Got to give it to God

[dabro]

Ok, for 12 enduring years I lived under the oppression of two ppl that are gay. I always wondered where my nightmares where coming from. I also was very depressed. Not motivated to do my part in the world. Just so so very depressed. Almost to the point my heart would give out.


Wulp. One day when I went to the gas station up the street from that place I lived. I left my truck running trying to get a refill. It was gone when I got out. I was devastated and mad. They found the truck but I make SSDI so I didn't have the 600$ to get it out so I lost it.



Today I look at that as a blessing. If it hadn't been for someone stealing my truck. God could not use that to get me out of the place I was staying and under a safe Christian house. God uses ALL things for good to those who love Him.


The very day I went to a friends house to try dope for the second time in eleven yrs my truck got stolen. So God clearly used this as a opportunity to fix and aching and beat heart. I still pray for those I did live with. That they will totally deny themselves and come to the cross. It's been a long road. I endured patiently. Kept Gods word and never denied His name. Now I'm in a land filled with milk and honey.

 

[CrystalDragon]

Ok, for 12 enduring years I lived under the oppression of two ppl that are gay. I always wondered where my nightmares where coming from. I also was very depressed. Not motivated to do my part in the world. Just so so very depressed. Almost to the point my heart would give out.


Wulp. One day when I went to the gas station up the street from that place I lived. I left my truck running trying to get a refill. It was gone when I got out. I was devastated and mad. They found the truck but I make SSDI so I didn't have the 600$ to get it out so I lost it.



Today I look at that as a blessing. If it hadn't been for someone stealing my truck. God could not use that to get me out of the place I was staying and under a safe Christian house. God uses ALL things for good to those who love Him.


The very day I went to a friends house to try dope for the second time in eleven yrs my truck got stolen. So God clearly used this as a opportunity to fix and aching and beat heart. I still pray for those I did live with. That they will totally deny themselves and come to the cross. It's been a long road. I endured patiently. Kept Gods word and never denied His name. Now I'm in a land filled with milk and honey.

Glad you got out of that depressive situation.

I do however have an issue with the "God uses ALL things for good to those who love him" thought. What about people who are Christians (or anyone else for that matter) who are abused for years, oor get in an accident that leaves them paralyzed, or their city caught in a violent war, or anything that only causes misery and pain for the rest of their lives and no good ever EVER comes out of it?

 

[dabro]

What about the perfect Savior. He came to earth. Punch beaten bruised bloody. Nailed on a cross and had the whole world on His shoulders. H n ve sinned. He is the Messiah. The One true Son of God.



I can only answer your question with a question because I don't know why that is. All I know is God doesn't forget those who hearts have been trampled on and their spirits are crush.


The Lord hears the prays of His ppl. Jew first Gentile second. It's a wonderful feeling to be loved and lavished on by God when you turn to Him.

 

[brinny]

Ok, for 12 enduring years I lived under the oppression of two ppl that are gay. I always wondered where my nightmares where coming from. I also was very depressed. Not motivated to do my part in the world. Just so so very depressed. Almost to the point my heart would give out.


Wulp. One day when I went to the gas station up the street from that place I lived. I left my truck running trying to get a refill. It was gone when I got out. I was devastated and mad. They found the truck but I make SSDI so I didn't have the 600$ to get it out so I lost it.



Today I look at that as a blessing. If it hadn't been for someone stealing my truck. God could not use that to get me out of the place I was staying and under a safe Christian house. God uses ALL things for good to those who love Him.


The very day I went to a friends house to try dope for the second time in eleven yrs my truck got stolen. So God clearly used this as a opportunity to fix and aching and beat heart. I still pray for those I did live with. That they will totally deny themselves and come to the cross. It's been a long road. I endured patiently. Kept Gods word and never denied His name. Now I'm in a land filled with milk and honey.

Praise God!!! Thank you for sharing your testimony. How precious that God gave you the spiritual vision and wisdom to see a bigger picture at a most difficult and trying time.

Reminds me of this verse that He has "christened" you with, literally, brother:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." ~Jeremiah 29:11

God bless you brother, praying for you.

 

[dabro]

Thank you all, I don't know why ppl suffer. But God is close to the broken hearted and he saves those who spirits have been crushed.

 

[PollyJetix]

Glad you got out of that depressive situation.

I do however have an issue with the "God uses ALL things for good to those who love him" thought. What about people who are Christians (or anyone else for that matter) who are abused for years, oor get in an accident that leaves them paralyzed, or their city caught in a violent war, or anything that only causes misery and pain for the rest of their lives and no good ever EVER comes out of it?

May I share my testimony? I was raised in a very godly, devout Mennonite home.
I married a kind, Christian man. We had a child. Our home was basically happy and secure. But my husband was unhappy.
I did not realize he was mentally unstable. He began abusing me emotionally, blaming me for his unhappiness, and then accusing me of affairs that did not exist.
He took us from church to church, community to community... and moved every year or two, sometimes twice a year.
I learned not to make friends. I withdrew and became depressed. I had miscarriage after miscarriage. 4 total. Then I had a baby girl. My husband was so happy with his baby girl. But then, I began to see that relationship turning unhealthy.
Husband went paranoid schizophrenic when baby girl was 9. He abandoned us, and went into hiding. He divorced me and stopped all child support after 2 years. He couldn't hold a job, and is now homeless and occasionally alcoholic. He blames me for everything.

But God.

God turned it all for our good.
If my husband had not abandoned us, I would not have become the rooted and grounded person I am, in His word.
If hubby had not left, I would not have had to rely on God so hard... and I would never have seen such outright miracles.
If hubby had not left, my children very possibly would be hardened against God, as he is.

