Trials and Triumphs

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lil_christian

lil_christian

Senior Member
Mar 14, 2010
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Seoulsearch (and Mike Donehey) has inspired me, so I have to ask...

Would you be doing what you today (or plan to do in the future), if you hadn't gone through the trials you have gone through in your life? (and it can be anything from depression issues to getting your car wrecked lol)

Are you letting your trials hold you back, or let them become a triumph?

I'd post my story, but I'm in a hurry. =\ It'll be interesting to see your responses! :) And if you don't get the Mike Donehey (lead singer of Tenth Avenue North) reference, I'll post a vid on his testimony later.
 
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hmmm future plans is im moving back to california and what holds me back is that deep down selfishly I don't want to go. Im having to give up my life here and the way i live. Even though I know it will be for the best and can see the blessings.
 
If I hadn't made a couple of bad choices in the men department in the past, I would be more open to relationships now.

If I hadn't been through so much and felt God all around me through it all, I would be worried about so many things in my life. But He has been there. Always. And as long as He is first, that won't change and all will be far better than I could have imagined.
 
My future plans are up in the air, which kind of scares me. The only real constant in my life is seeking after God. I used to shake my head at people who would "claim" to read their bible everyday because it seemed so unrealistic to me, but in just the last few months I've forced myself to make it a habit so much that I don't even really have to tell myself to read my bible anymore. I want to know God, and find God, and that's one of the best ways to do it. I also read a lot of christian literature for the exact same thing. And I do know, had it not been for the worst times of my life, I really wouldn't care.
 
Zao, I totally know what you mean. When things go bad, we seem to be driven more towards God and digging into His word than when things are going good.

For me, a lot of times in my life, I've struggled terribly with depression/anxiety. I never was suicidal, but I have thought a lot in my life that I just wasn't worth it. Or that life wasn't worth it. I've struggled with anger, too (still do at times. There will be days I just can't keep my mouth shut at the person that's driving me up a wall). Wasn't very compassionate.

So you know what God decided to do? He gave me a hope and a future. I always loved music, and at times I wanted to become famous, but then that just kinda died off, because I felt like the riches, the luxury, and those things didn't matter to me anymore (and I thought because I'm not as pretty as other singers out there, no one would want to make me famous). I just knew they wouldn't satisfy.

His future for me is going into music ministry. And looking back now, I kinda have to laugh at how ironic it was for God to call me into that. I mean, at that point it didn't matter to me. I just needed something that would pull me off of the slippery slope I was on and to keep me going. Just simply knowing I had a (good) future ahead of me was enough.

But for God to call someone who didn't even believe in her own future and didn't care much about others, into an area where you are around people, telling them they matter and have a hope and future? It blows my mind. What blows my mind even more is, God's turned me around. I did a 180!

Not to say I don't still deal with some of these issues. But, what's important is, I don't let them define me or hold me back.

But I dunno what I'd be doing if my life played out differently than what it has. It just seems like the things that I've gone through, they've just lead me up to where I am right now. And what I want to do in the future.
 
I wish I had future plans. Pretty sad for a 42 year old to say that. I thought my future was just to continue on with being a husband,raising our dog & working. Now that I am divorced,broke...wife-less,dog-less,homeless..(well,as to say I live in an apartment now,as opposed to owning my own home any longer) I'm not sure what to do or where to go. It's been such a crazy year of one bad thing after another that I've had to deal with,I have barely had time to catch my breath. Just when I think.."Ok,I'm getting a little breathing room"...something new pops right up to have to battle with. I hate to sound like a big complaining brat so I just press on & shut my fat mouth. The triumph I suppose,is by all rites I should be dead after this past year,either by nearly dying from a stupid cut on my leg that got infected,to me just being so overwhelmed with the sadness of the ending of my marriage to my Mom dying out of the blue that I simply could have just given up & committed suicide,and didn't! I guess once again God was watching out for me. We've been having a "Job" moment I think. Only I don't mouth off to God as much as he did. lol I still am not sure what my purpose in life is or has been,but then again...who am I to question the Living God?
 
iTOREtheSKY said:
I wish I had future plans. Pretty sad for a 42 year old to say that. I thought my future was just to continue on with being a husband,raising our dog & working. Now that I am divorced,broke...wife-less,dog-less,homeless..(well,as to say I live in an apartment now,as opposed to owning my own home any longer) I'm not sure what to do or where to go. It's been such a crazy year of one bad thing after another that I've had to deal with,I have barely had time to catch my breath. Just when I think.."Ok,I'm getting a little breathing room"...something new pops right up to have to battle with. I hate to sound like a big complaining brat so I just press on & shut my fat mouth. The triumph I suppose,is by all rites I should be dead after this past year,either by nearly dying from a stupid cut on my leg that got infected,to me just being so overwhelmed with the sadness of the ending of my marriage to my Mom dying out of the blue that I simply could have just given up & committed suicide,and didn't! I guess once again God was watching out for me. We've been having a "Job" moment I think. Only I don't mouth off to God as much as he did. lol I still am not sure what my purpose in life is or has been,but then again...who am I to question the Living God?
Click to expand...

You mentioned one bad thing after another happening and looking for just some time to breathe, I know I'm younger than you, but I relate to that completely. I spent over a year living that way, but as with everything. Eventually the moon goes down and the sun rises.
 
zaoman32 said:
You mentioned one bad thing after another happening and looking for just some time to breathe, I know I'm younger than you, but I relate to that completely. I spent over a year living that way, but as with everything. Eventually the moon goes down and the sun rises.
Click to expand...

Your response reminds me of this :) :

Psalm 30
New International Version (NIV)

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple of David.

1 I will exalt you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.


4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.


6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.


8 To you, Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;
Lord, be my help.”


11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
 
Jullianna said:
Your response reminds me of this :) :

Psalm 30
New International Version (NIV)

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple of David.

1 I will exalt you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.


4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.


6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.


8 To you, Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;
Lord, be my help.”


11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Click to expand...

Yeah that didn't hit close to home at all...*cough cough*
 
[h=3]This is always a good verse to look at :)


James 1[/h]New American Standard Bible (NASB)

[h=3]Testing Your Faith[/h]1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

[SUP]2 [/SUP]Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, [SUP]3 [/SUP]knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. [SUP]4 [/SUP]And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

[SUP]5[/SUP]But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. [SUP]6 [/SUP]But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. [SUP]7 [/SUP]For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, [SUP]8 [/SUP]being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

[SUP]9 [/SUP]But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; [SUP]10 [/SUP]and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

[SUP]12 [/SUP]Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
 
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