For years, I have heard that God takes your life experiences, and uses them to shape us into who He called us to be. Nothing in our life happens by chance. The good and bad make us who we are and point us to where we are to be.
It’s funny because I have been under reconstruction the past few years. I have been taken from an environment that was extremely hands on. I went to a church where, if you were in leadership (as I was) you didn’t do anything with some type of input/ advisory. But then, I left that environment, and God took me on a journey just him and me. The previous environment provided buffers, security, and other people to tell you what they think. All that has its place and I don’t despise small things. But then, I came to a place where I was treading myself. God guided. His purpose was to show me Himself- aside from what others had labeled or experience him. There comes a time when we all must truly experience God for ourselves. In the past I had personal experienced God, but I had forgotten much living under the sheltered environment of ministry for 10yrs.
When the recession hit and I lost my job, I re-learned that God was my provider. When I had to work out payment arrangements with my landlord & my lights were shut off. I re-learned that God gives us favor when men and him. When I worked a fulltime job, partime job, & went to school fulltime while raising my son. I re-learned God is my strength. This spring when my school added a $ 2000 bill due to a clerical error. I re-learned that God will take care of me. He had to school applied a onetime $2000 grant bringing my account back to a $0 balance. That same spring, when a professor accused me of not doing my own work and I faced not graduating. I learned how God can restore your name. His superiors weren’t buying his story and would not allow him put it on my record. Thus, I passed the course and graduated. I could go on & on. This summer I moved down south to fulfill my dream, low my cost of living, and to obey God. Like Abraham, God has supplied for me. It’s been rough at times and I am human, but I have hung in there. Not everyone has hung in there with me, but those that God has chosen are with me. God has increased my strength, peace, patience, and never deserted me.
I have had much opportunity to spend time alone e with God since my recent move. Like in the Bible, God will get you alone to show you who you are… not what you thought you were... but who He created you to be.
Since childhood and through my adult life I have deal with rejection, abandonment, disappointments of those promising and not following through. It can take a toll on you… how you view yourself, others, and even God. I was reading the other day and God brought me to this scriptures. And said,”Daughter, starting today this is your past….”
Numbers 23:19 (New International Version,)
God is not human, that he should lie,
not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill
Deuteronomy 4:31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” … The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged
Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
1 Chronicles 28:20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished
Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me
Psalm 37:25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
Psalm 94:14 For the LORD will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them
2 Corinthians 4:9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God continued, “For the pain, disappointment, & rejection you experienced throughout your life, I will be faithful to show compassion & love toward you, & healed me. In turn, you will be full of compassion & be a vessel to heal others.”
2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God
Now, I’m not going to say this is the 1st time God has spoken this purpose to me (to use my pain to help & show compassion to others). But, it is the 1st time, He got me alone.. way in Dallas where I know no one.…. And revealed to me & I could finally see how my life has lineup... even me pursing my psychology degree.
I just wanted to share. We all have a story. And God uses all our stories for a purpose. We are all uniquely special and made by God.