Right after he left, and I had to find a place for us to live, I asked them to come pray with me. They said they didn't believe, if God existed, that He cared anything about us. But in answer to my prayer, I got a phone call from someone who didn't even know I needed a place to live, and it had everything I had asked for, when praying with my kids. 5 acres. woods. $200/month. and even the creek I asked for. But God upped the gift. Instead of the trailer I told him I would be happy with, He gave me a house. We lived there for 12 years, until the kids were grown and through school.

Both kids are solid Christians. Nothing could ever convince them God isn't real, and His word isn't true. They've seen Him answer prayers too often.

Looking back, I'm even thankful I married the man I did. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have the children I do now. And I wouldn't have been set free from the oppressive Mennonitism I was raised in. And I wouldn't have found my calling, in the ministry.

Satan meant it for evil, like Joseph. But also like Joseph, God meant it for good.

It all depends on whether we turn toward God, or away from Him, whether God can turn it for good, for His glory.

 

[CrystalDragon]

May I share my testimony? I was raised in a very godly, devout Mennonite home.
I married a kind, Christian man. We had a child. Our home was basically happy and secure. But my husband was unhappy.
I did not realize he was mentally unstable. He began abusing me emotionally, blaming me for his unhappiness, and then accusing me of affairs that did not exist.
He took us from church to church, community to community... and moved every year or two, sometimes twice a year.
I learned not to make friends. I withdrew and became depressed. I had miscarriage after miscarriage. 4 total. Then I had a baby girl. My husband was so happy with his baby girl. But then, I began to see that relationship turning unhealthy.
Husband went paranoid schizophrenic when baby girl was 9. He abandoned us, and went into hiding. He divorced me and stopped all child support after 2 years. He couldn't hold a job, and is now homeless and occasionally alcoholic. He blames me for everything.

But God.

God turned it all for our good.
If my husband had not abandoned us, I would not have become the rooted and grounded person I am, in His word.
If hubby had not left, I would not have had to rely on God so hard... and I would never have seen such outright miracles.
If hubby had not left, my children very possibly would be hardened against God, as he is.

Right after he left, and I had to find a place for us to live, I asked them to come pray with me. They said they didn't believe, if God existed, that He cared anything about us. But in answer to my prayer, I got a phone call from someone who didn't even know I needed a place to live, and it had everything I had asked for, when praying with my kids. 5 acres. woods. $200/month. and even the creek I asked for. But God upped the gift. Instead of the trailer I told him I would be happy with, He gave me a house. We lived there for 12 years, until the kids were grown and through school.

Both kids are solid Christians. Nothing could ever convince them God isn't real, and His word isn't true. They've seen Him answer prayers too often.

Looking back, I'm even thankful I married the man I did. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have the children I do now. And I wouldn't have been set free from the oppressive Mennonitism I was raised in. And I wouldn't have found my calling, in the ministry.

Satan meant it for evil, like Joseph. But also like Joseph, God meant it for good.

It all depends on whether we turn toward God, or away from Him, whether God can turn it for good, for His glory.

I'm glad to hear you were able to grow stronger through it, and you and your family are doing better.

But that still goes back to what I said earlier—your testimony is one of overcoming bad experiences and growing stronger through them, and that I can understand. But it doesn't work that way for everyone, and that's my point. Some people have terrible things happen to them that never ever get better, and no good comes out of it.

 

[PollyJetix]

I'm glad to hear you were able to grow stronger through it, and you and your family are doing better.

But that still goes back to what I said earlier—your testimony is one of overcoming bad experiences and growing stronger through them, and that I can understand. But it doesn't work that way for everyone, and that's my point. Some people have terrible things happen to them that never ever get better, and no good comes out of it.

We like to think we can see everything that is to be seen.
We like to think this life is where things are resolved, and we can see people suffer for the wrong they have done, and we want to see those who have suffered, recover and be blessed in a way we can understand.

But we are not God. The way God sees things is far superior to how we can see.
God sees all in light of eternity. And we do not understand even the simplest things about eternity.
We cannot understand how the people we are shaped into by this life, will be employed by God throughout eternity.
Do you think we will sit around an clouds, playing harps forever?
Surely there's more to eternity than that!

This life is only a very short time in comparison to eternity... and it may be that this short life on earth is a time of shaping our souls, for that timeless span.

 

[dabro]

Amen

 

[1watchman]

If one truly has received the Lord Jesus into their heart, they will be "born again" by the Holy Spirit (John 3), and please the Father, who will bless one beyond measure. Yes, we may have troubles in this world if God allows, and that can be for a blessing we need to understand. Let us always put the Lord Jesus first in our life (John 14) and we can overcome all the troubles in the world that befall us. Look up always!

 

[notforgotten]

Ok, for 12 enduring years I lived under the oppression of two ppl that are gay. I always wondered where my nightmares where coming from. I also was very depressed. Not motivated to do my part in the world. Just so so very depressed. Almost to the point my heart would give out.


Wulp. One day when I went to the gas station up the street from that place I lived. I left my truck running trying to get a refill. It was gone when I got out. I was devastated and mad. They found the truck but I make SSDI so I didn't have the 600$ to get it out so I lost it.



Today I look at that as a blessing. If it hadn't been for someone stealing my truck. God could not use that to get me out of the place I was staying and under a safe Christian house. God uses ALL things for good to those who love Him.


The very day I went to a friends house to try dope for the second time in eleven yrs my truck got stolen. So God clearly used this as a opportunity to fix and aching and beat heart. I still pray for those I did live with. That they will totally deny themselves and come to the cross. It's been a long road. I endured patiently. Kept Gods word and never denied His name. Now I'm in a land filled with milk and honey.

It good to hear things worked out for you. Congratulations.