friend invited me to….I worshipped Him that day, with tears streaming down my face and I felt like I had come home….More struggles came before me and the Lord…an eating disorder, dealing with the rejection of my Dad as a kid, dealing with the way men had mistreated me as a young woman–realizing that I did not consider myself worthy of God’s mercy and forgiveness…But, Jesus has over and over reminded me that He paid the price for me on the cross…I am married now, have a beautiful family…an amazing home…but I still continue to struggle, I find it easier to minister God’s love to others than to receive His love for myself…But I am beginning to see how being before Him, on my knees…is the place where He meets me. I am letting Jesus into the places I have not let anyone in…and he is changing me! My testimony isn’t finished yet….my marrow feels exposed right now…kind of like I am getting a blood transfusion—exchanging mine for His. And let me tell you, His blood is enough for me.
I can’t say this is when I knew He was for real, but through this I trusted myself that what I said to others up until this point was the real deal within my own heart. When my 18 year old son was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident, God was as real as He had always been when life was normal. Until tested by fire, we might not know what will come of our belief when your world crashes. I remember being amazed with myself because the question, “Why me” didn’t even hit my heart, or “Why my son.” I won’t sugar coat my response. There was indescribable pain in my loss, but at the same time, through learning to study under Kay Arthur before this tragedy, I found the sovereignty of my God was my greatest comfort and I never had to ask again if I would change my mind about my God. He spoke to my heart and assured me that I would not lose Him in the process (which was my biggest fear) and He told me that I could bring every emotion to Him and lay it out (the good, bad and ugly), that He could handle it. He is for real beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Like others have said, it is hard to narrow down…it’s the sum of a hundred different things. Having said that, though, I would have to say it has been the healing of my soul that has shown Him most clearly to me. He has removed my deeply rooted shame and given me a new identity…speaking to me and confirming His work in unique ways along the way. He has changed my heart, and I think we have all been around long enough to know that is no small thing.
Someone ask me one time how I knew God was real. Well…I replied, I just know He is. It seems I have known since I was a very small child and suffered abuse of the worst kind. I’m thinking similar to yours Beth. As I lay in my bed sobbing..and I mean sobbing, it was if God himself began to whisper to me “it’s gonna be alright” over and over again until I finally fell asleep. That was the beginning of my relationship with Jesus.
He has revealed Himself to me many times over the course of my 50 years through His word, His actions on my behalf and on the behalf of others. When things seem hopeless..well there He goes again, providing, healing, comforting me.
I love to study His word and get goose bumps all over when He shows Himself to me. I can’t go a day without having a conversation with HIM. He probably wishes I would just shut up! LOL!!! I talk to Him about everything and listen and watch for any sign of Him at work in my life and the life of others. It’s thrilling to me!!
I fell in LOVE with Jesus as a small child and I love Him still. More than life itself. He has given me children through adoption after struggling many years with infertility. He has saved my marriage and taught me that “HE will never forsake (turn His back) me or leave me.” HE has kept a roof over our heads and food on our table, twice, when my husband was layed off of work. AND…each time has given him a better job making more money than before. HE has provided me with more friends than any girl could hope for. Friends that are REAL and true and that love HIM as much as I do. We love serving HIM together in places like the prisons, the battered women’s shelter, the homeless shelters and nursing homes.
I wish I could explain my testimoney better about Jesus but I pray that God gives me the opportunity and the words each time I meet someone who does not know Him or has not experienced HIS love in a real way.
ok..that was more than one paragraph…told I need to shut up. Bless you Beth!!
23 years ago around Mother’s Day I stood in front of our church holding my 3 month old baby girl and dedicated her to the Lord; her seminary trained Father left when she was six weeks old. 23 years later, May 2011, one week after Mother’s Day I will walk down the aisle with my Jesus Husband and give my daughter away to be married. He has been so faithful!! Not enough words 🙂
I have had a lot of moments where He has made himself real, but one of the most standout moments was when I received a scary diagnoses. He surrounded me. He was precious & so sweet. He became my strenghth and I could relate to the Psalm which says “Because his loving kindness is BETTER THAN LIFE my lips shall praise thee.” It was a tough time, but would I have known him like this? I am somehow thankful for the trial that brought me nearer to Him.
