Archive Testimonies
God dealt with my deepest fears
I suppose we all have fears – fear of illness, failure, loneliness, death to name but a few.
About seven and a half years ago, I was suffering from enormous stress. My husband had had serious eye problems that required major surgery on both eyes, and with it came financial pressures as it became increasingly obvious that he could no longer do his job. As a Christian, I should have simply trusted God, but I didn’t, and I ended up in the psychiatric wing of the local hospital. Before I was admitted, my deepest fear surfaced – the fear of homelessness. In my stressed and confused state, I really believed that my family were about to be turned out into the street with nowhere to live – I even insisted on having sleeping bags on the landing ready to grab as we were evicted.
Over the past few years, God has done a wonderful work of healing in my life. I am now fit and well, and hold down a responsible full-time job. One of the most wonderful parts of that healing has been the removal of that terrible fear I experienced. I am deeply grateful for the medical help I received, but even more important has been the growing understanding of how great and powerful and reliable God is. I now truly understand that God is “Jehovah Jireh” – the Lord who provides. As if to underline this, over the past couple of years, God has brought into my life three women who have proved this to be the case – they all have faced a very real risk of homelessness, but in each case God has wonderfully provided for them.
Before I was ill, I would have said I had quite a strong faith. Now I realise that the faith I had was a sort of “normal conditions” faith – it could cope with the ups and downs of everyday life, and maybe the odd bump – but what I needed was “extreme conditions” faith – faith that is strong enough to stand whatever comes, knowing that God will always be faithful and will always provide for our needs. I believe that is what God is building in me, and I am convinced He wants to do that for each one of us. He really is an amazing God!
Ros
The Marriage Course was not what we expected
We were enrolled on the marriage course as a present from John's mum & dad for our first wedding anniversary.
It was really a chance to dig a little deeper, so to speak, and find out more about each other, sometimes asking questions we didn't really want to know the answer to! I was a little concerned about the privacy factor, and was imagining sitting in a big group discussing intimate details of our marriage - which neither of us wanted to do but we needn't have worried: it was a lovely setting, with candles, soft music and plenty of space around each couple so we couldn't hear what the couple closest to us were talking about. Anyway, you get so involved in what you, as a couple, are discussing you forget about everyone else! While there are serious issues to discuss, there is a lot of humour involved too which gives a light hearted touch to the course. It covers most of the issues that can be found in marriage, usually dealing with one a week i.e. finances, children or in-laws - things that can be stumbling blocks so it's really helpful to have an evening purely based on one issue.
We'd love to do it again in a few years. We've been married two years now and are positive the Marriage Course had a great effect on our first year...here's to 50 more!
John and Stella
God - our provider
I’ve just been watching the news blog on the Haiti Hospital Appeal web site following the terrible earthquake, and not for the first time, I’m feeling lost for words. I’m feeling empty because there is little I can do to help this situation but then I’m filled with wonderful amazement as I watch the containers arriving in Haiti and being unloaded. I’m seeing God, through all those who contributed with food, clothes, medicines and bed linen, provide these people with what they so desperately need.
There’s a warmth, a security like no other person or thing can provide when you know that only God is above all nations, governments, circumstances and people’s beliefs, minds and hearts.
I’ve experienced these feelings many times before, when in times of trouble, God has been faithful to me and provided just what I needed. A few years ago, my wife was in hospital for a routine operation when things took a sudden turn for the worst. Because of critical complications, she was transferred to intensive care and was fighting to hold onto her life, while the life support machines kept her going. When I first became aware of what was happening, I was desperate to talk to someone to help me make sense of it all. I remembered that a lady from our church worked at the hospital but I had no idea where, in fact all I knew was her name. The receptionist tried hunting through every book and index to help me but to no avail.
It was only later when I was asked to meet someone at another department, that I found myself walking through an area of the hospital that I didn’t even know existed, then down some more stairs and to the other end of the hospital. As we entered this department and approached the reception desk, I recognised a familiar face behind the desk: Jean. If I had hunted all day long, I would not have found this department where Jean worked. God knew that I was crying out for someone to talk to at that time, and provided me with exactly what I needed in this time of crisis.
I give so much thanks to God because as I write this, I’m filled again with praise as I hear my wife calling me from the kitchen….
Stewart
