I know this section is for prayer requests and thanking God for answers - yet, is there anyone who wants to thank Him for the trial because it has become so evident to you why He permitted it?
Any testimonies of people who've gone through 'hell' and would do it all over again for His glory and for the purposes it achieved?
I am going through a trial that I just don't understand, but I thank the Lord for being the center that holds me together. I really don't know why I am on this path but I thank God everything day that He is with me on it. :)
Should the Lord reveal the reason behind it then I will gladly praise Him for that as well but until then I rest in the unknown but Knowledge that He is the boss! :)
Romans 8:28
"And we KNOW that ALL things work together for the good of them that love God, and are the called according to HIS purpose."
I think of so many things when going through trials. Joseph enduring his brothers sold into slavery and thrown into prison falsely by Potiphar, but God working it all out for His glory.
I think of persecuted believers worldwide who were persecuted, humiliated, abused, tortured, and even killed, but God used their steady Spirit throughout to endure which led to the conversion of many, even those who tortured and killed them before.
I think of Corrie Ten Boom at Aushowitz, talking to her sister about being thankful in all things, and Corrie struggling with it at first and saying, "I'm trying to thank God for the lice!" Then later finding out that the guards would not come in "the lice pit", so they were the very thing which God used to make a way for them to be able to read/study the Word of God without the guards knowing.
God is looking for how we react in trials and uses them to grow our spiritual maturity, to increase our faith, to increase our dependence upon Him and lessen our dependence on ourselves. He uses them to crush out remaining pride, and bring forth a savory aroma of humility only He can develop in us. They are God's handiwork. We must knowthatnHe loves us and that He is totally Soveriegn over everything that happens to us, so He is trying to tell us something and/or work something in us through the trial. Our job is to be faithful through it, to yield to His hand come what may, and to trust in faith that He will see us through.
"Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as Hugh some strange thing were happening to you, but rejoice that you partake in Christ's sufferings, that you may also partake in his joy, when His Glory is revealed."
I Peter 4:12-13
"Shall anything separate us from the love of Christ? Shall persecution, distress, nakedness, famine, peril, or sword............nay, we are more than conquerers through Him that loved us......I'm convinced,......that nothing shall separate us from the love of God that's in Christ Jesus, our Lord."
Romans 8:35-39
I just went through one (my first spiritual attack) and I really hope it has ended as another one (though not spiritual could be just around the corner--well, we'll see).
I can't say I know the full extent of its purpose. But my faith certainly did grow (although I know it still has a long way to go) among other things. Along the way I picked up battle scars.
What it did show me especially today was my Father's love for me. I was tired and asked for strength. Well, guess what, I was literally running around the next 1 hr doing things much faster than was possible and was not a mite tired.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
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I agree learn, while I don't understand my trail fully I do see where I have grown from it and praise the Lord for the strength and opportunity to grow in Him.
[by mguldner on 2012/8/30 10:36:45
I agree learn, while I don't understand my trail fully I do see where I have grown from it and praise the Lord for the strength and opportunity to grow in Him.]
Mguldner,
You are way better than me. Bless you brother.
Blessed for sure, better I don't think so. I was blessed with Godly counsel and a good praying church and community that kept me focused on the positives, no matter how few. I pretty well saw first hand why Christ desires us to have fellowship with one another.
You asked for testimonies for people who have gone through 'hell' and for the lessons learned there....I just recently had one although it would not qualify as going through 'hell', it was unnerving at the moment.
Recently I had an experience that was unpleasant. I was stunned, speechless. However, it did not take me long to understand why the LORD allowed this to happen. There is another issue I have been grappling with, wondering what I should do when something happens. Now this experience taught me a powerful lesson.
The lesson? I was thinking of being yoked up with another and this experience taught me it would be an unequal one. If I were to do so, there would be nothing but serious conflict because our guiding principles differs.
Not all lessons are so easily learned so quickly, but this was an exception. I told my husband I am so thankful for this experience, so glad...:-)
Dear brother
ET good thread that most certainly glorifies Jesus! I want to thank Him and praise Him for His love, faithfulness, grace, mercy and strength that He has revealed in my life through the trials I am facing!
I have two trials that I have been going through one for the past four years and one for three! Though I don't quite understand why He has allowed both to happen alongside each other I have learnt what it means to abide in Him!
I draw my strength from Him moment by moment because I am weak and weary! When I stumble and fall He shows His faithfulness by picking me up and cleansing me from all unrighteousness! I see how much He loves me and will never give up on me! All I see everyday is my own weakness and desperate need for Him most of all His grace and mercy!
So yes I will praise the Most High! You are the Alpha and Omega the First and Last, the Beggining and the End, The Great I AM, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! You alone are worthy to praised! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Some things that I've learned/what I've become
1) A person of prayer--pray without ceasing. Didn't Smith Wigglesworth said something like this "I rarely pray for more than 15 minutes but 15 minutes does not go by without me saying a prayer"
2) Beginning stages of learning to wrestle with God on "the joy of the Lord is my strength" and maybe 1 or 2 other things.
3) Learned that "if it turns you away from God, its the devil" but "if it turns you to God, then its the Holy Spirit"
4) If it condemns you, its the devil. If it convicts you and gives you hope, its the Holy Spirit
5) If you cannot control it, then its not from God because the fruit of the spirit can be controlled.