Jen
On March 12, 2011, we had a family birthday party. My grandfather, my son, and I had made plans to go to Long John Silvers. That was my grandfather’s favorite place to eat, so we went there about every 2 or 3 months. That was our thing. My cousin had asked if he could go with us this time. My grandfather passed away in the middle of the night on Friday, March 18, 2011. We didn’t make our trip to Long John Silvers. I was upset about it. My cousin suggested that we go anyway. So on my Sunday, March 20, my son and I called my cousin and asked if he would go to Long John Silvers after church and he said yes. I picked him up and we went. We sat at a table and I looked at my son and we both realized that we were sitting at the same table we sat in the last time we ate there with my grandfather. Then our food arrived. They placed my son’s food in front of him. My food in front of me. My cousin’s food in front of him. Then there was another plate of food on the tray. They asked where to place that food. We all looked at eat other. We looked at our receipt. None of us ordered the food. The food, however, was exactly what my grandfather would have ordered. They said they would just leave the food at the table. I began to cry. My son looked at me and said, “Well, Papa ordered his food, didn’t he? He didn’t want to miss his lunch!” And I know that God was letting us know that even know my grandfather was gone, physically, he is still with us in spirit. He always knows what His children need and how to give them comfort and peace. Mine came in the form of chicken and fish. What a blessing.
Its been over the whole season of walking with Him that I have come to know that HE IS FOR REAL! All those years of provision as a single mom. Being my peace after the qut wrenching tears. Giving me hope for a future and plan that He has for my life. That still small voice that you know is Him. That timely word from a friend, that you know was orchestrated by Him. The creation proclaims His glory!!! His word, the bible, that is living and amazing and the more you look and seek the more He reveals Himself to you, and blows your mind!!!
Loved reading all the ladies beautiful testimonies! There is so much more to say but mostly the Holy Spirit that dwells in me and testifies to my soul that I know that I know HE IS REAL!
Love, Dayna
God reveals himself to me in so many ways. My husband and I went through unbelievably agonizing times with our oldest son. We tried everything and everyone to reach him. I was living in the depths of despair. God placed a new friend in my life, who took me back to church, listened, sat with me while I cried, and encouraged me. I turned to the Bible. His Word is living and active! God always showed me just the verses I needed. He is real. My sanity and peace are living proof. And so is the continuing work He is doing in our lives.
mama beth:)
(I’m sorry I have to take a moment to say something):)
and you know I never do this, but I just have to!)
I was just talking about you the other day. I know you hear this so much from others, but your faith has been the deepest encouragement to my life. What you’ve gone through in your life has been a gift to mine. Seriously.
And it’s taught me that everything I’ve been through, that it had purpose, and value and that I have a beautiful story to share with the world through looking back on my life and instead of seeing a past of darkness, I see one where God was there. THAT nothing was ever out of His sight. You’ve taught me that. Because of you sharing it so openly, it gives me the strength to do the same; and sometimes I am scared to death, but people need to know there is hope, and your story, mine…and so many others…we can teach others to know it…deep down in their being. Regardless of what that costs any of us.
And somethings, as you know, are not easy to share. Beauty from ashes…:)
So instead of sharing my faith story this time, because I know there will be other opportunities…I just wanted to write that out.
I envisioned Jesus yesterday at church. I envisioned him on the cross, and I saw myself take the nails out of His hands, feet, and sword out of His side…He slid into my arms with the thorns still on His head. And He said to me,
” I understand you.”
xoxo
ang
You are loved here, Angie. Jesus is so taken with you. Keep holding tight to Him.
