VCO,
Is not our God amazing?
He sure is.
Your above testimony has bought a joy to my heart.
Our Father promised to work good in all things.
He did not say they he would make all bad things in us or that we have suffered good but that he would work good in such things.
Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Most people focus only read V28.
They ask questions like "Well if God really loves me why did this happen, why do I still suffer this and so on, how can he work good in this?
The focus becomes self and not what God is doing to prepare us to be conformed to the image of Jesus.
How could you walk with people if you have not been through it?
You/we can't because we would be no good at all.
I thank God for the nasties of life.
That may sound weird but it's my reality.
I got to the stage that when I went to bed at night I cried myself to sleep asking God to kill me, not to wake up in the morning.
As he worked in me (long process 22 years) I woke up one morning and said to myself "Ok I have woken up and therefore there must be a purpose"
So I prayed "Ok God you ain't killed me in the night, therefore I must have a purpose, what is it and help me accept it and give me the strength to walk in it"
I'm not saying my life is perfect and that I don't struggle but like you he is using me to help others.
I would encourage anyone on here struggles, can't make sense of life, who has hurts of the past that bind you. There is hope.
If you wake up tomorrow there is a purpose.
That purpose is you.
Don't shrink back to the norm you walk in because it what's you know.
The Father wants to work good in the crap in our life, bring healing and break the chains.
To conform us to the image of Jesus to help others.
Do not be frightened, it's easier to hug the comfort blanket of what we are used to than not know what the new comfort blanket God will give us.
If you wake up tomorrow then thank God, ask the purpose and ask him to lead you.
He promised to do that.