That Moment When God Puts You in Someone Else's Shoes...

Hey Everyone,

Have you ever thought a certain way about something until God put you in the same or similar situation yourself?

This past year has been quite a struggle for me, and my doctor finally decided to bump things up a bit by putting me on a steroid. Both she and the pharmacist warned me that it would make me "hungry and angry." I joked with my friends that they would know I had a bad case of 'Roid Rage if I suddenly talked about smashing things, wanting to choke people, and talked about chowing down just about anything in in my path.

Then I realized that this is me on a NORMAL day, so uh, never mind.

But the pharmacist also warned me that this med might also make me jittery, so I took it very early in the morning, hoping that most of the jitters would wear off by the time I had to try to sleep. What caught me off guard is that while I can definitely tell when they kick in, it's very unlike the jitters I get from caffeine (which I should probably avoid altogether, but you know... coffee and chocolate.) In contrast, this medicine made me feel alert, in control, motivated, and naturally energized. In other words... It made me feel like my old self -- the way I used to feel many years ago before I started having problems with insomnia.

The thing is, I do not like being on meds at all and try to avoid them whenever possible. I was very reluctant to try this course of treatment but my doctor assured me that it would only be for a short time. I don't want to become dependent or addicted to any sort of substance, and most times won't even take anything for a headache unless it's absolutely unbearable.

But after feeling the effects this particular med has on me, I want to get off them as soon as possible -- because as nice and familiar as it is, I don't want to get hooked on this feeling.

I grew up in a very strict, somewhat legalistic church in which it seemed that the general attitude toward people with addictions was that they were weak-willed sinners who didn't really have faith and just needed to try harder and do better.

The older I've gotten, the more I've come to understand more of how many addicts must feel -- they're trying to cope with the pain of everyday life, just like anyone else, and they happened to stumble upon something that makes them feel like a better version of themselves, or at least, a little bit better than usual. And who doesn't want to feel better?

It's experiences like these that make me want to try harder, to ask God for more understanding, and to pray more often for people who are going through things I might have otherwise brushed off due to my own ignorance.

Do you have any experiences in your life like this, too?

* Have you ever thought a certain way about something, until God made you go through it yourself? What happened?

* How did it change your perspective?

* What impact has it had on your life ever since?

I really like hearing about other's life experiences and what they've learned, so I hope you'll feel free to share yours.

Iiiiiiiiii'm hooked on a feeling
I'm high on believing...

About getting hooked on something specifically: For those who get hooked on things, it's important to remember there's a reason. People don't usually do it just for kicks. They do it to push reality away for a while, or to stop the pain for a bit, or in some cases to just not feel like they are dying when they stop doing it.

For the more general thread topic: I haven't been in the position of "Oh man, what a wimp!" (I go through the same thing he went through) "Ah, NOW I understand why he looked like a wimp!" a lot, but I do try to understand why people are the way they are. I have found if I can understand why people do things it usually makes it a lot easier to not look down on them.

Caveat... USUALLY. Sometimes understanding it makes them seem even more despicable.

I dont know if God put me in someone elses shoes, but I know I didnt like my work shoes and was going to chuck them away because they were too annoying till mum said SHE was going to wear them as her feet are smaller

its a bit disconcerting to see mum wear my castoffs but she doesnt want to waste shoes. And she liked them so?!

I was sick of tying laces thats all. I bought new ones with velcro. The whole reason I bought the first ones was because work said I had to wear BLACK shoes, and I didnt have any so went to Kmart and bought a pair for $7 I needed to work the next day, otherwise face disapproving looks from the boss who only offers you the free company t shirt. But I dont have that job anymore so actually dont want to wear those shoes now.

when I earned enough money then I could actually afford the more comfortable leather velcro ones. Ha.

but the things is, I dont really like wearing shoes all that much. If im inside and theres nice carpet why wear shoes?

sorry seoul, you know how literal I can be, You probably are like what.

as for addict, I used to be sugar addict, not going back there again. I know what thats like, the highs are great but the lows are crushing, but I didnt even know I was one, but when parents just hand you sugary drink because THEY didnt know well its mostly ignorance all round. This is why I always recoil a bit when Hallween or easter or birthdays are celebrated with lollies and chocolate and cakes cos its just making people sick with sugar. it makes you feel good for an hour or so but the meltdowns that hapoen when you go into withdrawal! People thought this was normal kid behaviour but actually no being hyper is NOT nornmal.