You rock, mama beth:) I don’t think
I have words that could possibly
describe how much what you said
just hit my heart. thank you for loving Him:)
xoxo
I had a wine habit. I wanted to break it for years, but it just never happened. Good day, celebrate with a glass of wine. Bad day, nurse it with a glass of wine. On and on it went. Finally, I gave it to God. I literally taped the scripture Romans 8:37 -” No,in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” to the wine bottle. 3 days later, I realized I hadn’t had a glass of wine, nor had I even thought about having one! I am free! That is one of my miracles and I know through it my living God saved my life!
Wow!!! I loved reading all these! So awesome!!! God made Himself totally REAL to me in the summer of 1981, when I was in total despair of 5 years of trying to have a child. We had been going to fertility Drs., the BEST in Houston, Texas, I had had two miscarriages – and suddenly one day I realized I could not MAKE these expert DRS. make me get pregnant! I could not CONTROL this!!! I was in a dark time of life – depression, panic attacks – and I TOTALLY surrendered all to the Lord! I clung to Him night and day – and totally gave HIM my desire for a child, and told HIM I would accept WHATEVER His will was for me – even if it meant not being a Mom. The LETTING GO was what He wanted from me! I lived and breathed God’s Word at this time – could not get enough of HIM, and was totally at peace and joy and quit taking fertility drugs! One year later, we had our first son, and eventually had a third child while using birth control! If God doesn’t have a sense of humor???!!!! He became TOTALLY real and has continued to the past 29 years.
I grew up in a home that was faithful, I had a love for the Lord but had no idea who He was and had many unanswered questions growing up.I had a learning disability that was left untreated. I struggled through school and upon entering middle school was the victim of numerous sexual abuses which only made my self esteem lower than it already was. I didn’t think anyone could love me, especially God.
My life continued in a downward spiral which included one terrible relationship after another. I made destructive choices. I tried to gain happiness through several ways including surrounding myself with material things, but nothing worked, it only solved my problem temporarily, then I would be back in my dark place of despair. After my last severe depression I reached out to God, opened my heart to Him. I finally understood what it meant to have the Holy Spirit. Little by little He changed my attitude. I looked at everything different, including myself. He guides me with His wisdom and if I listen Oh my life is so much smoother! Instead of exhausting myself by trying to please everyone, I only focus on pleasing Him…so much easier and much more gratifying! Psalm 13:5 I trust in your unfailing love, I rejoice because you have rescued me. I think of that verse often when I think about my life before trusting in Him completely. He is my rescuer, my greatest love.
God became real to me when my beloved Grandma Ruth was sick and dying of her second bout with cancer. I had always grown up knowing God was there and He was real, but He didn’t become really “tangible,” somebody I could converse with until Grandma got sick. She had already been through so much: breast cancer, diabetes, losing a son the year before, and when I found out she was sick again, I was mad and I was mad at God. However, instead of turning away from Him and not wanting anything to do with Him, I hollered, threw things at the wall, cried, begged, and generally carried on in ways that I never thought God would put up with. Keep in mind that at the time, I was not saved–had not committed my life to Christ or came anywhere near it. I had questions and by golly, I was demanding answers and satisfaction. “Why? Why her? After she has been through SO much? Why?” I asked and cried out to Him over and over again. And instead of turning me over his knee and whacking me a time or two, instead of throwing me out the door for being disrespectful, instead of yelling back at me, and demanding to know who I thought I was, He listened. Patiently and quietly, He just listened–no judgment, just heard me and when the time came, whispered quietly that no matter what, it was going to be ok and I could be angry because He understood. He loved Grandma too and didn’t want her to hurt and suffer any more than I did. In those dark hours, in the living room floor, bawling with grief over my Grandma and the probability that her time was limited, God was real because he was there, holding me through it all and not hating me because I wanted to hate Him for what I blamed Him for.
