I'm just wondering if anyone has ever gone through something that really tested their faith. How did you get through it? What scriptures did you stand on? With my husbands condition I'm in that situation. I'm having a hard time trusting in God. I have faith in him but to actually put my whole complete trust in him is extremely hard. This is why; About 7 years ago my mother was diagnosed kidney cancer. She had a kidney removed and they thought they got the cancer. They were wrong. She began chemo a few months later and went into remission. She was in remission for 6 months. Everyone was praying for her. Myself included. Then, she began having some back problems and soon found that the cancer was back but this time it was in her bones. We all prayed and believed that God would heal her. She was with me when my youngest daughter was born 5 years ago. Then 3 months later she was gone. I completely lost my faith. I went through the deepest depression that I had ever gone through for about 2 years afterwards. She was my best friend. I didn't understand why God didn't heal her. I believed he would and I felt like he let me down. Finally after 2 years of darkness I began feeling like myself again. I was still angry at God. I was always taught that God answers all prayers but I wasn't told that he may answer them in a differant way than what we want him to. I did finally come to terms with the fact that this was God's will and that he has a plan in it all even though I didn't see it and may never see why. I came back to him with the knowledge that God does answer our prayers in a way that is best for us. And sometimes he even tells us no. But I do believe that my Mom's illness and ultimate death was a good thing. I saw what real faith is supposed to be like through her. She yielded to his will no matter what. "your will be done, Not mine." She always said "whatever it takes,God. Whatever it takes". Talking about getting her family back to him. If it took her death to do that she was willing. As far as my prayer being answered,it was. Just not in the way I wanted. She was healed, She was no longer in pain. And she is now in heaven and I have the hope to see her again someday and that has been a motivator in itself. Anyhow, just wondering if you all have ever gone through something similar and how did you deal? I'm looking for words of encouragement as I face another trial of faith and trust in the Lord with my husbands situation. Thanks Angela
The Bible talks about our trials, how we are supposed to rejoice in them because it makes our faith stronger. I, myself, have noticed that when I am closest to God is when my faith is tested. It's so hard to rejoice when things are so sucky, but it's what God expects us to do.
I had a test of faith when I started to discover I was a lesbian. All my Christian friends sort of freaked out and were reluctant to be with me let alone help me work it out, even my family became distant. I felt like I disappointed everyone, but it was something I couldn't really help. You like what you like, ya know? Eventually I figured spinning my wheels waiting for answers wasn't gonna get me anywhere, so I started to become more and more cynical. Eventually my friends got used to the idea, and I didn't really flaunt it at all so most people don't even know. I guess you could say I "failed", since I'm more or less atheist now. However, if God does exist I don't see how I'm any worse as a lesbian than any other sinner. We all have our natural tendencies I guess.
A few ones come to mind... Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Proverbs 3: 5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Philippians 4:6 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." And here are two that CONTINUALLY come up in my life because I significantly struggle with fear, rational and irrational: 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." There are many more. God's word is RICH with scriptures about trusting him, and letting Him be in control. It is hard to look at a fearful situation and not be fearful. The unknown is scary. But God knows the beginning from the end, and even though it doesn't seem as though he has a plan, He does. Your life, your trials, etc. may not necessarily be directly from him, but they are not a surprise to him. There is NO WAY possible you can control this situation, you need to let go, give it to HIM (fully...and that means sometimes 800 times a day), rest in HIM. I am praying for you. My suggestion would be to totally soak and immerse your mind in the Word. Prayer (which I'm sure you're already doing). And Worship music. I find, for myself, I "feel" the presence of God more when I constantly have a worship song going through my mind. Praying for you. For your husband. For your family. (((HUGS)))
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psa 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psa 46:3 [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psa 46:4 [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High. Psa 46:5 God [is] in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, [and that] right early. Psa 46:6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. Psa 46:7 The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah. Psa 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. Psa 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psa 46:11 The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah. I could write more, but for now, i pray that the Lord be with you and give you strentgh and encourgement.
I could quote many many personal examples, some quite spectacular when I look back. The common theme in every one is that I had to learn that I'm not in control. The moment I submitted to God's authority, frustration and worry and even panic were replaced by extraordinary events and an overwhelming sense of humility.
