He will carry you through / Do you really believe it

[Andrew77]

So to understand my question completely, it will be helpful to watch this video.

The video includes a clip from Steve Harvey that has been bothering me. Because honestly, I don't find any of it to be true in my life.

He says for example, that G-d will carry you through anything. As proof he says "you're here".

Is that what it means to carry you through? So your entirely life can be utterly destroyed, but hey you are alive.... so G-d carried you through. Is that how you define carrying you through?

If you allowed your kids to run off onto the highway, and they got hit by bus, and smashed by a truck, but hey they lived.... is that carrying them through?

And he says all this in the context of saying that you need step out, and trust G-d. To find your gift, and go be successful in life.

So that's made up, but how about we make it real.

Years ago, after a decade of struggling, someone convinced me to try out Truck driving. I made the 'jump' according to Harvey. I spend a month of absolute misery learning to drive a truck. I worked hard, and did the best I knew how. After 2 months, I fell asleep on the road, of a semi doing 65 on the highway. I terrified myself, and those around me.

I ended up leaving, and then found that I was bankrupt. The cost of living on the road, isnt' cheap. On top of that, I owed $4,000 for the training. On top of that I ended up losing the CDL, that the $4,000 was spent on.

On top of that, I had bills I couldn't pay, no money to even eat on, and debt collectors threatening to sue me, and no job prospects.

I regret even now, not ending my life then. But here I am, now 10 years later, still working a job I absolutely hate. Just go to work, go home, and go to bed, so I can get up and do the misery all over again.

Is this "carrying you through"? I guess I define 'carrying you through' differently.

And maybe my version is wrong.

But I've made this "jump" a dozens times. There is no 'gift' that opens up. There is no 'soaring in the sky'. There is no 'carrying me through it'. I just fall, and splat on the ground, and then cry bitterly while picking up the bits.

So you tell me... is this true for you? Is it? Is Harvey right? And please explain how after 42 years, it never once has worked out for me?

 

[anna ~ grace]

I know someone who had a nearly identical experience in truck driving.

He's not a failure. Sometimes, our lives just seem to massively fail. But what does help me is remembering that we worship a God whose time on earth was characterized by poverty, loneliness, pain, and sorrow. Did God carry Him through? Not in any way that would make sense to a prosperity preacher.

But in a sense that makes sense in eternity and in light of our salvation, yes.

We do "exist". But in spite of what Steve Harvey said, doing something menial that doesn't pay well, and dying in poverty doesn't mean you have failed. It doesn't. If you have been holy and given everything for Christ in whatever you did, even if you tried and failed many times, nothing seemed to ever line up, or you never made your personal goals, you succeeded.

Does that make sense?

 

[Andrew77]

I know someone who had a nearly identical experience in truck driving.

He's not a failure. Sometimes, our lives just seem to massively fail. But what does help me is remembering that we worship a God whose time on earth was characterized by poverty, loneliness, pain, and sorrow. Did God carry Him through? Not in any way that would make sense to a prosperity preacher.

But in a sense that makes sense in eternity and in light of our salvation, yes.

We do "exist". But in spite of what Steve Harvey said, doing something menial that doesn't pay well, and dying in poverty doesn't mean you have failed. It doesn't. If you have been holy and given everything for Christ in whatever you did, even if you tried and failed many times, nothing seemed to ever line up, or you never made your personal goals, you succeeded.

Does that make sense?

No, I guess not. If am asked to do a math problem, 2 + 2, and I say the answer is 6, that is a failure. Failure is failure, whether you give it your all or not.

And let's even say that you were right. Let's say answer, and get it wrong, but with my best effort, and that is a success. How does that help? Seriously? What good does that do?

I have bill to pay, right? Can you pay a bill with "I did my best"? No you can't. My car just broke down, and I dropped $900 on a 03 Grand Marquis with 160K miles on it. People keep saying "buy a new car", and I have no money. I'll be very lucky if I do not over draft my account by the end of the week.

Now I get it, in the life that comes after, Heaven will be good.
Great. Why do I have to live out another 40 years here? For what? Why?

And as far as Jesus, was it really characterized by poverty, loneliness, pain, and sorrow? He did not have people that supported him? Did he not have friends that surrounded him? Didn't even Peter risk his life to protect him? Yeah, one guy betrayed him, that's true.