However, even more than all of that…the thing that sealed the deal and gave me the testimony that He was real…when Grandma had just days left of living and she was hardly coherent most of the time due to the pain and medications she was on, I sat by her bed and held her hand. I said, “Grandma, I want to tell you that I’ve been talking to God a lot lately. It’s not all been good, but I’ve been talking to Him.” Her cornflower blue eyes flew open and filled with tears, and she smiled at me the biggest, most beautiful smile, saying, “Oh I am SO glad! I am SO glad, because He and I have been talking about you!” And I could see the light of Christ’s love shining in my Grandma’s eyes, and could feel the Spirit moving right then and there. From that day on, He was more real to me than I was!
Oh I so need this, thanks Beth for squeezing it out today.
In Thailand already a believer in Christ but walking as a scattered light, I was sore this day and questioned who on earth to God I was. I was cranky and weepy with my husband and feeling despair. A shopping trip to null the void? Heard of a new craft section in dept store so the hunt was on, 5 levels later and we still couldn’t find it. Even crankier turn on my heels lets go back to car I barked to Husband. When an indian lady appeared in my path and said, the craft section is that way pointing towards the back. Thanking her quickly we headed off but was only 3/4 way down when I thought How did she know I was looking for the craft?? Did I look crafty 🙂 Honest, never tell a lie I am walking towards the craft and in my tracks was a unit displaying a finished tapestry of Jesus with a child on his knee (In thailand!!) And I said to myself God your here, frantically I said to my husband, quick find it I want the tapestry kit. One was there and the name of kit was “Precious in His sight”. He answered the morning cries of my heart when I called out to Him who I? Go is so real, cry out for his touch today like a baby waiting for food. He won’t leave you without.
Raised as the daughter of a professor in an Ivy League town, I was almost predictably an atheist by my late teens. There were very few true Believers in that culture and plenty of skeptics concerning religion or God. A few years after leaving home, I was working in some of the halls of power in our country, living an enviable existence from the outside, but lonely and confused on the inside. In the process of realizing that I was controlled by more than one socially acceptable yet ravaging addiction (alcohol, drugs, bulimia, large debt), the guidance of a wise person was to “fake it ’til you make it” and PRAY for help. And so I began to pray, to pray to a God I swore I did not believe in but was just desperate enough to seek help from.
Within a few weeks, I was talking to God all the time, throughout my day. And then I was crediting this God with any ability I was exhibiting to resist the substances I was addicted to. After a month or two, there came a night when I KNEW that GOD was real and that his love was greater than any aggregate human love or good will. In tears and laughter I cried out to Him to forgive me of my gross arrogance and confessed that I knew He was real and was saving me. By His amazing Grace, the person I called to tell of this epiphany was one of the four Christians I actually knew; and this man helped me to understand in that conversation that what I was experiencing was the very truth of the Gospel. And so it was that I knew this Real God who had been revealing Himself to me to be the God of the Bible, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Praise Be to God!!
The Hound of heaven had been chasing me my senior year of high school as I desperately searched for meaning and assurance that I was lovable. As my reputation for bad decisions spread, I heard that my Christian friend Debbie was “praying for me.” I was insulted! After graduation I ran away from home with my boyfriend and engaged in many conversations about the truth of creationism I had heard from my government teacher that year. I never realized the incongruity of my arguing for the existence of a personal Creator and my current ungodly lifestyle. Within a few months I had a new boyfriend: A carnal Christian who, feeling convicted, shared a Good News for Modern Man New Testament with me. I had never read the Bible before, and hardly realized that’s what it was. Within a couple of months my boyfriend decided to dump me and turn his life back over to God. I couldn’t believe it! He was rejecting a warm (pretty cute) body for an invisible God. He must really believe this stuff! That made me realize I had to investigate this for myself. The last straw came the day I was driving up and down the Southern California coast on a big motorcycle at 60 mph. After several hours on the freeway I pulled off and rolled to a red light. When the green light came, I tried to accelerate, but something wasn’t working right. I turned around to discover to my complete shock that I had a totally flat rear tire! I was astounded and horrified. At that moment I realized that I had escaped death or at the very least, serious injury. If this flat had occurred on the freeway I would most likely have lost control of the motorcycle. I remember saying to myself with absolute conviction: God does not want me dead yet. I have to find Him. Once I discovered the forgiveness of Romans 8:1 (“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”) I found the mercy and acceptance I had craved for so long. And I found Debbie soon after and thanked her for praying.