Last year I had a miscarriage. For several days before hand I was afraid that I was, and especially the night before I was pretty sure that I was about to lose the baby. I prayed for healing, for me to have a healthy baby. I trusted in God that He would hear and answer my prayer, it says right there in His word that He will. Afterwards I really struggled with trusting God. I felt like what was the point in praying if He's just going to do whatever He wants.... what difference does it make. I lean on God for everything..... He is my counselor when I need a friend to talk to, He is my rock when everything around me is falling apart, He is my Savior when no one else could save me.... and I felt like He let me down. One day I was talking with one of my boys. He was upset about something, I don't remember what, I wouldn't let him do something or have something and he couldn't understand why. I told him " You may not always understand why I do the things I do and the decisions I make, and I may not always explain it to you. Some things you're not old enough or mature enough to understand even if I explain it. But always know that I love you and I do the things I do because I love you." When I heard those words coming out of my mouth it was just like the Holy Ghost was telling me they were for me. I don't know that it made my pain any easier to bear, but it was just a reassurance that God hadn't forsaken me..... He heard my prayer. He wasn't ignoring me when I asked for Him to save my baby, but He sees a bigger picture than I do and He acted in my best interest. (somehow.... I still don't understand and I still wish things had been different) So yes, my faith has been tested. And I can say it came out stronger on the other side.
WOW...THAT is amazing. I love when God does that. I didn't share my whole story, I started to, and was afraid to....but here goes. Growing up my Mom and I had a really strained relationship. She left many times. Divorced my Dad. Left us at my Grandparents (courts wouldn't allow my Dad custody b/c he worked night shift). My Mom moved 800 miles away...we saw her twice a year. Maybe. When I was 11 she moved back, married the man she had an affair with on my father, and we moved in with her (my sister and I). Those two years were the worst years of my life. I was told daily that I was worthless, no good and never should have been born. That the only reason she ever had kids was for slave labor (she was not kidding). When I was 13, my Dad remarried and I was given the opportunity to choose where I would live. I chose my Dad. Hands down. My stepmother treated me like one of her own, I became part of a real family and felt loved for the first time in my life. My mom and I continued to struggle well into my adult life. When I was 21 I shared the Gospel with her in a very clear way, and explained a lot of things about myself as a result of growing up the way I did. Shortly after, she became a believer, but we continued to struggle. After I had my 2nd child, we moved across country. She came to visit twice. Her first visit she brought a friend with us and barely spent any time with me or the kids. I'll get to the 2nd part in a minute... 2003 was a bad year. My marriage was falling apart. We were EXTREMELY close to divorce. We were robbed. a buch of bad stuff happened. Well, I got pregnant, and 5 weeks into the pregnancy, I lost the baby. My husband thought it was all an attention thing and blamed it all on me. I miscarried when he was out of town and had to do the ER, etc. All alone. I was really upset. I was in the deepest pit I'd ever been in. Fast forward to 2004, I became pregnant again, and my husband and I were working on our marriage. When I was 4 mos preg the poop hit the fan with my husband and I almost left. About 8 weeks into the preg, I started spotting, then bleeding and I thought I'd lose the baby again. Instead, I got all these tests done and saw that all was fine with the baby. The bleeding stopped. My friend said it was God's way of reassuring me that all was well in there. I had a ROUGH pregnancy...and rough time to boot - we got kicked out of our church, lost my best friends, my kids lost their friends in the process (long story for another time)...all while pregnant. (and totally part of the story...during this time God completely healed our marriage!) After my third child was born, my Mom came to visit for a week. WE actually had a great time together...did a lot of fun things...even she and my husband got along great. I was actually sad when she left. This was new for me! A week later, I get a phone call from my stepfather that my Mother had been in a car accident and it wasn't good. The baby and I caught the first flight out that we could. When I got to the hospital, it was not my mother. My stepfather kept her alive for two days becasue the accident happened the day before their 25th wedding anniversary. The day after, when the turned off the machines she died 4 minutes later. I went through the viewing, funeral, etc. with over 500 people saying "Oh my goodness you look JUST LIKE HER!". The week I got back from all of this my dad was taken to the hospital having TIA's. I was at my limit. A few weeks after I got back...my stepfather called...as a result of my Mother's funeral a close family friend came to the Lord. My Mom was already His...this person was not. And this is what it took for this person to get saved. I am comforted by knowing that she is in Heaven with Him. Even though, strangely enough (since we were extremely close), I miss her terribly and wish she were still here. I had to cling to the Father...still do...most days... for dear life. Over it all I can see his Hand, I can see His purpose. I hope that makes sense.