I've had no one stick up for me. That's like 12 out of the 12, betraying him.

And there is no indication that Jesus was not a successful carpenter. And he certainly had success in his preaching.

I don't identify with any of that. Nothing good has happened in my life, ever.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

So to understand my question completely, it will be helpful to watch this video.

The video includes a clip from Steve Harvey that has been bothering me. Because honestly, I don't find any of it to be true in my life.

He says for example, that G-d will carry you through anything. As proof he says "you're here".

Is that what it means to carry you through? So your entirely life can be utterly destroyed, but hey you are alive.... so G-d carried you through. Is that how you define carrying you through?

If you allowed your kids to run off onto the highway, and they got hit by bus, and smashed by a truck, but hey they lived.... is that carrying them through?

And he says all this in the context of saying that you need step out, and trust G-d. To find your gift, and go be successful in life.

So that's made up, but how about we make it real.

Years ago, after a decade of struggling, someone convinced me to try out Truck driving. I made the 'jump' according to Harvey. I spend a month of absolute misery learning to drive a truck. I worked hard, and did the best I knew how. After 2 months, I fell asleep on the road, of a semi doing 65 on the highway. I terrified myself, and those around me.

I ended up leaving, and then found that I was bankrupt. The cost of living on the road, isnt' cheap. On top of that, I owed $4,000 for the training. On top of that I ended up losing the CDL, that the $4,000 was spent on.

On top of that, I had bills I couldn't pay, no money to even eat on, and debt collectors threatening to sue me, and no job prospects.

I regret even now, not ending my life then. But here I am, now 10 years later, still working a job I absolutely hate. Just go to work, go home, and go to bed, so I can get up and do the misery all over again.

Is this "carrying you through"? I guess I define 'carrying you through' differently.

And maybe my version is wrong.

But I've made this "jump" a dozens times. There is no 'gift' that opens up. There is no 'soaring in the sky'. There is no 'carrying me through it'. I just fall, and splat on the ground, and then cry bitterly while picking up the bits.

So you tell me... is this true for you? Is it? Is Harvey right? And please explain how after 42 years, it never once has worked out for me?

Have a read of the book of Job. What was his response when his life turned to custard?

What are you expecting? A rosy life with no problems or issues? The Scripture says that in this world, we will have tribulation (John 16:33).

Jesus talked about the sower, and the seed that fell on shallow ground, the plant sprung up but because there was not enough good soil, it withered away. This was the believer who accepted the gospel with joy and expectancy, but when problems and persecution came, he fell away, because his faith in the gospel had no substance. He got religion, but was not truly converted to Christ.

The Scripture says that we need to make the effort to make our calling and election sure, and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. If you read Foxe's Book of Martyrs you will see the price that many paid just for being Christian believers. Also Hebrews 11 talks of what happened to believers when they went through some horrific times and yet their faith stood firm.

So, is your faith in Christ, or in yourself? Is it in the expectation and hope of heaven and glory, or is it in a good life here in the world? Why did you adopt the Christian faith? Do you think that in yourself you deserve anything more than hell? Do you think that God owes you a happy life? God owes you nothing!

The gospel of Christ is good news only for those who know that they are lost sinners, deserving of hell, and that life is absolute custard without Christ. If it remains custard with Christ, you have everything because you have Christ, because He is all in all. He says, "I am your refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble." His strength is made perfect in weakness. When you are weak, He is strong in you.

So, get your eyes off yourself and get them on Christ through prayer and reading the Bible, and seek Him with all your heart. God promises that those who seek Him with all their heart will find Him. You won't find God by sitting on the couch bemoaning your fate. You have to gird up your loins, get to prayer and seeking God until He sees that you mean business with Him, and then you will see the glory of the Lord and what He can do for you.

 

[Yennora]

Well first, I don't believe such fancy determined preachers in glowing suits. That is, I don't think they can bring value to your life in any possible way.

However, I would listen to someone like Prof. David G Myers or Dr. Jordan Peterson for example or Mr. Roger Scruton when it comes to philosophy and brainstorming for values. Even though the last 2 might appear in fancy suits, they won't go with the "all glowing all bright future" thing that the optimistic preachers themselves failed at and only achieved by gathering millions from the tickets they reap from their useless shows.

Rant is done lol.

