Listen to these words from our author:
Through the darkness, fear, and loneliness that had become
my life, God in His mercy reached out and held me in a way I never experienced
before or since...As I thought over my
life, I knew that God had been so faithful, so good, and though my attempts
were so feeble at first, I reaffirmed my trust in Him and in His goodness.
Today - would you mind sharing in the comments how God has proved His faithfulness to you.
Let's share His faithfulness together!
5 comments:
God has shown His faithfulness to me in so many ways:
1) Saved me on February 26, 1989 when I was a rebellious teen who wanted nothing to do with the grace of God.
2) Called me to serve Him in fuill-time ministry.
3) Led me to First NLR, where I have been blessed to serve for 12+ years.
4) Blessed me with a wonderful wife and two amazing kids.
5) Has kept my kids close to Him, serving Him, and trusting in Him.
6) Forgiven me time and again for so many shortcomings and failures.
7) Restored me when I have fallen.
8) Provided financially for me and my family in times of need.
9) Healed my broken body.
10) Speaks to me when I need wise counsel.
Thank You for Your faithfulness, O God!!!!!!
God's faithfulness is something that I am reexperiencing all over again...I am actually in the middle of a time when I am watching to see how He will provide: a house selling by a specific date, a month with no salary and no insurance, an interstate move... There have been many times to see His faithfulness and I know there will be opportunities in the future because that is how He is and He cannot be anything other than faithful.
On Sept. 29th, I received word from a group of five friends/colleagues that I would not be granted tenure at my current place of employment. To be granted non-tenure means that your job will terminate...it also means that your colleagues do not recognize any characteristic within you that is worthy of remaining employed by that university. It was a blow to my very core! It hurt so much! Nevertheless, something within me was able to go to each committee member and say, "Thanks for your words. I know it was difficult but I also want you to know that I am not dead and gone, but alive and still here. We still have work to do so please don't ignore or isolate me from it." I honestly wasn't angry at them, just extremely sad.
At the time of this decision, I was participating in Beth Moore's James Mercy Triumphs Bible study. The person leading this Bible study was also my supervisor. She grieved with me not knowing what to do. It was her suggestion for me to apply for a job in Searcy teaching 8th grade science. If the job was offered, it would allow me to remove my tenure packet (which indicated an immediate resignation) and prevent that stain from appearing on my record. I did and I was asked to interview; however, nothing became of it. My packet continued through the committees and no one opted to overturn the initial ruling.
As the weeks went on, I had so many opportunities to apply and interview with universities it was mind-blowing. Those around me were amazed at the invitations being extended. I knew God's hands were holding me and providing for my future. However, the one thing that did sting was the fact that I would have "non-tenured" on my record. Each time I would be asked about it, I would have to relive all over again the hurt that was felt way back on Sept. 29th.
Time moved forward and the packet eventually made it to the Provost. I received an email from him regarding his decision - which was the same as all the other decisions. He presented the same option as before: "if I remove my packet, I would not have the decision on my record"...but one small addition made all of the difference: "however, you would not have to resign immediately but could maintain the job until May 2013". The email had been copied and sent at the same time to my Chair and Dean. I accepted the opportunity and shortly thereafter, took a job offer extended by a university in Indiana, South Bend. I later found out that the Provost was incorrect in giving me the option that he did, but because it was in writing and copied to all key players, the offer had to stand.
God had worked out every detail as I chose to remain close to Him. He was faithful in the details. He has been in the past. He will be in the future. I can trust Him in everything. The struggles will persist and the emotions will be present, I think, because we are human. But if we opt to lean on Him, even through the hard times, then His faithfulness will be obviously evident.
How has God proved his faithfulness when I have faced suffering? He was with me even in the middle of depression I was in several years ago... even when I could not feel his presence, I cried out to him for healing and peace in the storm that was raging in my mind... was it tough sometimes? Yes! There was times that I just could not help but cry... and be angry... yet I also knew in my heart and soul that if I gave it all to Jesus, he could and would take care of everything. I just had to focus more on him and allow the Holy Spirit to work in me and not focus on the pains that I was facing in depression.