I think there comes a time in everyone's life when their faith is tested. In dark times we cannot forget what we learned in the light. God's love shows greater than then ever. The words of encouragement we find from God's word are to prepare us for the trials that are to come. We are not exempt from trials because we belong to God. We will have the same trials as anyone else...the same heartbreak...the same pain...sickness and trouble. However, what we do have is the Lord..guiding us, healing us, loving us and showing us a better way and a better us. God did not forget your personal protection forceshield when you got saved. God extends it only during the trials to let us know we can experience the world but we don't have to fall down and let it win. Trials are not always for US..but for God...to bring glory to His name. Trials also give us the experience to minister to others and bring others to Christ. How would we know the depths of God's true love and nature if he did not rescue us?
Angela...I will pray for you. I will also return, Lord willing to read through this and share, too. God is faithful. God is able. God never changes.
My faith has been tested for sure. But..it will sound very odd to you. My son died and it made me stronger and closer. God certainly is not being cruel to call my son to heaven and I wanted to make sure I would be with him some day. Being close to God was also being close to Andy. Then my Grandfather died a few months later. Growing up, I had serious family problems. It was hard, but I still did everything right. I grew up in a family not too big on church or God or such, so there was no shaking of faith there. I had more faith than my family members, but never gave it tons of thought. But then, after having 2 children, a boy and a girl, I just wanted another daughter. I know, you are going to think this is froofy, but please bare with me. My dad is mentally ill. My brother has issues himself. Those were the men I grew up with. Then my own first born had medical problems and adhd and SID and all sorts of issues. It just felt like boys were just impossible and difficult and I could see no good in the stress of another boy. I prayed and prayed to God to give me another girl. I watched my sister, who is not a good parent, have 2 little girls during this time. My SIL, who is a drug addict, had 1 little girl. Then, at one point during all this, the substance abuser who killed my son in an "accident" had twin girls! I got pregnant with 4 boys in a row. How? I felt like..why? I have endured so much in my life, asking to have another daughter is such a small thing. Why can't I? Why do I have to watch these people have all these little girls, and I cannot have one? I loved God through so much that was big, from my son being killed to my grandfather dying to the childhood I went through. I still always did the right thing. I was always a good person. Why can't I have a girl? Why were such bad people being given little girls like that? Why, when I had to go watch my son's killer testify, was her testimony and such postponed due to the fact that she was having twin girls? How is this? She killed my son and I was the one who stayed faithful. That is where my faith has been tested. There are times I still wonder. But I also figure that we are not meant to know everything. I tell myself that pompous and arrogant people think they must know the answers to everything, and those same people are often wrong. However, I do still cry for that little girl that never happened. I don't know if God is punishing me, or teaching me a lesson. I like to believe this just is not important enough and God has bigger things to do, so this is something that he is not micromanaging. But it is a source of real pain for me, believe it or not.
momofafew...your post gave me chills. So much to live through and still maintain a faith in God...amen! Thank you for sharing this very painful issue with us. Honestly, I do believe God micromanges..I have seen it in my life. However, I don't think he is punishing you. Perhaps he is trying to bless you....give you boys because so many other males have been the source of so much pain. Maybe he is showing you that you can love a boy and that a boy does not have to cause you pain. You do have a daughter...that is your gift..your blessing...your answer to prayer. But maybe..just maybe your sons are just as much an answer and more so than you realize...maybe they are to help heal you. Sorry for getting off track from the original poster...but I felt the need to comment. Geesh..lol..I suppose I feel that need too much at times. lol
My faith is being tried at the moment. It has been a long haul with the moving issue. I have learned that the Lord is my Shepherd and my Comforter in sorrow and He is my Song. I was taught that God is the Great I AM. This is meaning Who do you need. You need a rock, God says to you I Am that Rock. You need a shelter in the time of your storm. God says to you I am A Shelter in the time of storm. Do you need a righteous Judge or a Song in the night. There are many verses that uphold God's Name. I have a book on prayer that list 147 names of God in Scripture! He promises to you and I never to leave us nor forsake us. Do not fear, for I am thy God, Be not dismayed, For I am with thee, I am your strength, I am your power and will make your way perfect. Please share with us here how God rescues you. He rescues my attitude when it perishes. I am casting my care upon Him, for he cares for me and I sing the song about telling it to Jesus alone. He replaces the yucky feeling in my gut with peace. He does and I praise him and thank him for caring for the sheep in His pasture. There is truth to set you free. Be encouraged! We will share this burden with you in prayer.
