Bible teacher Kay Arthur was bitterly disappointed when she contracted a heart infection that forced her to leave her work as a missionary in Mexico. "I felt like a failure," she said. "Depression set in until I cried, 'Father, whatever you want.'"
She went on to say, "It would be several years before I'd see how He'd use those formative years of study in Mexico to prepare me to write inductive Bible studies that would eventually reach fifty-two countries."
"My disappointments aren't over," she continues. "Pain and trials are almost constant companions, but never enemies. They drive me into His sovereign arms. There He takes my disappointments and works everything together for good."
(from Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations and Quotes.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I did not know this about Kay Arthur. I think she is one of the most gifted teacher of the Scriptures. The way she can get to the heart and meat of it. I certainly can relate to her experience of disappointment. I have to learn from her experience and always pray through to the place where I can give it all into God's hands and plans(and leave it there, not constantly pull it back to myself).
I was a strong Christian, prayed daily, went to church and Loved Jesus then it happened. My Son was doing everything you taught them not to do, drinking, drugs staying out past curfew. Nothing worked, so I prayed "God please, I need your help and so does my Son. I hand him over to your loving hands". One month later, Gary , my Son was killed by a hit and run accident. I was so disapointed! I asked God to take him in his hands not take him from me. I was in so much pain, I started with denial that lasted six months, then I cryed that lasted about three years, all the while still going to church, trying to take it in, nothing worked, my husband would read from the bible to me daily because I couldn't through the tears. Then I started questioning God, "Lord I want justice. If I knew this person and saw them go through the court system, surly that would heal me. Then my nephew was murder and I watched my Sister "get Justice" It didn't help. Then I cried out "Lord You didn't let me say good bye". One year later friends of ours lost their son and had to make the choice to turn off life support, and we were there to support them. I still didn't get it, "Lord if you gave him to me as a vegetable it would be better than never seeing him again, I would have dedicated the rest of my days taking care of him, surly that would be better, then 8 months later I met a woman at work who is doing just that. I was still in search of the answer. I remember crying at Gary's grave and it hit me God didn't disapoint me every time I cried out for what I thought was best, he showed me why it was not what was best for me, I beleive that now, God helped me by taking the focus off of me and putting me in the lives of people to help them and in turn he healed me. I am going to celebrate Gary's 30th birthday this October 30th thanking God and enjoying what I already have.
Moral of my story, be careful what you pray for, you might turn out better that before.
God Bless
I was a strong Christian, prayed regulary, went to church and Loved Jesus then it happened. My Son was doing everything you taught them not to do, drinking, drugs staying out past curfew. Nothing worked, so I prayed "God please, I need your help and so does my Son. I hand him over to your loving hands". One month later, Gary , my Son was killed by a hit and run accident. I was so disapointed! I asked God to take him in his hands not take him from me. I was in so much pain, I started with denial that lasted six months, then I cryed that lasted about three years, all the while still going to church, trying to take it in, nothing worked, my husband would read from the bible to me daily because I couldn't through the tears. Then I started questioning God, "Lord I want justice. If I knew this person and saw them go through the court system, surly that would heal me. Then my nephew was murder and I watched my Sister "get Justice" It didn't help. Then I cried out "Lord You didn't let me say good bye". One year later friends of ours lost their son and had to make the choice to turn off life support, and we were there to support them. I still didn't get it, "Lord if you gave him to me as a vegetable it would be better than never seeing him again, I would have dedicated the rest of my days taking care of him, surly that would be better, then 8 months later I met a woman at work who is doing just that. I was still in search of the answer. I remember crying at Gary's grave and it hit me God didn't disapoint me every time I cried out for what I thought was best, he showed me why it was not what was best for me, I beleive that now, God helped me by taking the focus off of me and putting me in the lives of people to help them and in turn he healed me. I am going to celebrate Gary's 30th birthday this October 30th thanking God and enjoying what I already have.
Moral of my story, be careful what you pray for, you might turn out better that before.
God Bless
Post a Comment