I am one of the ones Satan loves to persacute with not being worthy, I’ve committed to many sins, I have mest up to many times, I’ve wondered away once to often. Are you sure there even is a God? After all you’ve seen, all you have been through, you sure he’s there? The list goes on, and I know I’m not alone, surely I’m not. Well, this all came to an abrupt end last week and well I cannot express the emotions that washed through me, It was the most wonderful experience of my life. I was there! I was in his presence, and it wasn’t just with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit where there to! I cried and cried happy joyous tears, could not thank them enough, and this was all because of the scripture in Jeremiah 29:11. I was reading “Get Out of the Pit” and right there on page 42, this scripture was printed and the next sentence was God is watching his children, and my eyes and my mind were opened up to the fact that God is watching ME! All the time!! With pure love!! ME!! Remarkable! (of course within an hour an attack straight from the pit of Hell came and I allowed it to steal that joy to an extent, but since have retreaved it) I am so in love with My God! Everyday since in some form or fashion He (my Heavenly Father) has been arming me with defense and reasuring me it was all real and true. Today it was one small scripture found in 1st Thessalonians 5:17, Pray continually. He wants me to talk to him all the time! and He is LISTENING! ok, I’ll stop now.
I lost my husband to cancer 20 months ago. It has been the hardest path I have ever had to walk since that time. But what do I know for sure? God is enough. I could not manufacture the peace and grace that have flowed over me during this time. I could not orchestrate all the blessing and provision God has put in my path. In the squeezing tight times, I’ve found God is real. God is love. And, again, God is enough.
aw, blessings to you, sister.
In so many ways God has proved to me that He is faithful and loves me. Times when my husband didn’t have a job, but some how we always had everything we needed – food, clothes that just happened to fit my kids, peace. Times when I felt like a failure and hopeless and He came and filled me up with His love – and was there like a best friend. Times when He opened doors for my children, providing the money for their college when we really didn’t have it – giving me the desires of my heart! And now when I don’t have a job and things are hard and lonely, He is still here. I know He has a good plan for me even though I can’t see it right now. Thanks for reminding me to remember how wonderful He really is!
I know God is real because He has changed me in ways that are miraculous. I have gone from breaking EVERY SINGLE commandment to now being Women’s Ministries Coordinator at a large church, leading Bible study and being a speaker. I have gone from ignoring Jesus to recognizing Him as the lover of my soul. I have surrendered my life and only a God who knows me intimately and pays attention to the details of my life could have persuaded me to do so.
Hope in the Lord
*******************************************************************************************
I remember it was January or February 2004,I had gotten a card to remind me it was time for my yearly mammogram. I remember it well,I was standing in the kitchen,holding the card,I was talking to God,I said,”Lord, my mother never had this done and she was okay,so I am throwing the card in the garbage,I am depending on You to protect me.”
By the next couple of months I was feeling soreness in my left breast,it took me another month or two to check myself.
Yes, there was a lump,I immediately started meditating on healing scripture,sought out
close Christian friends,covered myself with only spiritual tapes to listen to,Christian music,and books on healing to read.I only allowed myself to be in mans world when it had to be,otherwise I stayed focused on God,Jesus,& Holy Spirit.
God spoke to me through a dream of Shadrach,Meshach,& Abed-Beo. I was in the firry
furnace with them,God spoke to me,that He was with me and would walk me through the fire.
I am a 61/2 year survivor,I was a stage 3a.
I thank God for all He has done for me.
I prayed and asked God to protect me,He did just that.I was the stubborn one,He gave me Hope,I learned to listen to Him.
We have to live in this mans world,but an everlasting world with Jesus is the Hope He gives.
