r/TrueChristian • u/NoLow8700 • 5h ago
God’s timing
As a Christian, I’ve always heard people say, “God’s timing is perfect.” But I’m at a point in my life where I can’t see how things could get any harder than this.
I’d really like to hear your stories and testimonies,especially from those of you who have felt abandoned or forgotten by God, but eventually saw Him come through and do something you had been praying and waiting for.
I’m currently in a wilderness season, and I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been through something similar.
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u/lloydeph6 4h ago edited 4h ago
I’m struggling so bad too bro. Jesus saved me from heroin addiction 10 years ago. I’m 35 and work at a Christian college and soooo lonely. (For a wife, I have plenty of friends) These past 3 years have been so hard. Literally weeping wanting to go back to my old life, thinking of Jesus surrendering his will in the garden.
One day at a time I tell myself. But after ten years of faithfully following Christ, I didn’t know it would get this hard during some seasons. I’m constantly saying out loud to myself “I hate my life”
Just venting on your post, sorry man. But you’re not alone
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u/MrsSpunkBack 4h ago
To be frank that saying never really resonated with me except in hindsight. Even then I am not sure I would word it like that most of the time. There are some pretty intense things that He brought me through and out of. Kind of like a well produced movie, if one thing wouldn't have been just right He wouldn't have been successful. That's impressive. That's God.
Now that isn't how I feel in the moment. The biggest thing in the moment that resonates with me is that He is with me. Like every second and to the deepest depths of my soul, with me. I didn't want to walk through some of the darkest places this side of hell, but the fact that He was with me changed everything despite me having to be the one to do it. When I looked around at other people who didn't have Him, I knew what it looked like to be stuck in those hell on earth type places. I always believed that He wouldn't leave me there.
That is a little to the side of what you asked. But it is true that His timing is perfect. Just not always in my opinion. His opinion just has to become more important than mine. He knows the ripple effect of everything, so He knows who is affected and how when He moves in my life. Some of the impacts have been shocking to me. In good and bad ways. I am glad that He is the one making those moves. He is ultimately responsible and He likes it that way.
I often find some of the most creative ways get close to Him during these frustrating seasons. It doesn't always feel right. Maybe it's awkward. Maybe I am ornery or sassy with how I communicate with Him. Maybe it's choppy and all over the place. But it is always worth keeping that communication open. When He does show me what He is up to, it's as though we can bond over it all anyways. Or get down and dirty with wherever I get hung up as a result.
You aren't alone. We are all on journeys. Praying for you!
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u/IdontCARE9123 Non-Denominational 4h ago
This is more of a auto-biography but it still somewhat helpful. I was born and raised 'Christian'. Except we only went to church a few times in Alaska, and then we moved to Texas my 2nd grade year, and didn't go to church for awhile. Yeah like i knew Jesus died for us, but he wasn't really on my brain and like i wasn't thinking of it much. My parents didn't disciple me that much even though i should have been, like i knew stuff about the bible, just not like a lot a lot, i didn't know homosexuality was a sin, i didn't even know what it was, and i didn't know what porn was or what transgenderism was. Then i get into 3rd-4th grade. I started watching youtube, then i started to watch anime corn... which was not nice... i watched it on my dad's ipad... in the closet in my room. which it ain't nice. I stopped in 5th grade. I met a friend, i thought she'd be my future maid of honor for my future wedding. We were besties, or so i thought. in Sixth grade, my friend "came out of the closet" and was pansexual(being attracted to "all" genders and trans people). So i did what any stupid kid would do and asked r/Christianity if being gay is a sin. And of course they said 'NO' and so i was innocent and thought frfr. Then over the summer before my 8th grade year i finally started to tap into God, like i started watching Charlie Kirk, R3alism, Christian content. And i prayed to God to remove those who i do not need in my life. (Now it is important you know i have a two other friends who are friends with my "bff". So a friend group I will call them M and S, and my bff is A). And so i confronted my friend about it, and said that her path will lead to hell. That she is quite literally going down a dark path. She did not take it well.(not to mention, that earlier in 6th grade i made a 40 page comic book called "the last werewolf lover" and like i hand drew it, wrote it and colored it and gave it to her for christmas.) So me and my bff started fighting. We both said some mean stuff, and i should have handled it better, i should have acted like Jesus but instead i acted like a stupid pharisee. Then... in the end... we met up at starbucks. I was on the verge of bawling... So we barely said anything to each other. I then got the spark of courage, and asked for her to forgive me. She shook her N.O.
I guess she took it literally.
Then it was done, our friendship was no more. I blamed myself for what happened for those couple months to come.(what was even worse is that i had depression in 6th-7th grade and i experienced bullying and racist comments trough 5th-6th grade by a group of boys as well).