I hope that's Blue Swede's version that you're singing...

Hey, what's wrong with being hungry and angry?!?

(He asks in his best stomach-growling/bear-growling voice)

Hi, seoulsearch.

So, I've actually had the time to really read your post now, and I actually just read it twice.

If I'm understanding you correctly, then I'm thinking that when you mention "addictions" you're referring to "addictions" to some sort of medicine that makes one feel better, and not to a drug addiction (had that), or alcohol addiction (and that), or some other type of addiction along those lines (and a host of that as well).

If such is indeed the case, then I cannot say that I've honestly had the type of experience that you're presently experiencing. In all honesty, I've literally only taken one aspirin in the last almost 34 years (and that was many years ago), so no medicine of any sort has entered my body for quite some time now. I do know a lot of people who are on different sorts of medications, but I've never thought poorly of them for the same. Instead, I've sought to minister to them via God's word and Spirit, and some of them have literally received supernatural healings and/or deliverances.

At the same time, I have changed my heart attitude towards all sorts of non-addicted people over the years by simply gaining a better understanding of their backgrounds or life experiences which helped fashion them into the types of persons that they presently are today or helped to land them in the life situations that they're presently in. For example, just yesterday, I gained a much better understanding of a forum member here who shared some of his background experiences, and it basically caused me to see him in almost an entirely different light.

In my particular case, and I don't say this to sound overdramatic or to elicit any sort of sympathy from anybody, I think that my life has pretty much been a giant struggle (we are smack dab in the middle of a long-raging spiritual battle) for as far back as I can remember, so I never really fell into the trap of judging others harshly because I've been too busy just trying to keep my own head above the water, so to speak.

Anyhow, I think that I understand your questions, but I don't know if my own life experiences provide any answers to the same.

painkillers can be addictive and so can steroids
oh and botox

and I heard coffee...its substance addiction, whether it be a precription drug or illegal drug or alcohol

thers also shopaholicism and workaholicism...you shop too much or work too much cos it gives you a high and you cannot stop soending or its out of control, you work all hours to detriment of your health

If I'm not out of line by asking, what type of insomnia are you dealing with?

Is it that you can't seem to get your mind to stop racing when you try to sleep or something different?

I'm asking not to be nosey, but so that I might most effectively pray for you.

Thanks.

Speaking of sleep, I need to get up for work very early in the morning, so I really need to log off for the night.

Good night, and don't let the brown bears bite...or something like that.

I dont know if God has put me in situations but I do read a lot as you know of different peoples situations completely different from mine and so as I read I understand more about that person who I might have not really understood before

for example, just recently I was reading about Anthony Bourdain as we know his life ended suddenly a few years ago while filming his tv show where he goes all around the world sampling different cultures and cusines. I love shows like that, whether they are on trains (Michael Portillo) or circumnavigating the world (Michael Palin) or seeing different habitats (David attenborogh) because Lord knows I can never rack up enough air miles for that and it would exhaust me travelling so much

so I wondered if maybe pressures of fame was had something to do with it, acrually it was a part of it as Bourdain had a heroin addiction when he was in his twenties and was a bit if a misfit, and constant travel became wearying. So there was this book compiled by his friends, family and workmates about their impressions and dealings with him

also, Justine Bateman (she was on family ties sitcom back in the 80s) wrote a very interesting book called Fame. It was kind of a rant but, she explained how sudden fame can be ovewhelming and loss of fame can be hijacking reality. if everyone likes you and you are recognised everywhere its a boost to your ego but...you might have nothing much to do with it, its just you are visible and watched by everyone else (who you dont know) . She wrote that its like being sprayed on (fame) and all the stuff that goes with it can be scary cos you dont feel like you are YOU.