I now have a blog site for sharing God,it is http://www.prophecyandtoday.com or at http://www.prophecyandtoday.blogspot.com, I am also taking Beth’s study on Daniel,it is wonderful and eye opener.
How do I know God is real? In May 2007 I found a note in my son’s room, written by him to a girl. This note was a love letter of sorts but not a love for her, but another boy. I couldn’t believe it. My son, gay? So I asked him about the note and he admitted he was in love with a boy and in fact gay. I told him that I loved him regardless of his choices, but God’s word says that a man shall not lie down with another man. Leviticus 18:22. He then informed me that “he didn’t need my Jesus that Satan was who he worshiped”. You can imagine my heart breaking right there. Not only has my son just told me he was gay but now he is worshiping Satan. This isn’t how I raised him! What did I do wrong was all that kept going through my head. And living in the fabulous state of Texas and I just started dating a “good ole Texas boy” how was this going to play out? Well in September of that same year my son’s mental state was very concerning and his words and actions caused me to contact a psychiatrist, who after assessing him diagnosed him with schizophrenia. 17 years old, such a young age for such a terrible diagnosis. He wouldnt take his meds, of course because there is nothing wrong with him ( in his mind). During this time he has started talking to a young man over the internet and says he “loves him”.
In May my mom was retiring from working for the schools and she needing my son to help her
pack up her office. I allowed him to go stay with her. On one of the mornings she asked my son if he wanted to go with her to her office and he said no he wanted to sleep late. She gets home later that day and he is gone, most of his belongings are gone too.
I knew he was with the man he met on the Internet. He was in Oklahoma. Legal age there is 16! I called the sheriff dept. Nothing! Legal age in Texas, 17….nothing. Finally I called New Mexico (that is where my mom lives). I knew legal age there was 18. I filed a runaway report. Even though I knew in my mind where he was, I wanted someone to contact me if God forbid they found a John Doe in a ditch somewhere. Terrible feeling!
During this time my mom was feeling guilty. All she kept saying was “i should have made him go with me to the office”. I explained to her that he was 17 years old and it wasn’t her fault. She asked me if i thoughht he would call home. I told her yes. She wanted specifics…all i could tell her was within 4 days. She asked me how i knew that and i told her ” I don’t know, but i know he will”.
Since I am not independantly wealthy, work must continue during this storm, therefore i went to work everyday. Continually praying that God protect my baby and keep him safe. During my day, i would have the name of a certain street pop into my head. This is what i heard numerous times as i waited for my phone call from my son. “you can get anywhere you need by taking Utica” well being new in town, i had no way of knowing that. My boyfriend would call and need parts, i would take the wrong street or turn and there it was again. ” you can get there by taking Utica”.
Well my son did call exactly 4 days later. I asked him his address, and he told me…..yes you guessed it….The name of the street he lived on was Utica in Tulsa OK. I guess i fell silent when he told me because he started to spell it for me and i was choked up with gracious tears and told him i knew how to spell it. GOD IS SO GOOD! GOD IS SO REAL! that was my sticky note from God letting me know that He is watching over my son.
To this day my son is still in Tulsa with the man he met on the Internet. He is 20 years old. I am believing God to restore his heart and my son will one day have a testimony that will bring people to Christ.
I so know that my God is real. He saved me from the very dark and dangerous road that I was on for many years, using all of those experiences to make me into the child of His that I am today. The old is gone and I am definitely a new person. Amazing! Still a work in progress of course 🙂 Oh the prayers He has answered over the years and the life He has blessed me with now. A husband (that is a pastor!), children and a ministry, a far more wonderful life than I could have imagined. He still continues to blow me away everyday! Thank you Jesus! ♥
My sweet Mom was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer three years ago. My best friend and major security blanket was suffering and taken away from me temporarily. For the first time I was faced with the very real possibility of losing her. I was rocking my infant to sleep just crying my eyeballs out to the Lord. I asked Him to please come and hold me. I will never forget the all-consuming peace that filled me right there in that rocking chair holding my tear-soaked baby girl. I literally felt Him all over me. It was unlike any other experience with Him that I have ever had and I cherish that moment. It serves as a vivid reminder of His strong love toward me that casts out all fear!
