In my weakness I am strong

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Mar 8, 2025
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#1
I like to say pain is simultaneously my best and most hated tutor. Of course, it is really not really pain that taught me but rather the Holy Spirit who walked through it with me. At one time I lost everything: my marriage, my children my job. After that first wave, by the grace of God I gradually rebuilt my life and trained myself to work with Special Needs children which was my original call. Ten years later the a second, even bigger wave hit and pulled me under. I developed a mental illness. The scriptures that came to me.

All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 I went down to the [a]moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; (Jonah 2:5-6)

When I lived in Israel I worked with a translator to learn this in the original language. The way my tutor recited accurately expressed Jonah's agony and desperation which I also felt.

Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord;
"And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple." (Jonah 2:7)

I had developed a mental illness which caused me to break down ending my career as a teacher. I discovered that I was no longer able to function but I had to "re-configure" my life to perform another service for the Lord. Although my brain was not initially functioning correctly I found that I was able to use my pain to understand and help others - not that I believe I have anything that others do not have but KNOWING my inability was a continual reminder to me to not trust in myself but depend on Him.
 

TabinRivCA

Well-known member
Oct 23, 2018
13,510
11,005
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#2
Hi JimiSurvivor, so glad the Lord led you to CC, welcome😊 I like your attitude of hanging in there and remember what Jesus said 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world'. I've found there is a promise from God for every challenge we may face and I pray you look into them. We can put aLL our trust in His every word. God bless you and your endeavors🙏✝✡
 
Mar 13, 2014
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Tennessee
#3
I enjoyed your introductory post very much. Perhaps your pain played a role in developing a deeper sense of empathy in order to more fully understand those that God has sent to you to minister to. Glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.
 
Mar 13, 2014
42,830
17,260
113
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Tennessee
#4
Hi JimiSurvivor, so glad the Lord led you to CC, welcome😊 I like your attitude of hanging in there and remember what Jesus said 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world'. I've found there is a promise from God for every challenge we may face and I pray you look into them. We can put aLL our trust in His every word. God bless you and your endeavors🙏✝✡
God bless you too sister for always providing wise and heartfelt words to the new members of our community.
 
Feb 22, 2021
3,402
1,791
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Midwest
#5
Jul 7, 2022
11,194
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Almost Heaven West Virginia
#6
I like to say pain is simultaneously my best and most hated tutor. Of course, it is really not really pain that taught me but rather the Holy Spirit who walked through it with me. At one time I lost everything: my marriage, my children my job. After that first wave, by the grace of God I gradually rebuilt my life and trained myself to work with Special Needs children which was my original call. Ten years later the a second, even bigger wave hit and pulled me under. I developed a mental illness. The scriptures that came to me.

All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 I went down to the [a]moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; (Jonah 2:5-6)

When I lived in Israel I worked with a translator to learn this in the original language. The way my tutor recited accurately expressed Jonah's agony and desperation which I also felt.

Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord;
"And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple." (Jonah 2:7)

I had developed a mental illness which caused me to break down ending my career as a teacher. I discovered that I was no longer able to function but I had to "re-configure" my life to perform another service for the Lord. Although my brain was not initially functioning correctly I found that I was able to use my pain to understand and help others - not that I believe I have anything that others do not have but KNOWING my inability was a continual reminder to me to not trust in myself but depend on Him.

II Corinthians 12:9 Was one of my first memory verses as a teenager. I went through a lot of suffering then too.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Sometimes He doesn't heal immediately, but shows us what is necessary for healing. I've seen both. Some have heard my testimony of Dad who was dead and came back to life. Then the Drs assured us that he would be in a vegetative state the rest of his life. God showed those who were considered to be wise, to be oh so foolish, Wicked physicians of no value.

We have the Great Physician Who is truly the Healer.

Like you, the Lord made Dad very strong. He is in Heaven now and strong as can be.
 
Jul 3, 2015
62,939
31,678
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#8
II Corinthians 12:9 Was one of my first memory verses as a teenager. I went through a lot of suffering then too.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Sometimes He doesn't heal immediately, but shows us what is necessary for healing. I've seen both. Some have heard my testimony of Dad who was dead and came back to life. Then the Drs assured us that he would be in a vegetative state the rest of his life. God showed those who were considered to be wise, to be oh so foolish, Wicked physicians of no value.

We have the Great Physician Who is truly the Healer.

Like you, the Lord made Dad very strong. He is in Heaven now and strong as can be.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong
:)