The Wilderness?

[Saucy]

How many of you have gone through a period of time in your life where you knew you needed to make a TON of changes because you realized you weren't the person you were capable of becoming? Over the past couple of years, I've gone through what I like to call the "wilderness", after Paul's experiences in the desert after he met Christ.

I was at the worst part of my life. My dad had just died and I didn't take it well. We lost the house and I was close to homelessness. I was mean and nasty and didn't take things well. I kept falling lower and lower and wondering when God was going to pull me out. I expected everyone to take care of me and just give, give, give. I had no work ethic and didn't really care about life or God. In fact, my relationship with God was on the outs.

But now, three years after my dad's death, things have changed for me. I'm a truck driver and work 70 hours most weeks. I'm saving up (and have enough) to buy a car. I'm working on a novel. My relationship with God is greater than it was before my dad's accident. I'm just all around happier and healthier. I've even lost ninety pounds!!!

I just want to know what that part of my life was all about when things went horrid. Was it to grow and mold me into someone greater? I feel like a completely different person now. Have you ever gone through a "wilderness" season where it seemed like things could only get worse?

 

[Loveisalegacy]

yeah, i have been through a wilderness time and i grew a lot through it. I don't think there is any kind of solution or general answer that covers wilderness time in everyone's life.

In Eccles. 3:1-8
A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

In the hard times in our lives we grow, and the easy going times we begin to see how much we have grown.

 

[anewday]

Oh yes, I think I'm going through my "wilderness" right now . I've wondered why God has allowed me to suffer the way I have these past few years . I just hope the end of it is near and I can be an example to others as a survivor .

 

[Saucy]

thank you for your responses. Yeah, I was really in a lot of pain during my wilderness period, but I have seen God really grow me through it.