Now let me get into the topic. Throughout your time on CF recently I noticed many good things about you. That is, while you are still in pain you like to interact with others threads and try to lift them up, even though you don't get the best reactions sometimes, you still do it, and sometimes you get thanked and emotionally rewarded!

You also spend the time to write self-contained responses backed with evidence. I would say, if you know how to do things right already here on CF then this carries on to some other activities.

For me? I found a lot of passion and enjoyment in photography, even though I'm not a professional yet, I think I might start doing money from photography soon if I keep working on my skills. A friend of mine lived only off graphics designing as a freelancer, and was he successful? Sometimes, but sometimes he went through a lot of hassle due to the nature of his work (having to deal with different people most of the time, some of them are thieves and some are disrespectful) But did God carry him through? Did God carry me through? I can only speak for myself, yes. Spiritually, yes, emotionally yes, physically yes. I don't get too overwhelmed to the extent that I totally give up on everything and never return. And I see that it is the same for my friend by the way.

One thing I assure you, if you ask you shall find, if you ask safety and consideration to your emotions, you will get safety and consideration to your emotions; But? You need to try to give that to those around you as well whenever you can, you also need to avoid what can harm you whenever is possible. You need to pray and do your part, not only do your part, not only pray. Have you done this? Because if you answer with yes then my reply is useless, as this was how I progressed with my life.

In terms of your talent, I believe you can find your thing too, it might be investment, it might be photography, it might be anything you genuinely like or see purpose in, you really need to sit with yourself and explore your psyche, what do you like the most?

I also encourage you to read in psychology because this might help you see behind the scenes of your psyche and others behaviours.

 

[Yennora]

Hi @Andrew77 I edited the 3rd paragraph from the bottom, just to notify you.

"One thing I assure you..."

 

[Andrew77]

Have a read of the book of Job. What was his response when his life turned to custard?

What are you expecting? A rosy life with no problems or issues? The Scripture says that in this world, we will have tribulation (John 16:33).

Jesus talked about the sower, and the seed that fell on shallow ground, the plant sprung up but because there was not enough good soil, it withered away. This was the believer who accepted the gospel with joy and expectancy, but when problems and persecution came, he fell away, because his faith in the gospel had no substance. He got religion, but was not truly converted to Christ.

The Scripture says that we need to make the effort to make our calling and election sure, and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. If you read Foxe's Book of Martyrs you will see the price that many paid just for being Christian believers. Also Hebrews 11 talks of what happened to believers when they went through some horrific times and yet their faith stood firm.

So, is your faith in Christ, or in yourself? Is it in the expectation and hope of heaven and glory, or is it in a good life here in the world? Why did you adopt the Christian faith? Do you think that in yourself you deserve anything more than hell? Do you think that God owes you a happy life? God owes you nothing!

The gospel of Christ is good news only for those who know that they are lost sinners, deserving of hell, and that life is absolute custard without Christ. If it remains custard with Christ, you have everything because you have Christ, because He is all in all. He says, "I am your refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble." His strength is made perfect in weakness. When you are weak, He is strong in you.

So, get your eyes off yourself and get them on Christ through prayer and reading the Bible, and seek Him with all your heart. God promises that those who seek Him with all their heart will find Him. You won't find God by sitting on the couch bemoaning your fate. You have to gird up your loins, get to prayer and seeking God until He sees that you mean business with Him, and then you will see the glory of the Lord and what He can do for you.

Yes, in fact Job is my favorite book.

Of course I didn't expect life to be a bed of roses.

Just like Job didn't live in misery his entire life. He was blessed before, and after his troubles.
I have never had anything good happen.... unless you consider continuing this life to be good.

So, is your faith in Christ, or in yourself? Is it in the expectation and hope of heaven and glory, or is it in a good life here in the world? Why did you adopt the Christian faith? Do you think that in yourself you deserve anything more than hell? Do you think that God owes you a happy life? God owes you nothing!
​

Of course not. I have never had faith in me, since I was born. I have been a disaster for as long as I've had memory. But I always thought that G-d would have something good for me. I never thought I was owed anything. But somehow I just thought G-d would be good to those who loved him.

Now... I don't know anymore. 42 years, and the only thoughts I have now are just of suicide, and why is it so bad to not want to live out another 40 of the same misery?