I havent ever wanted to be famous but I sometimes wondered about how hard it can be to live in reality when you are super famous.

Its always odd when people recognise me who I dont know them but they know who I am! How do you deal with it if thats what you get constantly every day, and you cant just go about your business? Or conversely, have all doors opem to you just because you are famous? Does it mean we just name drop Jesus?

Well, I have had a few such experiences:

1) After going through a pretty major health affliction, I became more sympathetic towards people who are suicidal. I disagree with this decision, but I guess I understood their pain and see where they are coming from. Previously, I did not understand, even with having known some people who committed suicide I never understood why.

2) During the same period, I also had to take an antidepressant. Thankfully I only took it for six months. Previously, I would have thought medication is for "weak" people, etc. However, I don't feel that way now about people taking/needing medication. I still have concerns about side effects though.

3) When I was (much) younger, I wondered why certain older people I knew remained unmarried (and not in a positive way). However, as I also become older, I have become more understanding.

4) I also went though some lonely periods in my life, so I am now more understanding of people who feel lonely.

All these experiences taught me to be more understanding and compassionate.

Hi @Live4Him3,

Thanks very much for the prayers -- very kind of you and I greatly appreciate it.

It started out with my mind racing, but it got worse over time (probably around 15 years.) The doctors couldn't figure out an "official" reason why, but I personally think it's because I've worked every shift there is. After years of starting work at 3 in the morning and then starting work at 10 at night (then having your boss flip-flop your schedule from night/day/night/day every other shift,) I told the doctor that it honestly feels like my internal clock is broken.

I put off taking anything for years, but finally resorted to asking the doctor for help because I figured it was better than getting no sleep at all. Even then, I truly don't get much of a restful or prolonged sleep, maybe 3-4 hours. Every so often, my system will just kind of give out and I might have a more "normal" sleep for a night (then go another 2 weeks before it happens again.)

I've prayed for healing for years, but then changed my prayer to asking that if God's decision isn't to heal the problem in this life, that He would please help me find a way to cope with it enough to at least accomplish what He needs me to get done.

He's been faithful but I can't say it hasn't been rough (and it really makes me sympathize with others who have chronic health challenges, too.)

What about you, @Live4Him3? Is there anything you'd like to have prayer over as well?

Thank you again and God bless!

Now that I can TOTALLY RELATE to because you basically just described my own life.

Like you, I've worked every sort of shift imaginable, and I've greatly suffered from sleep deprivation many different times over the years. So much so that I would literally slur my speech at times because I was so tired.

I actually started a new job only about two months or so ago, and I was initially working the 11:00 pm to 7:00 am shift. Well, I've NEVER been able to sleep during the daytime (apparently, there are no vampires in my past genealogy), and I was working off of only about 3 hours of sleep each day. Thankfully, upper management was so pleased with my work ethic/output that they offered me a new position after only 2 1/2 weeks, and I now work the early morning shift where I work 3 days a week from 4:00 am until 12:00 noon and 2 days from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm. Personally, I love this shift because I've always been an early riser. My workday goes really fast, and I'm home early enough each day that I actually have some time to get some things done.

Anyhow, I just finished saying my first prayer for you (I waited so I would better know exactly what to pray for), and I'll continue to uphold you in prayer in this regard.

What do I need prayer for?

lol.

It might be easier to tell you what I DON'T need prayer for.

Naturally speaking, although I definitely believe that there is a very real supernatural element to it, I could use some prayers where my finances are concerned. I work like a dog, and I'm very responsible, but it's literally like an invisible force (Satan/demons) is constantly fighting against me and my finances.