If anyone is suffering from depression, I can tell them it is true to focus more on what Jesus did and will do for you rather than what you are facing in the depression.
I went to bed thinking about God's faithfulness and woke up thinking about God's unfailing faithfulness. Tears swelled in my eyes as I drove to work singing "Great is Thy Faithfulness".
I gave my life to Christ as a child, but never felt clean enough or good enough due to sexual abuse. I was always reconfirming my salvation because it was me that just could not accept God's greatest gift. I have wonderful memories of a good childhood after my parents divorce at the age of nine. This was short-lived because abuse began again. After high school I began making a chain of bad decisions which resulted in rape and the birth of a son. Notice howhow I blamed myself for even that. I chose adoption for my son because I wantedhave a better life for him than I could give. A year later, engaged to be married I found myself pregnant again. Given the choice of abortion or no marriage, I chose abortion. This decision threw me in a pit that I stayed in for 30 years.
Everytime I turned to God He was always faithful and always forgave me even though I never understood the power of His forgiveness.
I hit rock bottom so many times I lost count. The worse being an overdose of pills landing me in the hospital. I know that God saved me that night. Rescued me from the pit of hell because He loved me.
My next rock bottom hit after the death of my mother to breast cancer. Two days before she died I was comforted by an Angel of God, maybe even Jesus himself. I only know that I had never felt such peace and comfort as I poured my heart out to my Jesus in pink fuzzy slippers.
A month after her death, my third husband had become physically abusive. I tried hard to forgive him, afterall I deserved everything he did to me and more. As I sat crumbled on my knees in the middle of my bed during one if his rages, he picked up a large glass water jug filled with coins and threw it right at my head. I saw it coming. Knew if it hit me I would die, yet I didn't move. Didn't duck. I was ready. My Jesus was waiting for me. Then a miracle happened. I felt wind in my face and it was as if the jug passed right through me and shattered on the wall behind me, leaving me in a pile of broken glass and money. I was stunned and actually disappointed.
Yes. God has been faithful to me. I moved here to hide and begin a new life. God gave me a fabulous husband, restored me to my son I had given away so many years ago and has blessed me with five beautiful daughters and ten grandchildren. He walked with me through my recovery and I showed me how to forgive and love.
Faithful? Oh my goodness, YES. My quiver is full. My only desire is to share that same faithfulness with others who feel hopeless and of no value.
I was born for such a time as this.
God has been faithful to his Word from the time of my conception. I often heard my parents give the testimony when I was five years old and I had pneumonia. After some time in the hospital, the doctors told my parents that their child would not live through the night. My parents trusted in a faithful God who never failed. Here I am today with my own testimony of that same faithful God. Twenty years ago a drunk driver crossed over the center line and hit me head on, I had a head injury, I had to have braces on both legs for months, I needed help to be dressed, I could not even ride in the front seat of a car for a while because my legs could not bend at the time, and I had to have a lot of therapy. Through the grace of God and the faithfulness of his Word I am walking without a limp.And I have no repercussion from the head injury. I know that no matter what I go through in this life, the Lord will never leave me, I believe that and I trust in Him completely.
I was pregnant with twins, they were born five and a half months prematurely. They only lived for one day, after my babies died I was hurt, I was grieving and I just felt like no one could understand the pain in my heart.Even in the midst of the tears, the broken heart, Christ comforting love surrounded me. I cried for days, I cried for weeks, I even cried for months. In the midst of all that crying I still felt the comforting and loving arms of Christ caressing me and comforting me .Because of my love and complete trust in Christ Jesus I can speak of my two perfect children growing up in heaven.
I know that when I trust God with patience and wait on him, He will direct my path. And my path will be straight. I thank God for His strength and His love, I know that I could never withstand the things in life I must go through without the Lord on my side. I Thank you Lord for being on my side, for I know that I have a lot more of things in this life that I may have to endure, and I am ok with that, because Jesus Christ is with me always.The Lord is on my side.....
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