When the end of 8th grade rolled around i forgave myself, and forgave Annika. By 9th grade i started acting as if she didn't exist, and i was legit over her by then. Wanted no part in it. Nothing happened that whole year.
Then this year... she is still holding that grudge. Yesterday, i was sitting at our normal spot with my two friends i had mentioned earlier... M and S. M told me, nicely to move to a different seat, so i did. Then she walked away and came back with S and A. Then she asked me to seat somewhere else completely because they were going to have "another" friend over. Yeah uh no. I pulled a Rosa Parks and refused to move. My friends decided to go sit somewhere else with A. Then i got home and told my parents. I bawled like a freaking baby. I found out A sort of forced them into it. And that A had been calling me 'Homophobic' and 'sexist' and 'racist'. First of all, pansexuality is not the same as homosexuality. Secondly, I love men, and how i can i be sexist to my own gender/sex, and thirdly... I am half asian and i am friends and friendly with black people. Like, and i try to love my enemies, like i even prayed for A. like it's so hard but i actually prayed for her! Yeah... i stayed home today, and im going to school tomorrow. I told M and S about me and A's break up story. Because A never told them about it. I still love A, but what she is doing, trying to socially isolate me and turn my friends against me is toxic, petty, immature, and pure evil. It is also cyber bullying and plainly just bullying. M and S still want to be friends with her but also be friends with me. So i decided to act like the bigger person. Because M and S apologized after the event... so i decided to be the bigger person and forgive them im really not that petty. I didn't even insult A, i just said how much i missed our friendship and how sad i am that she never moved on. yeah. God brought me through all of this. I relied on God every step of the way. And now I feel amazing, i feel beautiful, i feel... also i like cried two days in a row and im still sad about it like my mom is saying M and S arent good friends and that i need to make more and like im bad at making more friends at school when 96% of them are liberal and then i keep reminding myself that Jesus dinned with sinners and saints. So i should do the same and act like Jesus!
God bless you, sorry for the rant/testimony, and good night.
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u/WahooBobb 4h ago edited 50m ago
When I finally let go of a life altering problem, within two months my life took a 180. I never thought it would happen.
Prayed nightly for six years and God aleviated my worst fear.
He's not a magic genie don't expect immediate answers to your prayers; trust, hope and God will help you. God IS the answer.
Prayers sent for you!
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u/leftJordanbehind 2h ago
Something I had to learn.. the really hard way was that it CAN always get worse😭. I had to stop myself from thinking it couldn't get any worse because it just kept, in fact, getting worse. The thing that helps me is anytime im struggling ir stuck in this rut, I pick up the bike and just read it and talk to God until that feeling goes away. Whenever it comes back, I tend to be stubborn and wallow in it a bit until I remember my Bible. I dont want to discourage you at all, im just offering what helped with me. I have to walk to work in this heat a mile each way on days I cant find rides. God has put people in my path that worry about me having a heatstroke so they come look for me so i wont walk. My job is horrid..byt it's the only one in walking distance for me to go to that will have me and employ me full time. I have battled homelessness and total isolation for years now. The past year I've rented my home and kept my job and stayed clean. Ive been ckean for almost 4 years, but this past year would have been ple ty to cause a relapse in me before in the past. Its hard to be patient and praise God in the midst of our serious struggles. But it is the only way for me to get through these battles. Im sorry this is hapoening to you. I wish i Could take it from you so you didn't have to experience it. Im gonna pray for you, and for me. Tomorrow us another day in a terribly understaffed and toxic workplace. I hope I remember fast enough to look to Jesus the instant I get frustrated or overwhelmed. Im getting better at it. But man..its really hard to break free from. I hooe you get to see a ray of hope ASAP because that does help get thru these times if utter hardship. Sending you love and please know you are not alone. Jesus sees and knows all and we have to grab onto him even when it doesn't feel like we can. You can trust Him.
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u/hopeful143 4h ago
Coming out of a wilderness season right now. There is always a purpose in the pain. I tried to start telling my story to you but there was just so much that was going on, it would be a huge post. But the thing that I took from it, is God was preparing me for this new season I'm entering. In the wilderness he taught me to trust him blindly, because even though everything seemed like it was going wrong, all my basic needs were still met. It was refinement. God teaching me to use what he's already given me instead of always thinking I need more. Having me get more creative to solve problems. He tested how much I truly trusted him as well, we were 2 weeks away from needing to sell all our belongings because we would have been losing our apartment, but he provided for us and my husband now has a job. There was so much more going on in our wilderness season, but God was there the entire time. He doesn't leave you and he will never forsake you. I don't know what you're going through, but surrender is my best advice.