1 Corinthians 14:32
The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets
6) The devil can use scriptures/godly things. Oh, you have no idea how sneaky it is and it starts way long before you even realise it :(
7) The importance of the word (bible)
8) And some other things :)
Learn wrote
"3) Learned that "if it turns you away from God, its the devil" but "if it turns you to God, then its the Holy Spirit"
4) If it condemns you, its the devil. If it convicts you and gives you hope, its the Holy Spirit
5) If you cannot control it, then its not from God because the fruit of the spirit can be controlled.
1 Corinthians 14:32
The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets
6) The devil can use scriptures/godly things. Oh, you have no idea how sneaky it is and it starts way long before you even realise it :(
7) The importance of the word (bible)"
Amen Sister couldn't agree with you more! : )Especially no 6! The enemy is very sneaky indeed and good at twisting scripture to satisfy one's lust!
Blessings in Christ!
Super, super responses!! Thank you all!! I'm learning so much from you all.
So, yes, me too. I've had a trial that went on for some 7 years or so. . .till I said 'enough' and cut off relationships painfully.
I'm an entirely different person for it all. ENTIRELY!! So much so that my interests are different, my purposes are different, my focus has shifted. . .
I agree with your point 3 a lot, Learn! It's turned me towards God and that's a good litmus-test for the value of the 'hell.'
Jeffmar; sound words! What you describe has been true of my experience too. Pride is an issue with me. . .still.
So my lessons; through it all, to be the best 'faith bull-dog' you can be and bite and hold onto God. Second; there's a saying I heard Richard Wurmbrandt (sp?) say; 'God is the Truth. The Bible is the truth about the Truth. Sermons are the truth about the truth about the Truth. You have to know the Truth and hold onto the Truth.'
by ET101 on 2012/8/31 0:13:17
I agree with your point 3 a lot, Learn! It's turned me towards God and that's a good litmus-test for the value of the 'hell.']
Just want to clarify for me that I learn this BUT I'm still at the point of putting it into practise. I've ended up with a very deep and painful 'battle scar' and even wake up in the middle of my sleep with the broken-heartedness/aloneness (nothing like the attacks that I've had previously) and really feel like leaving God. But its only when I remember my point 3, that I realize its the devil and try to submit to God and thus resist the devil so that it can flee. It may takes hours at time to accomplish this. It isn't easy and I wish it will heal immediately but it ain't going anytime soon. The devil prowls and I can tell by how I feel especially since this feeling was never a part of me before this spiritual attack.
Just thought I clarify this because I do not want to mislead anyone to think that everything is fine and dandy. I'm trying to think of the positives and I guess only when I delve deeper into God that maybe the pain will finally go away among other things.
Sorry to pour cold water. My learning process is far from complete and I'm still very weak.
Your authenticity is very refreshing to me. You sound like someone with very deep battle wounds which - the pain notwithstanding - sometimes/often? makes for very authentic people. Under different circumstances (not least geographic ones), I'm sure I would love to sit with you with a cup of coffee and hear what you're thinking and learning from God. . .
I'm in somewhat similar process. . .I'm working through very deep pains that seem to attract daily attacks. . .just last night I was praying 'Lord, I'm tired of Christianity' :-) just before I recognised a demonic attack and call to battle in faith and that these struggles are the processes of the of making of sons and daughters of God.
I think in my case, it's also a season for addressing emotional and other issues so they don't lead to catastrophic failure later on in life and ministry.
So, it's wonderful to be in the company of battling non-arrived sojourners in Christ.
. . .and PS. . .
How's this for a thought to meditate on, build supporting scriptural backing for, and reflect on daily: God is for me.
I've just started this for myself. . .
THank you ET101, more than you ever know. Yes, I would love to have a cup of coffee if only we were near to each other (although I think you are probably in the USA).
Yes, the pain is very very deep. It was never my pain before the spiritual attacks, the bad thing is the pain has been internalised to become my pain now. In addition, the devil cranks it up at times and at will--and it doesn't even care if I'm sleeping. I can wake up to this pain anytime.
THis is something that only God and I can work it out. He will not have it any other way.
Its good that you are starting the scriptural stuff. I need to figure out on whether we can fall away from Him first as I'm very weak--so I need to be more assured in this area. After that, I'm going to delve into 'My Father's love'. I need to learn to serve Him out of love instead of fear or a broken heart. Plus some other things that I need to do but am afraid of now especially after this spiritual warfare.
I will keep you in my prayers and if you are led, may you do the same for me.
Your sister in Christ,
Geraldine
Just want to add 1 more thing I'm beginning to learn.
My Father's love :)
Sure, I will be praying for you. I have you on my prayer list.
It sounds like you have wisdom for working your way out of the battle with God. I believe I have that wisdom too. So really, it's just a matter of time to freedom and wholeness.
A thing to keep in mind as well though is that battles will not go away till the very end. So the better we get at spiritual warfare (understanding the enemy's ways, fighting in faith, building defences, preempting future attacks by building discipline and fellowship in Christ today, avoiding compromising situations/people etc) the better we are at standing strong in Christ in order to serve Him.
Thank you for your prayers too.
Thank you ET101 for your prayers.
Wisdom--actually no. Shamefaced. The list of things I've learned was actually 'gotten' from various sisters and brothers, notably EverestoSama. I like Jimp's advise too. God used these people to help me in this battle. To them, I owe them my heartfelt thanks. Also, thanks to those that have prayed and encouraged me along the way, especially Jesus-is-God. To the others, you know who you are :)
I don't like spiritual warfare. Hate it. My heart was the battleground between Satan and God and at times I felt like Job (except Job was righteous and I was not).
You are right in your advise. You are way wiser, although in years, very likely I'm way older than you.
God bless you, ET101 in all areas of your life, be it ministry or personal.
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