Other than that, my primary desire is always to better serve the Lord, so if you could pray that God opens more doors for me to minister his word to people, then that would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and maybe that he would send me a bodyguard...lol.

I'm (semi-) joking about this last request, but, seriously, you have no idea how many people dislike/hate me simply because of my faith in Christ. I don't take it personally, and I actually feel horrible for them, and not for myself, because I'm deeply concerned for their souls.

It is what it is.

No servant is above his master.

Well, it's time for me to jump in the shower and to start preparing for my workday.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

@seoulsearch just wondering what type of work you do, I know its shift work but is it like nursing or something?
You might have already mentioned it but I confess I dont read or know EVERY single background posts on this forum or know every detail about peoples lives

so dont be offended if I ask

but sure if you've already written your life story and tired of repeating yourself just post the book to me.

No problem, Lanolin.

I've worked retail (sales) almost all my life, which means working every holiday but Christmas, and at the end of the day of each holiday, I would go in that night to start setting up the store for the next series of displays.

I don't mind though. Odd hours and an empty place meant I could get a whole lot more done.

oh I was out shopping yesterday and it crossed my mind that as I went into one big box store everything had been changed around and I was thinking what a huge effort it would be to move the big furniture and fill up the display pallets they must do it at night when nobody is there.

Whereas some shops just have the same stock and layout for 30 years and it never changes they just add more and more in till you are literally squeezing in between piles of stock, because they are small businesses and dont have a dedicated merchandising team that does window displays etc

There was definitely one garden centre that was a pleasure to walk through like you were literally IN a garden as opposed to a garden supermarket type arrangement with huge price tags and narrow aisles.

Because who arranges and plants their gardens in rows like a supermarket I dont lol

I remember one big library I worked in moved to new premises and the boss made it like a warehouse for books like you were working in a sterile environment and it had to be 'minimalist' with no displays or anything and I wondered if her home was like that or she just literally had NO imagination lol

But now I think about it some people are just engineers and can only think in functional terms they are not visual thinkers OR they have not learned to exercise their imagination, or value the importance of it.

for example, the first man on the moon, neville armstrong was like that, he was a test pilot and had an engineering background, BUT he couldnt see the significance or value of the moon for people in terms of its culture or legends, cos that was just not part of his outlook. It was just literally can I be the first to get there. Wheras Buzz aldrin was more like, we need ordinary people to experience space, and also artists and poets who can describe what its like.

it doesnt need to be a POLITICAL thing or a technical thing. But it seems he (neil) couldnt really put himelf in someone elses shoes of someone who was earthbound after he had been in space. Im sure their wives suffered

had this headache of a staff meeting still reeling from

the teachers were called together by principal to post their roles and then brainstorm was to partnership with community with equity and what that would look like...but they didnt have a clue, because they never see the parents outside the classroom and dont call or visit them ever

and the parents dont keep in touch with the teachers cos...the teachers are busy teaching so..I thought that was a bust

I suggested that the school form a PTA but the deputy put a quash on that idea as she said those go 'rogue' but, if partnership is REALLY what everyone wants how else are they supposed to achieve that when parents and teacheds dont even bother to associate with each other? And who has the time anyway?

just seemed like nonsense to me, all this talk about seeing from their pov when parents often have NO idea what teachers have to put up with in classroom esp with the naughty kids. lol

I thought was just another of those principal or management crazy models /restructuring that never works.
plus, when you try to do a survey or take the roll and nobody even answers or turns up, how are you supposed to 'work together' anyway. Teachers are humans too and need to go home and rest and not think ablut their children 24/7 and the parents entrust their children for 6 hours of the day to be taught. If they dont try and interfere with the classroom and direct what the teachers teach cos of they WERE wanting to influence the teaching they would train to be teacher or become a teacher aide themselves.

all teachers ask of parents is to raise their children so they are ready to learn. anyway nobody ever asks the children what THEY want or need to learn either.