I read my bible all the time. I do everything I know to do. I go to church. I help the poor. Not because I think those make me worthy, but simply because I've always believed this is what G-d wants his people to do.

I think my only lacking now is praying. Because why talk, when no one answers. Like I said, I believed very strongly that G-d had something for me in this life. I don't know what. I don't even care what. But something.

So I talked to him, and asked him what to do. But now, why bother. He has not answered before, so why would he answer now?

No, I'm not owed anything, and that's fine. So if there is nothing coming... is there a fast forward button?

You won't find God by sitting on the couch bemoaning your fate. You have to gird up your loins, get to prayer and seeking God until He sees that you mean business with Him, and then you will see the glory of the Lord and what He can do for you.
​

I don't even know what that means. I have done everything I know to do. If there is nothing to do, then what does that mean? What do you think I've been doing for the last 20 years? What more do I need to do, to show "I mean business"?

I have Christians do this to me "You need show you mean business", and then when I list off everything I do they say "It's not through works!".... and I end up with this "do something, but don't do anything!"
I don't know what you people, or G-d, wants from me.

 

[Yennora]

After 2 months, I fell asleep on the road, of a semi doing 65 on the highway. I terrified myself, and those around me.

Why did this happen? Was it your mistake or someone's else? As far as I'm aware, as a truck driver you are required to drive to a maximum of hours without rest. That is, you are expected to take rest when needed.. Did your employer obligate you to do this?

 

[Of the Kingdom]

I don't know what you people, or G-d, wants from me.

I don't need or expect anything from you. I hope I can make your day brighter in some way, and it would makes me happy if I hear you share about good things happening in your life. But when things look bleak, know there is no "expectation" -- just the hope that somehow you will be blessed by what is shared.

I hope I don't make you feel worse by telling you "if you do X you will be happier", but at the same time I'm willing to share possibilities, and hope you are able to laugh or to feel pleased by someone else's laughter. I do believe God desires for you to find hope and purpose in your circumstances, and appreciates whatever you do to lift up others.

May God bless you with understanding.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Yes, in fact Job is my favorite book.

Of course I didn't expect life to be a bed of roses.

Just like Job didn't live in misery his entire life. He was blessed before, and after his troubles.
I have never had anything good happen.... unless you consider continuing this life to be good.

So, is your faith in Christ, or in yourself? Is it in the expectation and hope of heaven and glory, or is it in a good life here in the world? Why did you adopt the Christian faith? Do you think that in yourself you deserve anything more than hell? Do you think that God owes you a happy life? God owes you nothing!
​

Of course not. I have never had faith in me, since I was born. I have been a disaster for as long as I've had memory. But I always thought that G-d would have something good for me. I never thought I was owed anything. But somehow I just thought G-d would be good to those who loved him.

Now... I don't know anymore. 42 years, and the only thoughts I have now are just of suicide, and why is it so bad to not want to live out another 40 of the same misery?

I read my bible all the time. I do everything I know to do. I go to church. I help the poor. Not because I think those make me worthy, but simply because I've always believed this is what G-d wants his people to do.

I think my only lacking now is praying. Because why talk, when no one answers. Like I said, I believed very strongly that G-d had something for me in this life. I don't know what. I don't even care what. But something.

So I talked to him, and asked him what to do. But now, why bother. He has not answered before, so why would he answer now?

No, I'm not owed anything, and that's fine. So if there is nothing coming... is there a fast forward button?

You won't find God by sitting on the couch bemoaning your fate. You have to gird up your loins, get to prayer and seeking God until He sees that you mean business with Him, and then you will see the glory of the Lord and what He can do for you.
​

I don't even know what that means. I have done everything I know to do. If there is nothing to do, then what does that mean? What do you think I've been doing for the last 20 years? What more do I need to do, to show "I mean business"?

I have Christians do this to me "You need show you mean business", and then when I list off everything I do they say "It's not through works!".... and I end up with this "do something, but don't do anything!"
I don't know what you people, or G-d, wants from me.

Well, I don't have any pearls of wisdom. I don't know you or your circumstances, how you came to Christ, and what your heart is like before God. God is not a genie where you can activate Him and get what you want from Him.

There is teaching on Youtube by Derek Prince where he talks about curses. You might find a clue there about why your life seems to be "cursed" in some way. I'm not saying that you are, or that there are any easy vending machine answers for you. But have a look at Derek Prince's messages and see if you get any answers from him.