One of the previous posters stated that they wondered why they should even bother to pray. I have SO felt this way through this. I have had to condition my mind to remember that GOD is in controll. Even though I ask for something he has the right to say no or to answer in a totally differant way than I expected.Because he knows what's best for me. Sometimes I think God hasn't answered at all or possibly said no but that is because I was expecting a differant answer and missed the answer he gave me all together because I wasn't looking for that particular response from him. He loves us and always knows what is best for us. I also must remember that when I ask for something, he will answer "in his own time". God's timing is perfect. Take the story of Abraham and Sarah for example. The fact that God promised that they would have children. And after years and years of praying and still trusting that God would stay true to his word, they finally concieved a child. I believe it was 40 years later that he answered their prayer. I'm very impatient and would've given up long before. I guess that's where I fail. I expect what I want WHEN I want it. I'm a spoiled child who demands to have their way NOW. LOL!! My father is extrememly patient with me. When my children act like that they don't get anything..
This thread is certainly an encouragment! God rescued my mother from her fears when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. As much as she went through she said she could always feel his presence. He allowed her to go through chemo and chemo pills with no side effects. He has allowed her to function and live in the moment with a sense of joy. Through this trial she changed from being petty to praising. God rescued me and my family from several financial issues. God allowed us in his mercy to pay down much debt and avoid disaster. He allowed us help when things were desparate...such as money for food or clothes...or whatever it was we needed. He has allowed us to recover from financial mistakes from the past. Some may know that my house was in jeporardy...not so much due to us not being able to afford...as us getting behind due to a paycut. Well, God not only allowed us to recover from that....He also sent us a contract for our fixed interest rate to be reduced! When our roof was caving in and we worried our insurance wouldn't cover it..God signed us up for premium insurance..seriously..out of no where we had the insurance that would cover the roof whereas the insurance we thought we had would not. God certainly does His job when it comes to my attitude. Once I was so frustarted and upset about 8 years ago..(yes this time sticks out because of the blessing)I yelled at my dd who was only about 2 for the a mess. I was upset by something else but you know how that is, right? I went into my room and prayed. I was bold and honest and told God that I cannot go out there on my own and that He would have to provide me a better attitude or I would just crumble. After that I bravely got up, took a deep breath and got up and headed back to the living room. God completely lifted me up! All my frustartion turned to peace. Fearful it would pass I quietly started to clean up the mess and then my dd started to help me. I told her I was sorry and I thanked her for her help and she hugged me. I was unshakable after that. Now for a bit of a silly time...lol. My kids and I were reading Pilgrim's Progress. On the way to the library my son asked me for the definition of mercy. I tried to explain it. I parked the car and as my dd got out she tried to close her door and it wouldn't close. I tried to close it and nothing. For some silly reason this kinda set me off..lol...not sure why. Anyway, I kept slamming the door and talking about how stupid the car was and how stupid this door was and what am I going to do! My dh was at work...what do I do now? I can't drive it like that. I was about to just go inside and think about it later but I tried with fury to close it one last time. A man walked up and saw me struggle. He fixed my problem in 2 seconds flat. He told me what it was and how to fix it if it happened again. He also told me that had I slammed it harder it would have broke the door. I looked at my son and said, "That's mercy!" The times when we loose ourselves to the emotion or frustration of the day and have selfish thoughts of "why me" or "I don't have time for this" and out of the blue someone comes in and gives us a solution paying no mind to our blown testimony. God still loves us and takes care of us when we have a tantrum. lol. I could go on but I will stop. lol.
Please add more, Ava Rose. (((hugs to you, mommix3))) In children's church we were taught about Jesus calming the sea. Here is a clip from U Tube where a ship is out to sea in rough waters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G10KuLTQWzU and here is one more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j43q_B0DSlM&feature=related I can not imagine the disciples fear. Here are parts of the passages in Scripture where Jesus calms the sea...found these here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:38; Luke 8:25 Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. God does care that we are perishing. Tell it to Him, do what you know He wants you to do. Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:8 I think, maybe it is 9. And the punctuation is definitely not inspired.
Psalm 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried thou answerdest me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Jeremiah 31:25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. Psalm 66:20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.
I've thought many times how thankful I am that my Heavenly Father is a better parent than I am! One night I was having a real pity party..... no one likes me, I'm unnecessary in the church, no one would care if I quit.... that sort of thing. For every negative thought I had God would remind me of something that proved my thinking to be untrue. I'm very stubborn so it took a while of Him reminding me of something good and me saying "yeah, but...." and feeling sorry for myself, but eventually He got through to me! If that had been one of my kids I would of told them to go to their room and not come out until they were ready to talk without whining and feeling sorry for themselves
yes, I think we all are tested all the time. A wake up call to stand up and smell the roses. Slow down enjoy life.