The following is a story I wrote last summer while receiving radiation treatments for breast cancer……..
Into my 2nd week of radiation treatments, I began to have a stinky attitude. My daily trek to the hospital was already getting old, I felt really tired every evening after the treatment and my skin began getting irritated. I also had been getting pretty emotional – for some reason as I sat up on the table after the treatment, I often felt like crying. No reason, no sad thoughts in my head, I just felt like crying. Roy can attest to the fact that I had a couple crying jags the likes of which he hadn’t seen since before menopause! All this had led me to a feeling of resentment against the “machine” that I interacted with every afternoon about 3:45. I couldn’t really be angry with the nurses, technicians and doctors because they had been nothing but kind and compassionate toward me. So, I guess I just decided to be mad at the machine as my mood got more sour by the hour!
This morning after breakfast, I sat down to check my email and found the following message. It is from a new friend, a Taiwanese sister in Christ that is truly beautiful – inside and out. She has walked this very same road that I am on and this is what she said…..
“This should be the second week for your radio-treatment. Is it going well? Kris, I still remember when lying on the table for the radiotherapy, I always imagined it as the light of healing from God. In a sense, it was light of healing from God for me. Each day after the radiation I felt my body condition got better with more of the bad cells being killed by the light sent by God in order to heal me. So it was a battle that was God’s. I needed to do nothing except lying there quietly, letting God fight for me. The Bible says that in quietness and trust is your strength. Kris, this thinking helped me a lot and I want to share it with you.”
I was very touched by this message and thought to myself – “maybe I should try thinking along these lines during treatment.” Then, I got busy, going about my day.
In the treatment room there is always “muzak” playing – elevator music. Soft, soothing, nondescript songs. But, this afternoon as I entered, the melody was familiar and the words of the song came washing over me:
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us.
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us.
That we should be called the sons of God.
That we should be called the sons of God.
An old hymn from my childhood filling the room as I lay on the table for my daily interaction with the “machine.” As the precious old song came to an end, I was thinking – oh, I wish it would play again – thinking that some more elevator music would follow. Instead….
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
This time, I sat up with a different kind of tears on my eyes. The sweet nurse gave me a hug and the young man that runs that “machine” every day patted my back and I explained that the music was a blessing to me and that the songs were about God and how He loves us.
OK, Lord. I get it. You are here and You are fighting this battle. I am resting in You. I believe. Lord, help my unbelief!
How many more ways can He speak to me and bless me? It seems there is no end……
As a PostScript to this story…..the young radiation technician made sure that the hymn CD was playing EVERY day at the time of my treatment for the next 5 weeks! And I must mention – this all occured in Taiwan….to an all-American girl from Idaho!
Thank you for your testimony. I also went through breast cancer (the whole thing: surgery, chemo, and radiation) and I experienced every emotion possible, like you. What has remained firmly in my heart from that time is the realization that ultimately, all we have is our INDIVIDUAL relationship with the Lord, and we need to open our eyes to His sweet presence in our journey. He is our loving creator and my part is to surrender in submission. Like Psalm 31 says, “My times are in your hands.” I never want to forget that lesson!
I know that God is as real as each breathe I take.He pursued me early in life and I knew Him from a distance, then as an adult my sanity was taken from me and all I had known crumbled beneathe my feet…He restored my mind
and led me to a place where I learned to trust Him , not others to meet my needs. He let me see that I was created by Him and He loves me unconditionally.He was faithful when I had no faith,He put a new song in my heart and gave me a firm foundation on which to stand,HE IS MY SOLID ROCK !!
I know that if I lost every earthly possession, I will forever have Him and his love for eternity.He is more than enough !So thankful for the peace only He can give and the world can not take away!!