 

[Andrew77]

Why did this happen? Was it your mistake or someone's else? As far as I'm aware, as a truck driver you are required to drive to a maximum of hours without rest. That is, you are expected to take rest when needed.. Did your employer obligate you to do this?

I was in a training program, where I was paired up with an experienced driver. It was his truck, and his load to deliver.

The load that we picked up was called a 'hot shot' run, or something, where you are supposed to drive non-stop. Since we were paired together, I was supposed to sleep while he was driving, and then he sleeps while I drive.

Unfortunately, I do not sleep very well like that. So while he was driving, I didn't get much sleep.

When it was my turn to drive, I said very plainly that I was extremely tired, the trainer explained that we had no choice but to roll. I was told I need to grin and bear it.

So I did. That is until about 3 hours into my shift, I closed my eyes for one second, and when I looked up again, there was a semi directly in front of me. One second the road ahead was as clear as could be, and the next, there's a semi directly in front of me.

It was a little bit of confusion, before I realized what had happened. Either I blanked out for several miles, until I had caught up to another semi on the highway, and luckily woke up before hitting him from behind... or I dozed off, and a semi passed me, and then pulled in front of me, while I was blacked out.

Meanwhile my trainer was asleep in the cot behind me.

Regardless, I was terrified and pulled off at the very next gas station, and parked the truck in the gas station lot. The guy woke up, asked me why I pulled off. I explained again that I was utterly wiped out, and he said again that I needed to roll.

He pushed me to get back on the highway, and we rolled for another couple of miles, and then I realized if I stayed like this, I would end up killing him and possibly someone else on the highway, so I told him that I was done, and quit right there on the highway.

While I'm perfectly fine taking a quicker exist from this life, I am not going to kill other people in the process. So he finally realized this was no joke, and we pulled off, and he drove the final patch of the run when he had rested enough to be legal, and then he drove me home and I left.

No, I never told the trainer guy that I had drive several miles unconscious. He does need to know I almost killed him that night.

Anyway. That's been my life. Everything I have tried to do to succeed in this world, has ended up exactly like that story. Two months of Hard work, throwing everything I have into, praying about it, and then ultimately failure.

 

[Yennora]

I was in a training program, where I was paired up with an experienced driver. It was his truck, and his load to deliver.

The load that we picked up was called a 'hot shot' run, or something, where you are supposed to drive non-stop. Since we were paired together, I was supposed to sleep while he was driving, and then he sleeps while I drive.

Unfortunately, I do not sleep very well like that. So while he was driving, I didn't get much sleep.

When it was my turn to drive, I said very plainly that I was extremely tired, the trainer explained that we had no choice but to roll. I was told I need to grin and bear it.

So I did. That is until about 3 hours into my shift, I closed my eyes for one second, and when I looked up again, there was a semi directly in front of me. One second the road ahead was as clear as could be, and the next, there's a semi directly in front of me.

It was a little bit of confusion, before I realized what had happened. Either I blanked out for several miles, until I had caught up to another semi on the highway, and luckily woke up before hitting him from behind... or I dozed off, and a semi passed me, and then pulled in front of me, while I was blacked out.

Meanwhile my trainer was asleep in the cot behind me.

Regardless, I was terrified and pulled off at the very next gas station, and parked the truck in the gas station lot. The guy woke up, asked me why I pulled off. I explained again that I was utterly wiped out, and he said again that I needed to roll.

He pushed me to get back on the highway, and we rolled for another couple of miles, and then I realized if I stayed like this, I would end up killing him and possibly someone else on the highway, so I told him that I was done, and quit right there on the highway.

While I'm perfectly fine taking a quicker exist from this life, I am not going to kill other people in the process. So he finally realized this was no joke, and we pulled off, and he drove the final patch of the run when he had rested enough to be legal, and then he drove me home and I left.

No, I never told the trainer guy that I had drive several miles unconscious. He does need to know I almost killed him that night.

Anyway. That's been my life. Everything I have tried to do to succeed in this world, has ended up exactly like that story. Two months of Hard work, throwing everything I have into, praying about it, and then ultimately failure.

Hi Andrew, this was not your mistake then. Anyway, I trust you in your struggle and I don't have any more words to say. I will pray for you. <3